GAMMEL WINS SECOND GOLD AT NATIONALS

This Report Courtesy Swimming Canada
TORONTO--Erin Gammel of Barriere, B.C., earned her second gold in two days Friday and fourth career Canadian crown at the 2000 Speedo Spring National Championships swimming competition placing first in the women's 50-metre backstroke.

Gammel, the 100 backstroke winner Thursday, clocked 29.92 seconds with Jennifer Carroll of Montreal second at 30.04 and Michelle Lischinsky of Winnipeg third in 30.08.

"My time should be in the lower 29 second range," said Gammel, 19, who'll compete at the world short course championships next week in Athens. "In the semifinal I had trouble with my start and that really improved in the final. I'm well rested right now so my times should get better everyday."

In the women's 400 freestyle, Olympic champion Claudia Poll of Costa Rica was the winner as expected in 4:14.23. But she received a strong challenge from Carrie Burgoyne of Winnipeg who clocked a personal best 4:15.55 for the silver. Joanne Malar of Hamilton was third in 4:17.35.

"I was pretty nervous going ointo the final," said Burgoyne, 18, who moved to Calgary in September. "I never thought I would be racing an Olympic champion so close. I stuck to my own strategy by just building after each 100 metres and making sure I kept with the pack."

Laura Nicholls of Waterloo, Ont., earned an 11th career Canadian title winning the women's 50 freestyle.

In men's competition, Morgan Knabe of Edmonton completed a golden sweep of the breatstroke event taking the 100 metre race for his third win in three days. Japan's Takashi Yamamoto, who trains in Waterloo, Ont., beat out Shamek Pietucha of Edmonton in the 200 butterfly.