Canada Winter Nationals

March 31- April 2.2000, Vancouver CAN

From Canadian Sport News (CSN)

April 2, 2000

CALGARY'S BULMER JUST MISSES

 CANADIAN RECORD AT WINTER NATIONALS

VANCOUVER--Eryn Bulmer of Calgary missed her four-year-old Canadian record by only two points Sunday in winning the women's three-metre springboard at the Winter Nationals diving competition while Alexandre Despatie of Montreal took the men's 10-metre crown.

Bulmer, ranked third in the world,  earned 565.26 points for her ninth national title. Her national record of 567.27 was set at the 1996 Olympic trials. Her  Dive Calgary clubmate Blythe Hartley completed a very successful meet placing second at 535.77.  Hartley, 18, also won the one-metre on Friday and was third in 10-metre Saturday.  Five-time national champion Anne-Josee Dionne of Montreal was third at 496.38.

"I'm ecstatic with this score," said Bulmer, who scored at least 8.0's on all her dives in the final.  "It was  a very tough event.  Blythe was fantastic and she put the pressure in the event for me which was what I needed."

On men's 10-metre, Despatie, 14,  earned 647.58 for his third Canadian title.  He missed his Canadian record set at last year's winter nationals by 35 points.

Tony Revitt of Vancouver was second at 612.30 while Nicolas Leblanc of Montreal, Despatie's 16-year-old CAMO Club teammate, was a surprising third at 537.14.   Christopher Kalec of Montreal was fourth at 513.15. "If I hadn't made some small errors I think I would have come very close to my record," said Despatie, who earned some 9.0's on three of his dives in the final. "But overall it went very well.  I maintained a positive attitude and that's why I was able to overcome my mistakes and still post a very a good performance."

The competition also served as a qualifier for  North American Grand Prix meets in May including the Canada Cup May 5-7 in Montreal.  The top-six in each event qualify for the Canada Cup and the top-four for the other two competitions in Florida and Mexico. Attending those meets are crucial since the divers can accumulate bonus points towards an Olympic berth when they compete at trials June 9-12 in Montreal. 

Sunday's results at the Winter Nationals diving competition:

MEN

10-metre: 1. Alexandre Despatie, Montreal, 647.58; 2. Tony Revitt, Vancouver, 612.30; 3. Nicolas Leblanc, Montreal, 537.14; 4. Christopher Kalec, Montreal, 513.15; 5. Erik Petursson, Calgary, 307.23; 6. Kevin Geyson, Vancouver, 441.93; 7. David Kalec, Montreal, 431.73; 8. Julio Abate, Montreal, 412.74; 9. Josh Upton, Victoria, 409.53; 10. Chris Hantzis, Nepean, Ont., 279.45.

WOMEN

Three-metre: 1. Eryn Bulmer, Calgary, 565.26; 2. Blythe Hartley, North Vancouver, 535.77; 3. Anne-Josee Dionne, Montreal, 500.67; 4. Alida DiPlacido, Pointe-Claire, Que., 496.38; 5. Myriam Boileau, Montreal, 490.44; 6. Emilie Heymans, Montreal, 485.55; 7. Kari Frank, Calgary, 472.59; 8. Megan Farrow, Edmonton, 460.89; 9. Marie-Eve Marleau, Montreal, 454.29; 10. Melanie Rinaldi, Montreal, 452.31.

Canadian Sport News (CSN)

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April 1, 2000

HEYMANS, LIBERTY GOLDEN AT WINTER NATIONALS

VANCOUVER--Jeff Liberty of Calgary completed a springboard sweep at the Winter Nationals diving competition Saturday winning the men's three-metre event.

Earlier Saturday, Emilie Heymans of Montreal possibly established herself as the favorite on women's 10-metre tower for the Olympic trials this June with her first career national crown in the event.

On men's three-metre, Liberty totalled 634.08 points for his fourth career Canadian crown.  He also won the one-metre Thursday.    Arturo Miranda of Edmonton, the leader after the semifinals, placed second at 602.16 and Etienne Gauthier of Montreal was third at 598.56. Liberty, 21,  grabbed a solid lead after his second dive in the final landing a back two and half pike  for mostly 8.0' sand 8.5's out of  10 from the judges. "That dive has really given me problems in the past," said Liberty.  "But tonight was the best I've ever done it.  I usually put it near the beginning of my list just in case it doesn't go well and the judges can forget about it later on."

Canada's top springboard diver, eight-time national champion  Philippe Comtois of Montreal broke his leg two weeks ago at a meet in England and is likely through for the season.  He went underwent surgery Monday in Montreal and returned to his home from hospital on Friday.

