The FINA World Trophy wrapped up competition in Montreal with the free combination routine, the thematic team event and the free solo. The fourth annual event was held at the Olympic Park Sports Centre and is unique as it is judged solely on artistic merit.
Lyssa Wallace represented the United States with an eighth place finish in the free solo event. Wallace posted an 89.667 and performed to music from Le Reve. Russia's Natalia Ishchenko grabbed the gold medal with a near-perfect 99.333. Canada's Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon notched the silver medal with a 97.333, while Spain's Andrea Fuentes took home the bronze medal with a 97.000. China, Great Britain, Japan and Italy followed.
For the thematic team event, Team USA performed to a Michael Jackson compilation and grabbed the seventh place position with a 90.000. Host-country Canada (99.333) edged out Russia (98.333) by one point while Spain (97.667) followed. China (96.000), Japan (92.667) and Italy (91.667) claimed the next spots, respectively.
In the free combination routine, the United States posted an 89.667, which was good enough for an eighth place. Russia swept the top spot with a 98.667 while Spain (98.333) and Canada (98.000) followed.
Canada (491.666 points) won the overall 4th FINA World Trophy title, which is the total score accumulated from the five events. Russia (491.333 points) and Spain (485.666 points) took the next top positions.
Team USA consisted of several members of the University of the Incarnate Word Synchronized Swimming team: sophomore Molly Knight (Walnut Creek, Calif.), senior Vanessa Calle (Concord, Calif.), junior Elizabeth Norton (Stillwater, Minn.), freshman Samantha Davis (Boulder, Colo.) freshman Kelsey Smith (Penfield, N.Y.), junior Alexandra Stensby (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and sophomore Anna Nelson (Stillwater, Minn.)
Wallace (San Antonio, Texas) and Elizabeth Chinoransky (Springfield, Va.) are both UIW Synchro Alumni who agreed to swim with the team at the Trophy Cup to give the Cardinals more international experience.
Alyson Haylor (Las Vegas, Nev.) Chelsea Aton (Noblesville, Ind.) and Alexa Tchekmarev (Troy, Mich.) also swam for Team USA.
The Cardinals return to San Antonio this week and will begin preparing for their collegiate season. The first event on the team's schedule is on January 30th in St. Charles, MO, against Lindenwood University.
