Swimming faster, jumping higher

This past weekend the Tigers swim teams traveled to Calgary to compete in the CIS swimming championships. Student-athlete David Sharpe defended his first place title in the 50-metre backstroke, having earned a gold medal in the same event last year. He also earned for a fourth place finish in the men’s 100 metre backstroke and teammate Joe Ur swam hard for a fifth place finish in the men’s 50 metre butterfly. 

On the women’s side Terri-Lynn Benison finished in fourth place in the 200-metre freestyle, just short of a medal. In the women’s 400 metre relay Ceilidh MacPherson, Tavia Raiche-Marsden, Mary Claire Lynch and Michelle Campbell swam collectively to finish in fifth place. The Tigers concluded the weekend with the men’s team in sixth place (205 points) and the women’s team in 10th place (112 points).

On Saturday, Dalhousie basketball hosted cross-town rivals SMU in a doubleheader. In the women’s game Saint Mary’s took an early 47-41 lead over Dal in the first half, but the Tigers came back to defeat the Huskies 74-73. First-year student Courtney Thompson led her team with 21 points. Brooke Sullivan and Anna von Maltzahn also contributed significantly with 18 and 13 points respectively.

The men’s team was also victorious over the Huskies. In the last season game of his Dal career, Simon Farine was the Tigers top scorer with 16 points. Following close behind were fellow veterans Sandy Veit with 14 and Stephen Lopez with 13. This weekend the Halifax Metro Centre will host the Subway AUS men’s basketball championship and the Tigers have earned a first round bye to the semifinal game on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. versus the winner of Friday night’s quarter-final game two.

Women’s hockey played their last game of the season on Sunday against St. FX. The X-Women were relentless and defeated the Tigers 5-0. Finishing the regular season in fourth place, the women will travel to Antigonish this weekend for the Subway AUS women’s hockey championship hosted by StFX.

Tigers track and field teams competed in the Subway AUS championships at the Universite de Moncton this past weekend. Dalhousie finished in first place overall in both men’s (169) and women’s (166) and Tigers head coach Peter Lord received the AUS men’s and women’s track and field Coach of the Year award. Meet highlights include Subway AUS track and field championship MVP Robert McCulloch’s first place performance in the men’s pentathlon. McCulloch was also second in the men’s long jump. Simon Watts, who was selected as the AUS male Athlete of the Year, contributed first place finishes in the high jump and long jump. Mr. Watts was also second in the pentathlon. Dan Gorman ran to first place finishes in the 1000m (2:30.48) and 1500m (4:01.31) events. Thrower Seth London was first in the men’s 35 pound weight throw and second in the men’s shot put. Michael Bawol, Justin Blades, Andrew Falkenham and Daniel Yetman all added to the win column in 60 metre (Mr. Bawol), 600 metre (Mr. Blades), 300 metre (Mr. Falkenham) and triple jump (Mr. Yetman). Justin Blades was also named AUS male Rookie of the Year.

On the women’s side Chantelle Robbertse dominated the pentathlon, winning all five events, and claimed second in the long jump. In the women’s 20-pound weight throw, Elizabeth MacDonald threw an impressive distance (15.61 metres) to claim first place and was second in the shot put. The Tigers recorded first, second and third place finishes in the women’s 1000 metre and 1500 metre events. Ashley Ryer claimed top spot in both events, with Caroline Schlosser close behind. Ms.Schlosser was named the AUS female Athlete of the Year for her achievements this season.

Rebecca Haworth leapt into first place in the high jump, and was second in the 60 metre hurdles. Ms. Haworth was honoured as the AUS female Rookie of the Year as well as with the AUS Community Service Award. Juliana Blois was first in both the long and triple jump events. Amanda McNeil and Jordan Leonard also recorded first place finishes in the 300 metre and pole vault respectively. Tiger runners also swept all of the relays. The Tigers are off to the CIS championships next weekend in Sherbrooke.