On women's 10-metre, Heymans, currently ranked fourth in the world, totalled 518.01 points for her first Canadian crown in the event.  Anne Montminy of Pointe-Claire, Que., the world's  number-two women tower diver, was second at 510.548. 

World junior champion Blythe Hartley of North Vancouver, B.C., was third at 507.42 and Myriam Boileau of Montreal, the 1997 World Cup champion, fourth at 503.58. "I can certainly dive a lot better than I did today," said Heymans, 18, who executes the toughest diving list in the world.  "I didn't miss anything but there was nothing extraordinary and I'm a bit disappointed with that. This is my third meet in a month and I think I'm lacking some energy.  It's hard to concentrate for every dive."

At the Olympic trials June 9-12 in Montreal, only the top-two in each event can qualify for the Games. The women's tower, with four bona fide Olympic medal contenders, promises to be a fierce battle. "This victory gives me a lot confidence for the trials," said Heymans. "I'm always second or third it seems in national competitions so I think I needed to know I can win against these girls in Canada."

The competition also serves as a qualifier for  North American Grand Prix meets in May including the Canada Cup May 5-7 in Montreal.  The top-six in each event qualify for the Canada Cup and the top-four for the other two competitions in Florida and Mexico.

Attending those meets is crucial since the divers can accumulate bonus points towards an Olympic berth when they compete at trials.

Competition ends Sunday with finals on men's 10-metre and women's three-metre.

Note: In her one-metre victory on Friday, Hartley set a Canadian points record with 303.54 points eclipsing the former mark of 290.13 held by  Eryn Bulmer of Calgary since March 1998.

Saturday's results at the Winter Nationals diving competition in Vancouver:

MEN

Three-metre (final): 1. Jeff Liberty, Calgary, 634.08; 2. Arturo Miranda, Edmonton, 602.16; 3. Etienne Gauthier, Montreal, 598.56; 4. Alexandre Despatie, Montreal, 597.81; 5. Tony Revitt, Vancouver, 577.73; 6. Mike Gowdy, Victoria, 513.51; 7. Sean Burnett, Regina, 592.33; 8. Nicolas Leblanc, Montreal, 489.75; 9. Josh Gallant, Nepean, Ont., 486.57; 10. Eric Poitras, Regina, 446.64.

WOMEN

10-metre (final): 1. Emilie Heymans, Montreal, 518.01 points; 2. Anne

Montminy, Pointe-Claire, Que., 510.48; 3. Blythe Hartley, North Vancouver, B.C., 507.42; 4. Myriam Boileau, Montreal, 503.58; 5. Alida DiPlacido, Montreal, 447.53; 6. Caroline Lauzon, Montreal, 427.29; 7. Marie-Eve Marleau, Montreal, 421.56; 8. Adrienne Bell, Pointe-Claire, 388.89; 9. Shannon Dempsey, Toronto, 384.27; 10. Mariane Allaire Morin, Montreal, 343.83.

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March 31, 2000

HARTLEY WINS ONE-METRE GOLD AT WINTER NATIONALS

VANCOUVER-- Blythe Hartley of North Vancouver, B.C., made a triumphant return home Friday winning the women's one-metre gold while Alexandre Despatie of Montreal leads after the semifinals on men's tower at the Winter Nationals diving competition.

Hartley, Canada's junior female athlete of the year in 1999,  earned 303.54 points.  Anne-Josee Dionne of Montreal was second at 267.06  and Eryn Bulmer of Calgary third at 254.64. "We don't train the one-metre that much but it's a good competition to get

your nerves out," said Hartley, a double world junior champion last year,

who'll be in contention for a spot on the Olympic team on both three and 10-metres at trials in June."You don't need to work on the dives that much because you're not doing a lot of complicated maneuvers that you have to do in the other events." Hartley, 17,  moved to Calgary last September from Vancouver to train alongside many of Canada's top-ranked divers such Bulmer. "It was a tough decision but the right decision," said Hartley, whose father competed at the 1972 Winter Olympics in bobsleigh.  "The most important thing was to be happy there.  Now my diving  seems to be improving so I hope it all pays off in the end."

On men's 10-metre after the semifinal, Alexandre Despatie, the 14-year-old phenom from Montreal, was simply spectacular and leads the field by over 70 points at 640.77. Calgary-based Tony Revitt of Vancouver is second at 569.43 second and Christopher Kalec of Montreal third at 547.59.

In the preliminary round, Despatie scored 9.0's on three of his dives including his armstand dive which had been giving him some problems of late. The final is Sunday.

"The armstand was the one I was the most proud of tonight," said Despatie, who has grown six inches and gained 35 pounds over the past seven months. "I was pretty solid overall except for one error.  I feel very relaxed and happy to have the lead."

