Russell, relay team eye a medal
Hopeful of 4x200-metre podium spot
August 12, 2008
BEIJING -- Oshawa-born Colin Russell is getting an excellent view of Michael Phelps, if nothing else.
Now, he'd like a medal of his own.
Russell and the rest of Canada's 4x100-metre relay team turned in a blistering time to finish sixth at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing Monday morning, still well back of Phelps and the celebrated American team that won gold.
Brent Hayden, Joel Greenshields, Russell and Rick Say came in at a Canadian record time of 3:12.26, which would have set a world record prior to these Olympic Games.
As it was, five other teams broke the old standard in the final, topped by the 3:08.24 time of the U.S.
Russell and company will now set their sights on the 4x200-metre relay, where they hope to earn a medal Tuesday night (Wednesday morning in Beijing). The team qualified in fifth spot without Hayden and Russell, who are considered to be their top two swimmers.
Russell also reached the semifinals of the individual men's 200-metre freestyle, but finished seventh in his heat and failed to reach the final. Phelps won the event in a world-record time of 1:42.96, his third gold medal of the Olympics.