Music: {allcanada} CANADIAN MORNINGSTAR WINS TWO GOLDS AT INDIANAPOLIS SWIM MEET

Saturday, March 5, 2011

{allcanada} CANADIAN MORNINGSTAR WINS TWO GOLDS AT INDIANAPOLIS SWIM MEET

INDIANAPOLIS -- Calgary's Erica Morningstar won the women's 200-metre individual medley then helping Canada to another victory in the 4x100 medley relay at the Indianapolis Grand Prix swimming meet Saturday.

In the women's 200 individual medley, Morningstar took control early and won the gold in two minutes 12.59 seconds. Julia Smit of the United States was second in 2:14.11 and Kaitlyn Jones of the U.S., third in 2:16.32. Genevieve Saumur of Montreal was fourth in 2:17.35.

In the 4x100 medley relay, Katy Murdoch of Calgary, Morningstar, Audrey Lacroix of Montreal and Chantal Van Landeghem of Winnipeg were the winners in 4:10.38. Toronto's Brittany MacLean, Amanda Reason of Windsor, Ont., Chantique Payne of Guelph, Ont., and Lauren Earp of Toronto took silver in 4:16.68.

Canadian teams grabbed seven of the nine medals in the women's relay races this week.

In the men's 200 backstroke, American Ryan Lochte won in 1:57.63, edging Matt Hawes of Ottawa. Tobias Oriwol of Toronto was sixth and Charles Francis of Montreal eighth.

Lochte lost to American rival Michael Phelps in the 200-metre individual medley.

Phelps, the two-time defending Olympic gold medallist in the event finished in 1:56.88, the best time in the world this season. Lochte trailed Phelps by eight-tenths of a second at the midway point, but Phelps extended the lead in the breaststroke and pulled away in the freestyle.

Lochte finished in 1:59.19. He's the world record-holder in the event.

In the 100-metre freestyle, Phelps charged back from third place with his strongest finish this year. His winning time of 48.89 was another world-best. Matthew Grevers finished second in 50.01 and Olympic gold medallist Jason Lezak was third in 50.08.

Phelps won all five of his events at the tournament.

There were five Canadian finalists in the women's 200 backstroke led by MacLean, the bronze medallist in 2:12.70. Melissa Franklin of the U.S., was first in 2:07.96 and her compatriot Madison White second in 2:12.49.

Barbara Jardin of Montreal was fourth, Murdoch fifth, Gabrielle Soucisse of Montreal sixth and Brooklyn Snodgrass of Calgary eighth.

Victoria Poon of Montreal added a bronze in the 100 freestyle finishing a half second off the winning time posted by Dana Vollmer of the U.S. Sandrine Mainville of Montreal was eighth.

Zsofi Balazs of Toronto was fifth in the women's 800 freestyle.