4/3/2009 1:50:19 PM
Varsity Blues swimming sensation Colin Russell and cross country champion Megan Brown were named the University of Toronto’s T-Holders Male and Female Athletes of the Year during University of Toronto’s annual athletic banquet awards ceremony on Friday, April 3 at Chestnut Residence.
Russell (Oakville, Ont.), a fourth-year arts and science major, was named CIS male swimmer of the year after he shattered three meet marks, including a pair in national records, and racked up seven medals in as many races – three golds, two silvers, two bronzes – at the CIS championships.
He swept the 50 (22.03), 100 (47.23) and 200-metre (1:43.31) freestyle events, setting Canadian short-course records in the latter two, and became the first male swimmer since 2003 to capture the CIS Sprinter’s Cup for winning both the 50 and 100-metre freestyle events in the same national championship.
In addition to his successful university campaign, the 2008 Olympian helped Canada garner a fifth-place finish in the men’s 4x200m relay as well as a sixth-place finish in the 4x400m relay in Beijing. He was also a semi-finalist in the 200m freestyle, returning to Toronto in top form for his first intercollegiate season as a Varsity Blue.
Similar to Russell, Brown (Guelph, Ont.) dominated the cross country season in 2008. After taking most of last year off due to illness, Brown won every race this season on her way to earning her third U of T female athlete of the year award in four years.
A fourth-year faculty of physical education and health student, Brown reclaimed both the OUA and CIS cross country individual titles this season, titles she first won in 2006.
She was named the OUA most valuable runner, finishing 34 seconds ahead of the second-place runner while leading the Blues to a silver medal finish.
Brown was also named the CIS cross country female athlete of the year as she completed the five-kilometre event in 17:36.8 seconds, 22 seconds faster than her closest rival and again led the Varsity Blues to a second-place finish.
In winning both the Waterloo Open and Queen’s Invitational this season, Brown remains undefeated as a Varsity Blue in university cross country competition.
Two other major U of T athletic awards were handed out Friday night.
Football’s starting quarterback David Hamilton was presented with the George M. Biggs award, while track and field’s star high jumper Sarah Boyle received the Clara Benson honour award, for their outstanding athletic achievement, scholarship and community service during their time at the University of Toronto.
Hamilton capped off his career by becoming the first Varsity Blue to receive the prestigious CIS Russ Jackson award – first presented in 1986 to a player who exemplifies the attributes of football skill, academic achievement and citizenship.
The fifth-year pivot helped the U of T snap a 49-game losing streak with an 18-17 season-opening win over Waterloo and had a career day in week three, throwing for 465 yards and four touchdowns to garner CIS player-of-the-week honours. He finished the 2008 campaign with 2,139 yards through the air, becoming only the second Varsity Blue in school history to reach the 2,000-yard plateau.
As a human biology major, Hamilton's scholastic achievements have been just as impressive. He was a 2007-08 academic all-Canadian, the recipient of the Faculty of Arts and Science Racozki Award (for highest standing in an independent study on international economic history), a two-time recipient of the football award of merit and the winner of the 2008 Maynard captain's award.
Hamilton also volunteers with the Paediatric Ward of the Toronto East General Hospital, where he spends two to four hours per week counselling and entertaining children. He was the top fundraiser for Athletes in Africa, is an organizing member of the on-campus Christian organization, Athletes in Action, and a volunteer with the Evergreen Youth Shelter where he spent time counselling at-risk teenagers.
The 2008-09 OUA and CIS women’s high jump champion, Boyle’s accomplishments stretch far beyond Varsity Blues track and field. In March 2008, she won the Faculty of Physical Education and Health’s Bertha Rosenstadt national undergraduate research conference award in the area of social sciences - for her work on the relationship between delinquent youth in Toronto and roles of community centres.
In addition, Boyle received the Dean’s leadership award, the D.B. award, Harry J Ebbs award, Fred Foot award and Sharon Munn Anderson award, all for athletic and academic achievements.
A captain of the track and field team, Boyle is also a don at Woodsworth College and volunteers at the Good Shepard Catholic School. On top of this, she is a volunteer with the St. Vincent De Paul Christmas toy drive and a member of the CAR budget and equity committees.
Along with the four major individual trophies, 40 student-athletes were awarded the 'Silver T', honouring graduating Varsity Blues for outstanding athletic achievement.
2008-09 Silver T honourees include:
Laura Arduini – Soccer
Mark Bania – Golf
Mary Anne Barnes – Soccer
Heidi Borgman – Soccer
Sarah Boyle – Track & Field
Megan Boyles –Rugby
Christy Bray – Track & Field
Caroline Cheung – Badminton
Doug Creighton- Track & Field
Patrick Cuch – Swimming
Annie DelGuidice - Hockey
Christina Dykun – Tennis
Danielle Greene – Golf
David Hamilton – Football
Melissa Hill – Badminton
Alaine Hutton - Basketball
Cory Kennedy – Football
Steven Kung - Volleyball
Mandy Lau – Fencing
Luciano Lombardi – Soccer
Erin McClure – Cross Country
Kristin McIlroy – Swimming
Claire Midgely – Fencing
Andriy Mnih – Fencing
Melanie Monson – Fast Pitch
Heather Mulligan – Field Hockey
Cailie O’Hara – Field Hockey
Rob Paris – Basketball
Hilary Peden – Fencing
Regan Reid – Water polo
Heather Roth – Fast Pitch
Kate Ruediger – Track & Field
Lyndsey Ryan - Hockey
Brittney Scott – Swimming
Charlsie Searle – Fast Pitch
Julia Sisler – Rowing
Stan Szczepanski – Tennis
Rowan Thompson – Tennis
Caley Venn – Volleyball
Michelle Wood – Volleyball