It was the debut of Super League’s innovative Arena Games format in North America, and, while the coverage was dominated by the inspired performance of long-distance star Lionel Sanders, the event featured some exciting racing that saw some great Canadian performances. We recap Saturday night’s racing in words and pictures:
Local favourite Noemie Beaulieu was all smiles as she was introduced to the crowd. It would be a tough night, but great experience for 19-year-old.Dominika Jamnicky bounced back after a tough morning of qualifying, putting herself in podium contention almost right from the gun on Saturday night.Another Canadian, Nataliia Kolesova would eventually finish eighth.There was no touching American Gina Sereno, who took the women’s race by 32 seconds over Australian Sophie Linn.Linn was all smiles after her runner up finish.Jamnicky was all smiles as she finished the first of the three legs in the final.Podium celebrations: Jamnicky, Sereno and Linn enjoy some champagne.The struggle is real – Lionel Sanders climbs out of the water at the end of the first 200 m swimSouth Africa’s Henri Schoeman proved he’s back and over the injury-laden tough two-years he’s endured.Quebec’s Jeremy Briand will be competing at all of the Arena Games events this year, and started the series off with an eighth-place finish in Montreal.Chase McQueen dives into the water to start the final leg of the race.And would maintain his lead all the way to the finish, taking a seven-second win over Schoeman. Behind him you can see the Olympic rings – the race venue was where the swimming took place at the 1976 Games.That was tough … Jack Stanton-Stock tries to catch his breath after the final run.The men’s podium: Schoeman, McQueen and Stanton-Stock.
Photo by:
Kevin Mackinnon
