Emily Flowers conquers Women’s 50m butterfly heat: Day one – Western Canadian Championships
Emily Flowers of OSC stunned the audience by conquering top position in the Women’s 50m butterfly in the 15 and under category on opening day of the 2012 Speedo Western Canadian Championships in Winnipeg, Canada on Thursday, February 16.
The 15-year-old Flowers crushed hopes of her challengers and became the top contender for gold medal by finishing first. Haley Black of PGB had a fastest seedtime of 28.41 seconds, but she failed to respond to Flowers’ ruthless efforts in the shortest butterfly discipline.
Flowers was the first swimmer to leap into the water. With her quickest dive, she earned a marginal lead over her competitors and sprinted her way towards the finishing wall for first position. Black engaged her in a stroke-to-stroke battle in the first half of the race but stayed just a touch slower from her on the finishing end.
With her irresistible efforts, Flowers transpired on the finishing end for finest qualification spot by clocking a time of 27.84 seconds. She was trailed by Black, who was just 0.04 seconds behind and secured second best qualification spot of the race by posting 27.88 seconds. Black was traced by Emily Overholt of WVOSC, who was only 0.20 seconds apart and ended her swim in a time of 28.08 seconds.
Subsequently, the crowd witnessed a remarkable struggle of Chantal VanLandeghem of MANTA, who dominated the equivalent even in Women’s 16 and over category. The 17-year-old VanLandeghem was significantly away from her challengers and touched the wall in 26.86 seconds.
With her splendid effort, she remained 1.15 seconds faster from her following swimmer, Charlotte Philpotts of CHENA, who seized second finest qualification spot of the race by producing a time of 28.01 seconds. Jessica Wong of AMAC proved her mettle for the third qualification spot into the final round as she completed her race in 28.10 seconds.
Flowers and VanLandeghem were thrilled with their fastest qualification efforts and articulated their desire of achieving gold medals in their respective events.
Furthermore, the final round of 50m event will take place on Friday, February 17 whereas the championship will end on Sunday.
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