Two-time Olympian Audrey Lacroix won the gold medal in the women's 200-metre butterfly on Sunday to conclude the first stop on the Mare Nostrum swimming circuit.
The Point-Rouge, Que., native clocked two minutes 7.63 seconds — posting the fastest time after each of the four splits. Japan's Natsumi Hoshi was second in 2:08.15 while Zsuzsanna Jakabos of Hungary was third in 2:08.58.
"I am pleased with the victory," said Lacroix, who moved to Toronto six weeks ago to train at the Swimming Canada High Performance Centre-Ontario under coach Ben Titley.
"There were several high calibre swimmers at this meet. My initial goal was to swim 2:09 but after my prelims (2:09.79) I knew I could be faster in the final."
Six other Canadians reached finals.
Kierra Smith of Kelowna, B.C., and Toronto's Martha McCabe were fourth and fifth in the 200m breaststroke. Winnipeg's Chantal Van Landeghem placed fifth in the 100-metre freestyle. Katerine Savard of Pont-Rouge was sixth in the 50-metre butterfly and Hilary Caldwell of White Rock, B.C. finished eighth in the 100-metre backstroke.
Smith came within 0.28 seconds of the podium in her final.
"My goal was to get into the medals," said Smith. "Still I'm happy with the overall performance."
The second stop on the circuit is June 10 in Barcelona.
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