May 25, 2013
Imbeau-Dulac and Filion crowned national champions
QUEBEC CITY – François Imbeau-Dulac of St-Lazare, Que., set a personal best score and Roseline Filion of Laval reclaimed the 10-metre crown in Saturday’s action at the 2013 Summer Nationals diving competition.
The competition is also a selection event for the FINA World Championships July 19- August 4 in Barcelona and the World University Games in Kazan, Russia July 6-17.
On men’s three-metre, Imbeau-Dulac finished the competition with three incredible dives en route his fifth national senior title with a personal best 485.90 points. It is the third highest score by a Canadian in the event. Riley McCormick of Victoria was second at 462.75 and Cody Yano of Edmonton third at 424.10.
‘’I didn’t make any errors,’’ said Imbeau-Dulac, a 2012 Olympian. ‘’After a disappointing start to the season I showed myself that I can be at my best when it is the most important. I feel I’ve overcome an obstacle in my career. My goal today was to dive with a lot of pride.’’
The highlight for Imbeau-Dulac was nailing his final dive, a forward two and half somersault with three twists in pike position. He receive three 8.0’s, two 8.5’s and two 9.0’s from the judges. Along with the 3.9 degree of difficult that gave him a whopping 97.50 points just for one dive. About a half dozen divers currently execute it on the international scene.
The women’s 10-metre went down to the wire between synchro partners Filion and Meaghan Benfeito of Montreal. Both executed the same twisting dive in the final round and Filion scored higher to take her fourth senior crown with 355.95 points.
“I had struggled individually this season but the last couple of meets it seems to be coming together again,” said Filion, the Olympic bronze medallist on 10-metre synchro with Benfeito last year. “I never lost hope though and it feels really good to get the Canadian title again.”
Benfeito, who won three of the past four summer/winter nationals, was second at 352.95 and Carol-Ann Ware of Beloeil, Que., third at 303.55.
Competition continues through to Sunday at Université Laval.
