Young Canadian team opens U.S. Grand with impressive performances

May 6th, 2010

Francois Imbeau-Dulac

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida – Three of the four Canadians in action Thursday advanced to finals to open the U.S., Grand Prix diving competition.

On women’s 10-metre tower, Rachel Kemp of Victoria and Carol-Ann Ware of Montreal finished second and third in the second of two semifinals to grab two of the six spots for Saturday’s final.

Sinuo Ma of China won the semi with 342.85 points, followed by the 17-year-old Kemp at 314.25 and 19-year-old Ware at 292.05 who just slipped into the semis finishing 11 th in the morning prelims.

Last weekend, Kemp made a big international splash at the Canada Cup Grand Prix in Montreal finishing fourth and missing the podium by only 10 points. Ware, last year’s junior Pan Am champion, will improve on her 10 th place finish at the Russian Grand Prix in March.

On men’s three-metre, François Imbeau-Dulac, 19, of St-Lazare, Que., reached his second Grand Prix final this season finishing second in his semifinal heat with 425.25 points. Imbeau-Dulac, sixth at the German Grand Prix in March, grabbed the last berth for the semis placing 12 th in the prelims.

World championship silver medallist Troy Dumais of the U.S., was first in the semi heat at 458.08 and Juan Uran of Colombia third. The top-three from each of the two semis advance to the final.

Eric Sehn of Edmonton was 21 st.

Competition continues through to Sunday.

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