Clare McGovern first in junior figures at Synchro Canada's 2014 Canadian Qualifier Championships

Halle Pratt earns third gold

Montreal, March 13, 2014 – Clare McGovern of Granite Synchro in Toronto won the junior figures competition Thursday at Synchro Canada’s 2014 Canadian Qualifier Championships.

McGovern posted the top score with 74.0770 points. Halle Pratt of the Calgary Aquabelles was second at 73.3990 and Petra Regeni of Montreal Synchro third at 173.1790.

“It’s incredible to start the national season with a first place finish”, said McGovern, in her final junior year. “I’m very proud of myself.”

McGovern gained a lot of confidence.

“I am very pleased with the win especially since I competed at the provincial championships a few weeks ago and I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare and be at my best for this competition.”

A junior national team member last year, McGovern won gold in duet and team silver at the 2013 UANA Pan American Championships.

“I wanted to show the judges what I can do”, she said. Especially since it’s my last junior year. I want to show I can be consistent and execute difficult moves.”

In the 13-15 solo event, Pratt earned her third victory of the competition with 74.2333 points. Emily Armstrong of Variety Village Synchro Club in Toronto was second at 71.6667 and Joelle Zavitz of Granite Synchro third at 71.4667.

“It feels incredible”, she said. “It shows I’m headed in the right direction. I received comments I was swimming with more maturity and better than before. I hope it will motivate my teammates for the team event.”

In the senior technical solo event, Elizabeth Savard of Dollard Synchro took top spot. Gabrielle Boisvert of Synchro-Élite was second and Olivia Zawadiuk of B.C. Aquasonics third.

In the senior technical duet, Genevieve Peel and Virginie Lévesque of Montreal Synchro were the winners.

Competition continues through to Saturday at the Claude Robillard Centre.

The Canadian Qualifier Championships are the opportunity for athletes of the junior and senior age group to earn a ticket to the Canadian Open Championships, which will be held April 30-May 4 in Saskatoon, SK. For the athletes of the 13-15 age group, they will look to qualify through the Canadian Espoir Championships, held June 4-8 in Kamloops, B.C.

The competition has attracted a Synchro Canada record 504 athletes.

Schedule and results for the 2014 Canadian Qualifier Championships are available on-line at www.synchro.ca.

About Synchro Canada

Synchro Canada is the national organization governing synchronized swimming in Canada. It represents 10 provincial associations, a territorial association, as well as some 150 clubs and 12,000 members across Canada. A member of FINA, the world’s governing aquatic sports organization, Synchro Canada promotes the quest for excellence by developing the athletes, citizens and ambassadors of the sport of synchronized swimming at every level.

Synchro Canada would like to thank its sponsors:

Program partners: Sport Canada, Own The Podium, the Institut national du sport du Québec

Official Aquatic Supplier: Speedo Canada

Official make up: MAKE UP FOR EVER

Official suppliers: Knox Gelatine, AdUp, National Car Rental

Official hotel: Hilton Hotels Canada

For further information, visit Synchro Canada’s Website at www.synchro.ca or follow Synchro Canada on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

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For information:

Patrick Godbout

Synchro Canada

Communications Manager