Sinead Russell breaks record at Mare Norstrum Tour

Congratulations to Sinead Russell on winning gold and breaking the 15-17 NAG, PROV and PROV open female record in the 200 back on the Mare Norstrum Tour in 2:10.93. 

June, 13, 2010

CANET, France - Brent Hayden of Vancouver continued to harvest gold on the Mare Nostrum swimming circuit on Saturday with an exciting victory in the men’s 200-metre freestyle to open the third stop on the Tour.

Sinead Russell of Oakville, Ont., added a bronze in the women’s 200 backstroke.

Hayden clocked one minute and 48.56 seconds to fend off a charging Benjamin Starke of Germany second in 1:48.59. Evgeny Langunov of Russia was third in 1:49.04. It was Hayden’s fifth medal on the Tour and his third gold. He won the 100 freestyles at the previous stops in Barcelona and Monaco.

“Luckily there wasn’t another metre left in the race,” said Hayden. “There was a lot of hard fighting in that last 50 metres and Starke finished very strong. I felt really good. Strategically my race was spot on. In Barcelona I made my move a little too late so in this race I had confidence in my training and picked up the speed a little earlier.”

With three events in just over a week, this was a big test for Hayden both at the racing level and the physical level.

“I’ve got my routines down pat and I’ve been looking after myself really well,” he said. “I’ve been careful with my diet and probably shed five-six pounds since I’ve been over here. With the meets so close together and the travel, I’ve gained a lot of confidence with these performances.”

In the women’s 200 backstroke, Elizabeth Simmonds of England clocked a meet record 2:08.32 for the win. Melissa Ingram of New Zealand was second in 2:10.07 and Russell followed for the bronze in 2:12.38 for her third medal on the Tour. Lauren Lavigna of Vancouver was fifth in 2:14.01.

Other Canadian finalists were Victoria Poon of Montreal fourth in the 50 freestyle, Annamay Pierse of Vancouver fourth in the 100 breaststroke, Tanya Hunks of Vancouver sixth in the 800 freestyle and Katerine Savard of Quebec City eighth in the 100 butterfly.

In the B finals, Haylee Johnson of Vancouver won the 100 breaststroke for ninth overall with Martha McCabe of Vancouver sixth. Barbara Jardin of Montreal was second in the 200 freestyle, Hannah Pierse of Vancouver third in the 200 individual medley, Sandrine Mainville of Montreal fifth in the 50 freestyle, McCabe seventh in the 50 breaststroke and Audrey Lacroix of Montreal eighth in the 100 butterfly.

For the men, Mathieu Bois of Montreal was seventh in the men’s 50 breaststroke B final.

Competition ends Sunday.

Taken from Swimming Canada.