CANADA Breaks World Records !!!!
Annamay Pierse and men’s 4X200 freestyle relay break World Records
LEEDS, England – Annamay Pierse of Vancouver and Canada’s men’s 4X200 freestyle relay broke world short course records on Friday at the British Grand Prix swimming competition.
In the men’s 4X200 freestyle relay, the Canadians clocked 6:51.05 to smash the previous mark of 6:52.66 set by Australia in 2007. The Canadian relay team swimmers were Colin Russell of Oakville, Ont., Stefan Hirniak of Victoria, Brent Hayden of Vancouver and Joel Greenshields of Airdrie, Alta.
‘’We had our sight sets on the record a couple of months ago and it was exciting to get it,’’ said Greenshields. ‘’When Brent pulled away from the field I just wanted to go in there and give it everything I had. Initially I wasn’t sure if we got the record but once it was announced it was an incredible feeling.’’
Hayden said the key to the record was the confidence level of the four swimmers.
‘’It takes four guys to come together and believe in one common goal for a world record to happen in a relay,’’ said Hayden, who also won the 100 freestyle earlier Friday. ‘’We all knew we had a shot at it and when Colin got us off to such a great start it made us even hungrier.’’
A second Canadian relay finished second in 6:56.17 with Hassaan Abdel-Khalik of Mississauga, Ont., Blake Worsley of Victoria, Ryan Cochrane of Victoria and Adam Szoo of Quebec City.
Earlier Friday, Annamay Pierse of Vancouver broke her world short course record in the women’s 200-metre breaststroke. Pierse lowered the mark for the second time this year clocking two minutes and 16.83 seconds. She initially set the world short course record this past March at the Spring Nationals in Toronto clocking 2:17.50.
Last week at the world championships in Rome she broke the long course world record in the 200 breaststroke. In short course swimming, the racers turn every 25 metres instead of every 50 metres.
“It feels pretty awesome to get the record again,” said Pierse. “It was definitely a goal, especially after swimming so well at the world championships. I knew I could still go fast. The last 50 metres was the key part of my race. I was really strong, didn’t lose focus and pushed myself all the way to the end.”
Even though her main event for the season had just passed, Pierse wants winning and setting records to become a habit.
“I’ve had such a great season,” she said. “This meet was part of the schedule and I wasn’t going to let my guard down until I’m done. I have to be consistent with getting better at every meet and being one of the best in the world so when I get to London (for the 2012 Olympics) it will be easier.”
Martha McCabe of Vancouver was second in 2:23.23 and Hanna Pierse of Vancouver, Annamay’s sister, third in 2:24.63.
Julia Wilkinson of North York, Ont., was involved in two Canadian records. She broke the national mark in the women’s 100 individual medley and led Canada to a medal sweep clocking 59.28 seconds. Jennifer Beckberger of Ajax, Ont., has lowered the mark initially in the preliminaries at 1:00.41. Olympic medalist Marianne Limpert of Fredericton had held it since 2000 at 1:00.93.
‘’I’m happy but not satisfied,’’ said Wilkinson. ‘’I was gunning for the world record and just missed it by less than a half second. My turns were a lot better in the final and my breaststroke to freestyle transition was very strong. I probably needed just a bit more training.’’
Wilkinson underwent shoulder surgery last fall and only returned to training this spring.
Erica Morningstar of Calgary won the silver in 1:00.14 and Beckberger was third in 1:00.17.
In the 4X200 freestyle relay, Geneviève Saumur of Montreal, Wilkinson, Alexandra Gabor of Whitehorse, and Heather MacLean of Etobicoke, Ont., won the silver in a Canadian record 7:45.04. The previous mark was 7:51.80 set this past spring.
A second Canadian relay was third with Kevyn Peterson of Calgary, Sinead Russell of Oakville, Breanna Hendriks of Calgary and Barbara Jardin of Montreal.
In the men’s 100 breaststroke, Paul Kornfeld of Calgary lowered the Canadian record winning the gold in 57.10. Mathieu Bois of Montreal had beaten the record in the prelims clocking 58.39. He was third in the final in 58.22.
Victoria Poon of Montreal broke her Canadian record in the 50 butterfly clocking 25.87 bettering the 26.21 she swam at Spring Nationals in March. Audrey Lacroix of Montreal was third in 26.24.
