Courtesy Swimming Canada
EDMONTON - Jennifer Fratesi of Sault Ste Marie, Ont., and Elizabeth Wycliffe of Kingston, Ont., placed 1-2 in the women's 200-metre backstroke Friday at the 2001 Spring Nationals swimming competition and earned nominations to the world championship team.

Fratesi, 16, clocked two minutes and 13.40 seconds, almost a full second off her Canadian record set this past January at the junior Olympics in Sydney. Wycliffe, seventh in the preliminaries, stunned the field finishing second in 2:15.06. Both Fratesi and Wycliffe beat the qualifying standard for the world aquatic championships team later this summer in Japan.

"I wasn't concerned about the record I just wanted to make the team," said Fratesi, who currently trains in Waterloo, Ont. "Hopefully I can do something about the record at the world championships and that can help me win a medal there. I had a slower start than usual tonight but I came back just as fast so my endurance was very good."

Wycliffe, 18, beat her personal best by 7/10ths and upset Olympic finalist Kelly Stefanyshyn of Winnipeg who was third.

"I'm surprised to make the team," said Wycliffe, who was sixth in the 200 backstroke at last year's spring nationals. "I was able to have even splits throughout the race. Usually after 150 metres I fade."

Rick Say of Victoria, who considered retirement after the Olympics then moved to Calgary in January, won his second gold medal taking the 200 freestyle in 1:49.57.

"I wasn't feeling completely ready for this meet so I was glad to get under 1:50, " said Say, who also won the 400 freestyle under the world standard on Thursday. "I wanted to get out fast and that really helped. I was in the lead immediately and I just focused on holding everyone else off."

Other winners Friday were Tobias Oriwol of Toronto in the men's 100 backstroke and Marianne Limpert of Fredericton in the women's 200 freestyle.