Jennifer Abel and Meaghan Benfeito reunite for three-metre synchro gold at diving Winter Nationals

January 29th, 2010

www.diving.ca

ETOBICOKE – Jennifer Abel and Meaghan Benfeito of Montreal reunited for the first time in nearly two years in the women’s three-metre synchro event and won the gold medal on Friday at the Winter Nationals diving competition.

Abel and Benfeito totalled 275.34 points for the victory with Rachel Kemp and Morgan Weller of Victoria second at 265.29 and Melissa McCrady and Kate Brechun of Kitchener, Ont., third at 217.38.

Abel’s regular partner since last season Melanie Rinaldi of Montreal wasn’t able to compete Friday due to a shoulder injury so Benfeito filled in her spot. Abel and Rinaldi were fourth at the world championships last year in Rome.

‘’This was my first competition on springboard since 2008 and it went very well,’’ said Benfeito, a tower specialist, fourth at the Rome worlds on individual and synchro tower. ‘’My biggest worry was being able to do the dives well. But I got the feeling of the board quickly and executed good take-offs. It was better than I expected.’’

The victory capped a great day for Abel. She also stands first on women’s individual three-metres after the morning preliminaries with 334.95 points. Emilie Heymans of Pointe-Claire, Que., is second at 305.20 and Taryn Zack of Stony Plain, Alta., third at 304.20.

‘’It was a very good score,’’ said Abel, 18. ‘’The first competition of the year is always very important. You always want to start the season on an encouraging note. My new dive gave me the most trouble but once I gain some confidence with it I think I’ll be very valuable for me.’’

In the men’s tower prelims, Riley McCormick of Victoria is first, Eric Sehn of Edmonton second and Kevin Geyson of Winnipeg third.

The semis and finals for men’s tower and women’s three-metre are on Sunday. Competition continues Saturday with semifinals and finals for men’s three-metre and women’s tower.

For more information visit: www.diving.ca

Friday’s leading results at the Winter Nationals diving competition in Etobicoke, Ont.

MEN

10-metre preliminaries: 1. Riley McCormick, Victoria, 420.25; 2. Eric Sehn, Edmonton, 398.75; 3. Kevin Geyson, Winnipeg, 397.95; 4. Marc Sabourin-Germain, Montreal, 337.15; 5. Keith Tidey, Surrey, B.C., 334.45; 6. Shane Miszkiel, Victoria, 330.35; 7. Nicolas Beaupré, Montreal, 303.15; 8. Dylan Grisell, Toornto, 294.95; 9. C.J. Moore, Kitchener, Ont., 286.00; 10. Julien Cousineau, Edmonton, 278.25.

WOMEN

Three-metre preliminaries : 1. Jennifer Abel, Montreal, 334.95; 2. Emilie Heymans, Pointe-Claire, Que., 305.20; 3. Taryn Zack, Stony Plain, Alta., 304.20; 4. Mandy Moran, Calgary, 300.65; 5. Pamela Ware, Montreal, 280.80; 6. Rachel Kemp, Victoria, 274.15; 7. Jo-Anne Dubois, Quebec City, 269.55; 8. Celina Toth, London, Ont., 266.20; 9. Morgan Weller, Victoria, 260.55; 10. Hannah Bocksnick, Lethbridge, Alta., 257.85.

Three-metre synchro final: 1. Jennifer Abel, Montreal and Meaghan Benfeito, Montreal, 275.34; 2. Rachel Kemp, Victoria and Morgan Weller, Victoria, 265.29; 3. Melissa McCrady and Kate Brechun, Kitchener, Ont., 217.38.

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