ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – Olympian Colin Russell’s record-breaking performance led the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s swimming team to their seventh consecutive Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championship at the Eleanor Misener Aquatic Centre at Brock University.
This was the ninth men’s title in 10 years for the Varsity Blues who accumulated 998 team points. The Western Mustangs finished second with 656.5, followed by the Ottawa Gee-Gees with 469.5. U of T’s women’s swim team finished second to the Mustangs who won consecutive OUA women’s banners for the first time in school history, while the McMaster Marauders finished third.
Toronto coaches Linda Kiefer and Byron MacDonald were named OUA men’s team coaches of the year, while Paul Midgley of Western was named women’s team coach of the year.
Named 2010 male swimmer of the meet, Russell of Burlington, Ont. set his third individual OUA record on day four in the men’s 50m breaststroke, claiming gold in a time of 28.42. He set earlier records in both the men’s 100m and 200m freestyle. A science major, Russell also finished first in the men’s 50m freestyle on Sunday in a time of 22.94.
The Varsity Blues team of Russell, Mike Smerek (St. Catharines, Ont.), Cam Cummings and Marco Monaco, both of Oakville, Ont. also established a new championship record, winning the men’s 4x50m medley relay in 1:41.62. Toronto men also claimed gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay as team members Luke Hall (Swaziland), Martyn Forde (Barbados), Steven Hibberd (Calgary) and Taylor Bond (Westmount, Que.) finished in a winning time of 3:24.97.
Oakville native Zack Chetrat built on his success this season and defended his 2009 title, winning the men’s 200m butterfly event in a time of 2:00.51.
First-year swimmer Andy Townsend (Toronto) was named the male rookie of the meet after winning a bronze medal in the men’s 100m butterfly and a gold medal as part of the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team.
In women’s action, Andrea Jurenovskis (Timmins, Ont.) won the women’s 200m backstroke in a time of 2:15.42, while Poppy Ruskys finished third in the women’s 400m individual medley behind Western teammates Brittany Cooper (London, Ont.) and Paulyne Kilty (Newmarket, Ont.).
The Blues team of Sasha Theron (Mississauga, Ont.), Julia Boron (Mississauga, Ont.), Samantha Bancescu (Regina, Sask.) and Heather Maitland (Toronto) picked up a silver medal in the 4x100m relay, behind the first-place Mustangs and a head of the third-place Gee-Gees.
Gold and silver medalists in individual races and gold medalists in relays at the championship are named OUA all-stars.
COMPLETE RESULTS: www.brocku.ca/brockswimming/results/oua2010/
The Varsity Blues swimmers will now prepare for the 2010 CIS swimming championships which will be held Feb. 18-20 at the University of Toronto’s Varsity Pool.
– Source OUA –