Tanya Hunks of Vancouver won the gold in the women’s 800 freestyle with Lindsay Seeman of Newmarket, Ont., third while Andrew Ford of Guelph, Ont., won the bronze in the 400 IM.
In the men’s 4X200 freestyle relay, the Canadians clocked 6:51.05 to smash the previous mark of 6:52.66 set by Australia in 2007. The Canadian relay team swimmers were Colin Russell of Oakville, Ont., Stefan Hirniak of Victoria, Brent Hayden of Vancouver and Joel Greenshields of Airdrie, Alta.
‘’We had our sight sets on the record a couple of months ago and it was exciting to get it,’’ said Greenshields. ‘’When Brent pulled away from the field I just wanted to go in there and give it everything I had. Initially I wasn’t sure if we got the record but once it was announced it was an incredible feeling.’’
Hayden said the key to the record was the confidence level of the four swimmers.
‘’It takes four guys to come together and believe in one common goal for a world record to happen in a relay,’’ said Hayden, who also won the 100 freestyle earlier Friday. ‘’We all knew we had a shot at it and when Colin got us off to such a great start it made us even hungrier.’’
A second Canadian relay finished second in 6:56.17 with Hassaan Abdel-Khalik of Mississauga, Ont., Blake Worsley of Victoria, Ryan Cochrane of Victoria and Adam Szoo of Quebec City.
Earlier Friday, Annamay Pierse of Vancouver broke her world short course record in the women’s 200-metre breaststroke. Pierse lowered the mark for the second time this year clocking two minutes and 16.83 seconds. She initially set the world short course record this past March at the Spring Nationals in Toronto clocking 2:17.50.
Last week at the world championships in Rome she broke the long course world record in the 200 breaststroke. In short course swimming, the racers turn every 25 metres instead of every 50 metres.
“It feels pretty awesome to get the record again,” said Pierse. “It was definitely a goal, especially after swimming so well at the world championships. I knew I could still go fast. The last 50 metres was the key part of my race. I was really strong, didn’t lose focus and pushed myself all the way to the end.”
Even though her main event for the season had just passed, Pierse wants winning and setting records to become a habit.
“I’ve had such a great season,” she said. “This meet was part of the schedule and I wasn’t going to let my guard down until I’m done. I have to be consistent with getting better at every meet and being one of the best in the world so when I get to London (for the 2012 Olympics) it will be easier.”
Martha McCabe of Vancouver was second in 2:23.23 and Hanna Pierse of Vancouver, Annamay’s sister, third in 2:24.63.
Julia Wilkinson of North York, Ont., was involved in two Canadian records. She broke the national mark in the women’s 100 individual medley and led Canada to a medal sweep clocking 59.28 seconds. Jennifer Beckberger of Ajax, Ont., has lowered the mark initially in the preliminaries at 1:00.41. Olympic medalist Marianne Limpert of Fredericton had held it since 2000 at 1:00.93.
‘’I’m happy but not satisfied,’’ said Wilkinson. ‘’I was gunning for the world record and just missed it by less than a half second. My turns were a lot better in the final and my breaststroke to freestyle transition was very strong. I probably needed just a bit more training.’’
Wilkinson underwent shoulder surgery last fall and only returned to training this spring.
Erica Morningstar of Calgary won the silver in 1:00.14 and Beckberger was third in 1:00.17.
In the 4X200 freestyle relay, Geneviève Saumur of Montreal, Wilkinson, Alexandra Gabor of Whitehorse, and Heather MacLean of Etobicoke, Ont., won the silver in a Canadian record 7:45.04. The previous mark was 7:51.80 set this past spring.
A second Canadian relay was third with Kevyn Peterson of Calgary, Sinead Russell of Oakville, Breanna Hendriks of Calgary and Barbara Jardin of Montreal.
In the men’s 100 breaststroke, Paul Kornfeld of Calgary lowered the Canadian record winning the gold in 57.10. Mathieu Bois of Montreal had beaten the record in the prelims clocking 58.39. He was third in the final in 58.22.
Victoria Poon of Montreal broke her Canadian record in the 50 butterfly clocking 25.87 bettering the 26.21 she swam at Spring Nationals in March. Audrey Lacroix of Montreal was third in 26.24.
Tanya Hunks of Vancouver won the gold in the women’s 800 freestyle with Lindsay Seeman of Newmarket, Ont., third while Andrew Ford of Guelph, Ont., won the bronze in the 400 IM.
