Springboard gold sweep for Reuben Ross at 2009 Winter Senior National Championships

February 15th, 2009

Roseline Filion

CALGARY – Reuben Ross of Regina won his second gold medal this week at the Winter Nationals diving competition on Sunday with a victory on men’s three-metre while Roseline Filion of Laval took the women’s 10-metre tower title.

On men’s three-metre, Ross totalled 466.25 points, the second highest score of his career. Eric Sehn of Edmonton took the silver at 440.95 and Cam McLean of Winnipeg was third at 413.65. Ross also won the one-metre on Thursday.

On Sunday, Ross’ highlights were nailing his opening front dive for 8.0’s and 9.0’s and averaging 8.0’s for his reverse dive.

‘’Consistency is the name of the game in this sport and that’s what got me the win,’’ said Ross, a member of Canada’s Olympic team and also a double winner at last year’s Winter Nationals. ‘’It’s important to have a solid first dive. It really sets the tone and makes an impression immediately. My reverse is my most inconsistent dive so I was thrilled to do it well.’’

Filion won a three-way battle on women’s 10-metre for her first career individual senior title with 316.25 points. Her synchro partner Meaghan Benfeito of Montreal was second at 311.25 scoring the best marks of the night on her final twisting dive. Rachel Kemp of Victoria was third at 307.90.

Entering the final round, Kemp led Filion 11 points and Benfeito by 23. But both Quebec divers scored well on their final twisting dive to move up a spot.

‘’I’m glad to get the title but the competition didn’t go that well for me,’’ said Filion. ‘’Still I fought hard throughout the competition and was able to do the pressure dive at the end really well. It’s my most difficult dive but I’m comfortable with it.’’

The international season for Canadian divers gets underway at the end of the month with a Grand Prix meet in Rostock, Germany.

Sunday’s medallists at the 2009 Winter Senior National Championships diving competition in Calgary:

MEN

Three-metre: 1. Reuben Ross, Regina, 466.25; 2. Eric Sehn, Edmonton, 440.95; 3. Cam McLean, Winnipeg, 413.65.

WOMEN

10-metre: 1. Roseline Filion, Laval, Que., 316.25; 2. Meaghan Benfeito, Montreal, 311.25; 3. Rachel Kemp, Victoria, 307.90.

For more information including a schedule bios is available at: http://www.diving.ca/english/html/events/2009/WSN09.htm

About Diving Plongeon Canada
Diving Plongeon Canada (DPC) was established in 1967 as a not-for-profit organization to promote the growth and awareness of the sport in this country. As a member of FINA, the world’s governing body of aquatic sports, DPC contributes to the development of globally accepted standards of excellence in diving and supports the rules and regulations of international competition. Representing nine provincial diving associations, 67 local diving clubs and close to 4,000 high performance athletes, DPC shares a national commitment to advance the art and sport of diving and to position Canada as the number one diving nation of the world.  For information, visit www.diving.ca.

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