Three Tiger teams crowned AUS champs

Celia Peters was named Female Athlete of the Year at the AUS championships in Moncton. (Nick Pearce Photo)

The Dal Tigers add three more Atlantic University Sport (AUS) banners to their 2009-10 collection, with wins by the women's and men's track-and-field teams and men's volleyball.

The Dal Tigers women's track and field team were victorious at this past weekend's AUS championship in Moncton, earning their 20th consecutive title. Stand-out performances included Susan Sobey winning the 60 metre race for the third year in a row and Celia Peters claiming victory in the 600 metre and 1,000 metre races. Ms. Peters shattered the 15-year old AUS 600 metres record of 1:34.37 with her personal best effort of 1:32.23.

Both Ms. Sobey and Ms. Peters were also members of the winning 4x200 and 4x800 metre relay events. Ms. Peters was named Female Athlete of the Meet this year and AUS Female Athlete of the Year, an honour she earned last year as well. Other event winners on the women's side were Jess Puddister who won the long jump and pentathlon events and Elizabeth MacDonald in the weight throw.

Rob McCulloch won the 60 metre hurdles and the pentathlon and earned AUS Male Athlete of the Meet for the second year in a row. (Nick Pearce Photo)

On the men's side, the Tigers track and field team earned their ninth consecutive conference championship and had solid performances from a broad group of Tiger athletes. Michael Bawol captured the 60-metre title, while Luke Demetre won the 300 metres. Both Mr. Bawol and Mr. Demetre were members of the 4x200 and 4x400 metre winning relay teams.

Dominating the jumps portion were Simon Watts and Anthony Bernard. Mr. Watts won the high jump with a record-setting 2.11 metre jump, bettering both his own Dalhousie record for the fourth time this year and shattering the AUS high jump record by 8 centimetres, increasing on his national lead in the high jump.The previous record of 2.03 metres was set 25 years ago in 1985. Mr. Bernard won the triple jump and continued his unbeaten record in the AUS long jump. Rob McCulloch won the 60 metre hurdles and the pentathlon and earned AUS Male Athlete of the Meet for the second year in a row while Mr. Watts was also named AUS Male Athlete of the Year for his performance this season. First-year Tiger Sean Pearce, with a win as part of the Tigers 4x400 metres and a silver medal performance in the 600 metres and the triple jump was named AUS Male Rookie of the Year.

Tigers head coach Peter Lord was named AUS Coach of the Year for both the men's and women's teams.

Men's volleyball

In men's volleyball action, the Tigers were nothing short of dominant. On Friday night, despite a late start to the match with power bumps at Dalplex resulting in a delay of the game, the Tigers demonstrated that they were ready to play. Sander Ratsep, 2009-10 AUS men's volleyball MVP recorded 11 kills, one ace and six digs, while AUS All-Star Devon Parkinson was solid on offense with nine kills and one error in the Tigers 3-0 win over UNB (25-21, 25-13, 25-18). For his efforts, Mr. Parkinson was named Friday night's AUS Player of the Match.

On Sunday, Dalhousie traveled to Fredericton for game two of the best-of-three AUS championship series and again were eager to quickly close out the match, winning 3-0 over the V-Reds (25-18, 25-12, 25-21). Mr. Ratsep stepped to the plate again earning nine kills and three service aces. For his efforts over the two-game playoff series, he was awarded AUS MVP of the championship, earning a $1,000 cheque from Alexander Keith's for the honour.