Louis Daignault
Canadian Sport News for Diving Canada

VICTORIA, May 3, 2003 - Blythe Hartley of Calgary fired a warning flare that she�ll be a force at the upcoming world championships as she defeated some of her top international rivals for the gold medal Saturday on women�s three-metre at the sixth stop on the FINA Grand Prix diving circuit being held at Commonwealth Saanich Pool.

Hartley, the world one-metre champion in 2001, dominated the six-woman field in the final round with 362.85 points. Jane Smith of Britain was second at 315.99 and �milie Heymans of St-Lambert, third on 10-metre tower Friday, grabbed a second bronze this weekend and sixth Grand Prix medal this season, with 315.63.

Hartley and Heymans gain the two Canadian berths on women�s three-metre for the 2003 World Aquatic Championships July 13-27 in Barcelona. The pair also grabbed the two spots on 10-metre tower on Friday.

��I haven�t had a strong performance like this in a long time on three-metres,�� said Hartley, who won two silver and a bronze last month at the NCAA championships for the University of Southern California where she studies communications. ��My second, third and last(fifth)dives have been question marks so far this season I landed them very well. This is the dive list I plan to use at worlds so I�ve got some confidence now.��

Megan Farrow of Edmonton was eliminated in the semifinal and placed 12th.

On men�s 10-metre synchro, Mathew Helm and Robert Newbery of Australia were the winners with 345.00 points with Roman Volodkov and Anton Zahkarov of the Ukraine second at 328.11 and brothers Justin and Troy Dumais of the U.S., third at 325.98.

Alexandre Despatie and Philippe Comtois, both of Laval, were fifth at 314.28.

Competition ends Sunday.

Put on line on May 3 by SVP