THE CANADIAN PRESS
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Canada's swim team added three gold medals Sunday on the final day of the Missouri Grand Prix swimming competition.
Victoria's Julia Wilkinson won the women's 200-metre individual medley, Sinead Russell of Burlington, Ont., took the women's 200 backstroke and Edmonton's Kier Maitland led a Canadian podium sweep in the men's 1,500 freestyle.
The Canadian team was using the event as a tuneup for the Olympic trials, March 27 to April 1 in Montreal.
Wilkinson staved off a strong finish from Calgary's Erica Morningstar, finishing in two minutes 13.10 seconds. Morningstar, the Canadian record holder, followed in 2:13.56.
Stephanie Horner of Victoria was eighth.
"I was hoping to go into the 2:12 range but I'm happy with the win," Wilkinson said. "I've been working hard on the breaststroke leg in training and this is the first time it translated into success in a race. I feel confident, in shape and more in control."
Five Canadians were in the women's 200 backstroke, with Canada sweeping the medals. Russell earned gold in 2:09.47, Hilary Caldwell of Surrey, B.C., was second in 209.84 and Barbara Jardin of Montreal was third in 2:11.33. Dominique Bouchard of North Bay, Ont., was fourth in 2:12.56. Toronto's Brittany MacLean was eighth.
"I've had a tough weekend so it was nice finish off the meet with a win," Russell said. "It was a good strong race."
In the men's 1,500 freestyle, it was a Canadian sweep with Maitland first, Keegan Zanatta of Victoria second and Will Brothers of Victoria third. Eric Hedlin of Victoria was fifth.
"This is a good sign for the trials," Maitland said. "The time was good as were my stroke and split times. When I'm fully prepared for the trials, I should be able to drop a lot of time."
In the women's 100 freestyle, Victoria Poon of Montreal was third and Sandrine Mainville of Montreal fifth.
There were three more silver for the Canadian men. In the 200 IM, Andrew Ford of Guelph, Ont., was second with Alec Page of Victoria fourth and Bogdan Knezevic of Toronto.
In the 200 backstroke, Tobias Oriwol of Toronto won silver with Charles Francis of Montreal fourth and Matthew Swanston of Newmarket, Ont., seventh.
In the men's 100 freestyle, Richard Hortness of London, Ont., was second and Colin Russell of Burlington eighth.
Swim Ontario foursomes won both 4X100 medley relays. Placing first in the women's race were Russell, Erin Stamp of Guelph, Paige Schultz of Toronto and MacLean. In the men's Oriwol, Warren Barnes of Toronto, Joe Bartoch of London and Colin Russell.