AUSTIN, Texas –Canadian swimming stars Taylor Ruck and Sydney Pickrem were victorious Friday at the season opening Pro Swim Series event.

The 17-year-old Ruck, a double medallist at the Rio Olympics and based at the High Performance Centre-Ontario, placed first in the women’s 100-m freestyle in 53.51 seconds. She overtook Margo Geer of the U.S. (53.74)  in the last 15 metres.

Kayla Sanchez, also of HPC-Ontario, was third in 54.71 and another HPC-Ontario swimmer Rebecca Smith was seventh.

Pickrem, a world championship medallist last season, came less than a second from her Canadian record in the women’s 200-m individual medley clocking a pool record 2:09.92. Olympic medallist Melanie Margalis of the U.S. was second in 2:10.66 and Madisyn Cox of the U.S. third in 2:10.98.

Ruck added a second place result in the 100-m backstroke in 1:00.18 for her fourth top-three finish so far. Regan Smith of the U.S. was the winner in 59.38.

Calgary-based Rachel Nicol was the runner-up in the women’s 100-m breaststroke in 1:07.70 behind Katie Meili of the U.S. first in 1:06.49. Faith Knelson of Victoria was sixth.

Canadian men finalists were Robert Hill of Calgary seventh in the 200-m IM and Mack Darragh of HPC-Ontario eighth in the 200-m butterfly.

Competition continues through to Sunday.

Full results: Meet Results: 2018 TYR Pro Swim Series, Austin