The competition also serves as a qualifier for  North American Grand Prix meets in May including the Canada Cup May 5-7 in Montreal.  The top-six in each event qualify for the Canada Cup and the top-four for the other two competitions in Florida and Mexico. Attending those meets are crucial since the divers can accumulate bonus points towards an Olympic berth when they compete at trials June 9-12 in Montreal.

Competition continues Saturday with the men's three-metre and women's 10-metre.

Friday's results at the Winter Nationals diving competition in Vancouver:

MEN

10-metre (after semifinals): 1. Alexandre Despatie, Montreal, 640.77; 2. Tony Revitt, Vancouver, 569.43; 3. Christopher Kalec, Montreal, 547.59; 4. Nicolas Leblanc, Montreal, 515.75; 5. Erik Petturson, Calgary, 494.70; 6. David Kalec, Montreal, 448.35; 7. Kevin Geyson, Winnipeg, 435.72; 8. Julio Abate, Montreal, 418.53; 9. Josh Upton, Victoria, 385.89; 10. Chris Hantzis, Nepean, Ont., 326.01.

WOMEN

One-metre final: 1. Blythe Hartley, North Vancouver, B.C., 303.54; 2. Anne-Josee Dionne, Montreal, 267.06; 3. Eryn Bulmer, Calgary, 254.64; 4. Adrienne Bell, Pointe-Claire, Que., 241.53; 5. Jerilyn Drummond, Edmonton, 227.79; 6. Kari Frank, Calgary, 227.73; 7. Emilie Heymans, Montreal, 224.58; 8. Melanie Rinaldi, Montreal, 217.08; 9. Nadia Pelletier, Quebec City, 216.24; 10. Megan Farrow, Edmonton, 205.77.

Canadian Sport News (CSN)

March 30, 2000

LIBERTY WINS ONE-METRE AT WINTER NATIONALS

VANCOUVER--Jeff Liberty of Calgary uncorked a near-perfect inward two and a half on his last dive to win the gold medal on men's one-metre Thursday in opening day action at the Winter Nationals diving competition. Liberty, 21,  totalled  370.14 points for his third career crown.  He won his other two titles at the summer nationals last year placing first on one and 10-metres.  Arturo Miranda of Edmonton was second at 366.81 and Curt Gowdy of Victoria third at 345.66.

"From the preliminaries to the final I was very consistent and steady," said Liberty, who scored 8.0 and 8.5's on the last dive that won him the meet.  "Going into the final round I knew it would be close.  I tried to forget about all that and land on my head to finish off successfully."

Liberty will be among  the favorites to grab one of four men's spots up for grabs at the Olympic team trials in June.  However he may not dive this weekend on 10-metre due to a pulled muscle in his back and a sore wrist. One of the most anticipated events this weekend is the women's 10-metre tower featuring four of the world's very best.  Emilie Heymans of Montreal, ranked fourth in the world and second at the past two Grand Prix meets,  leads after the semifinals with 497.04 points.

Anne Montminy of Pointe-Claire, Que., ranked number-two in the world,  is second at 491.31,  Blythe Hartley of Calgary, a double world junior champion last year, is third at 483.12 and 1997 World Cup champion Myriam Boileau of Montreal fourth at 456.18.

Only two Olympic spots will be available in that event at trials.  Heymans possesses the most difficult diving list in the world and would like to gain a psychological advantage by posting her first career Canadian title in the event. "I feel a bit disappointed that after all my international success on tower  I haven't won a Canadian title yet,"  said Heymans, 18.  "It's something I'd like to do this weekend.  I felt my performance today was normal, there was nothing spectacular."

The final is Saturday.

Competition continues Friday with the women's one-metre final and the men's

10-metre tower up to semifinals.

Thursday's results at the Winter Nationals diving competition in Vancouver:

MEN

One-metre (final): 1. Jeff Liberty, Calgary, 370.14; 2. Arturo Miranda, Edmonton, 368.81; 3. Michael Gowdy, Victoria, 345.66; 4. Tony Revitt, Calgary, 329.94; 5. Etienne Gauthier, Montreal, 329.13; 6. Erik Petturson, Calgary, 307.23.

WOMEN

10-metre (after semifinals):1. Emilie Heymans, Montreal, 497.04 points; 2. Anne Montminy, Pointe-Claire, Que., 491.31; 3. Blythe Hartley, Calgary 483.12; 4. Myriam Boileau, Montreal, 456.18; 5. Marie-Eve Marleau, Montreal, 420.75; 6. Alida Di Placido, Pointe-Claire, 417.48.