March 4 , 2010

Mandy Moran

MOSCOW – Mandy Moran of Thunder Bay, Ont.,  set a personal best score and advanced to the final on women’s three-metre on Thursday to open the second stop on the FINA Grand Prix diving circuit.

It’s the second week in a row Moran is in a Grand Prix final. Last week at the season opener in Rostock, Germany she placed fifth.

“I had a really good showing in the semifinal and beat last week’s score by two points,” said Moran, 28, a two-time Grand Prix medallist last season.  “It feels great to see that kind of improvement.  I can’t really pinpoint one dive that made the difference.  Just everything was sharper.  My take-offs were really good and I finished well.”

In women’s three-metre synchro, sisters Carol Ann Ware and Pamela Ware of Otterburn Park, Que., placed seventh in their senior level international debut in the event. 

“It was O.K.,” said Carol Ann Ware, 19, the Pan Am junior champion with her sister in the event last year.  “We could have done better.  We were a bit jittery and nervous because this was the first time we were competing in three-metre synchro at this level.”

The pair competes Friday in their stronger event, the 10-metre synchro.  They won a silver in that event at the Spanish Grand Prix last season.

On men’s tower, Eric Sehn of Edmonton and Marc Sabourin-Germain of Mascouche, Que., were eliminated in the semifinals, placing fourth and sixth in their respective heats.  The top-three in each of the two semis advance to Saturday’s final.

“I was very pleased to reach a second round,” said Sabourin-Germain, 16, in his senior international debut.  “The field here was very strong and I got a good idea of what I need to work on for the future.”

Competition continues Friday

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