Day 3: 2010 Canada West swimming championships wrap-up

Story by Eoin Colquhoun, U of Lethbridge Sports Info

Photo courtesy Eoin Colquhoun / U of Lethbridge Athletics: The UBC Thunderbirds took back the Canada West women's swimming title, defeating Calgary by a mere 15 points

LETHBRIDGE, AB - Heading into the final day of the Canada West swimming championships it was a two horse race for both the men's and women's titles between the defending champion Calgary Dinos and UBC Thunderbirds. While the Calgary Dino men's side clinched their fourth consecutive and 19th overall title early during Sunday afternoon's finals, the women's title remained in doubt.

Full 2010 Canada West swimming championship results

The UBC Thunderbirds entered the day with a slim 12 point lead and through the first four events the lead went back and forth between the two power houses. A podium sweep of the 200 breaststroke by the Thunderbird women, lead by 2010 Canada West female swimmer of the meet Martha McCabe, earned the T-Birds enough points to hold off the Dinos and end their two-year reign as Canada West champions. The women's title is UBC's first since 2007 and their 19th overall.

The Thunderbird women finished with 773 points, 15 points ahead of the Dinos (758) with the Alberta Pandas finishing third with 418 points.

The Calgary Dino men had a healthy 73 point lead thru 18 events and expanded on that lead early and often and by the time their podium sweep of the 200 IM. The title had been clinched with a total of 764.50 points. UBC finished a distant second with 520 points and the Alberta Golden Bears (452) held off the Victoria Vikes (427.5) for third place.

Team Standings

Women
1. UBC 773
2. Calgary 758
3. Alberta 418
4. Victoria 274
5. Lethbridge 181
6. Manitoba 121
7. Regina 43

Men
1. Calgary 764.5
2. UBC 520.50
3. Alberta 452
4. Victoria 427.50
5. Manitoba 157.50
6. Lethbridge 149
7. Regina 28

Three Canada West records fell in the pool Sunday afternoon, all on the women's side of the ledger. Dino Erica Morningstar opened her afternoon with a record in the 100 free and added another later in the 100 backstroke breaking the minute mark at 59.87. 2010 Canada West Swimmer of the Meet Martha McCabe set her second Canada West record of the meet setting a new mark in the 200 breast stroke.

UBC freshman Shelbi Snodgrass was named the 2010 Canada West rookie of the year, earning valuable points for the Thunderbirds in the 200 and 400 IM and 200 backstroke.

Vikes Freshman Nicholas Sinclair continued his strong Canada West debut, claiming two more gold medals en route to being named both the swimmer of the meet and rookie of the year, the first to claim both awards in the same year. Sinclair won the 200 butterfly and in what could be considered the most exciting swim of day 3, outreached Dino Langlois for the 100 backstroke title. Sinclair finished with four individual golds, winning the 400 IM and 200 backstroke during day two.

Next on the university schedule is the CIS championships, hosted February 18 -20 at the University of Toronto, where the Calgary Dino women and UBC men will look to defend their titles.

Awards
Women's team champions (Felstad Memorial Trophy): UBC Thunderbirds
Men's team champions (E.W. Griffiths Trophy): Calgary Dinos

Women's Athlete of the Year: Martha McCabe, UBC
Men's Athlete of the Year: Nicholas Sinclair, Victoria

Women's Rookie of the Year: Shelbi Snodgrass, UBC
Men's Rookie of the Year: Nicholas Sinclair, Victoria

Women's Coach of the Year: Chad Webb, UBC
Men's Coach of the Year: Mike Blondal, Calgary

All-Stars

Women
Julianne Brown, Calgary
Jessika Craig, Calgary
Breanna Hendrick, Calgary
Allison Long, Calgary
Seanna Mitchell, Calgary
Erica Morningstar, Calgary
Kevyn Peterson, Calgary
Martha McCabe, UBC
Erin Miller, UBC
Hanna Pierse, UBC

Men
Joshua Au, Alberta
Robert Mackinnon, Alberta
Scott Stewart, Alberta
Brian Yakiwchuk, Alberta
Jason Block, Calgary
James Goodway, Calgary
Ryan Gow, Calgary
Bogdan Knezevic, Calgary
Andre Kudaba, Calgary
Dan Langlois, Calgary
Colin Miazaga, Calgary
David Woodman, Calgary
Riley Pickerl, Manitoba
Tommy Gossland, UBC
Nicholas Sinclair, Victoria
Craig Dagnall, Victoria

Major award winners now become finalists for Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national awards, that are to be handed out during the CIS swimming championships, February 18-20, 2010 and will be hosted by the University of Toronto.