The 2010 AUS Championships are in the books and the UPEI panthers have shined in the pool. The seventeen member roster posted some impressive results against the best in the Atlantic Conference. The three day event was the last chance for swimmers to qualify for the 2010 CIS Championships being held in Toronto Feb 18-20. For the first time ever the UPEI Panthers will be represented at those Championships.
“The preparation period for this meet was great, proven by our seasonal best and lifetime best results”, added Head Coach William Calhoun.
The statistics are a clear indication that the swimmers had an exceptional meet. Over 75% of the swims were seasonal bests which is always the goal leading into the Championship meet. A truly impressive 32 swims being lifetime best times. We had two swimmers reach finals and another five swimmers make consolation finals. The efforts in the pool for two Panthers garnered UPEI Athlete of the week honours. Eric Beaton for the men and Sydney Morley for the women.
“My message the whole year was to race, and the athletes were able to accomplish that with flying colors during the weekend,” commented Calhoun.
Racing for the last time at a AUS Championships were the Panther graduates. During the athletic banquet on Friday, athletes from all schools were honoured for their pursuit of both athletic and academic excellence. Swimmers who will be truly missed next season from the Panthers are; Tia Quilty, Marianne Parent and Stephanie Landry. A tradition was started on the last night of the competition with the three graduates leading the Panther cheer before finals.
“It is always hard to lose your veterans. We hope to honour them further before the end of the school year,” said Calhoun.
The event that got the whole team fired up was certainly the 50 meter freestyle final on Saturday night. Eric Beaton narrowly missed the CIS cut last season and the whole team was fired up to see him get the time this year. The atmosphere was electric and the crowd cheered for the full length of the “SPLASH & DASH” event. Much to the delight of the UPEI faithful Eric Beaton touched the wall first in a blistering 23.74 lifetime best. The time was under the CIS standard and the whole team was fired up with the result.
“Eric has catapulted our team to the next level in University swimming. I am very proud of Eric and believe this is only the beginning of some impressive things to come in his career”, said Calhoun.
Eric was certainly not the only swimmer posting some impressive swims in the pool. Rookie Andrew Harding swam into finals in his 50 Backstroke placing 5th. He also made consolation finals in the 100 Backstroke placing 9th in a 1:03.08 lifetime best. Tia Quilty showed how backstroke was done making three consolation finals; 50 Back, 100 Back and 200 Back. Her 200 Backstroke was a seasonal best by over 4 seconds! Rookie Ryan Mills was on fire in his 50 Fly making consolation finals placing 11th. First year swimmers Sumara Profit and Suzanne Nicholson both made consolation finals. Profit was 11th in the 200 Breast and Nicholson 9th in the 200 Fly. Sydney Morley made consolation finals in all four of her events; 100 Free, 400 Free, 50 Back and 800 Free. The time in her 100 Free and Backstroke being lifetime bests.
Several other rookies on the team posted exceptional results over the three day meet. Billy MacDonald, Bridget Carter and Katie Carter being three rookies who had never competed in swimming before this season. All three swimmers posted lifetime bests at the meet and will continue to improve over the coming seasons. Cindy McCarron joined the team this year after a couple years out of the pool. At her first AUS Championships she posted four seasonal best results with two being lifetime bests.
The veterans on the team helped the large contingent of rookies this season learn the ropes and post some great results. The veterans also posted great results of their own swimming up a storm. Carrie Mills posted lifetime bests in the 50 Fly and 50 free and had her best finish in the 50 Breast, 17th. Marianne Parent also had her best result in the 50 Breast placing 14th and also posted lifetime bests in the 100 Breast and 50 free. Kaylynne Parkes competed for the first time this year but showed no signs of being rusty with lifetime bests in the 50 Free and 100 Free. Three veterans had their bests results of the weekend in the Butterfly events.; Mikhala Brinklow was 15th in the 100 Fly, Stephanie Landry 14th in the 50 Fly and 100 Fly, Maranda Grant 17th in the 50 Fly. All three were also very strong in their 100 Freestyle events.
Coach Calhoun would like to acknowledge the efforts of last season’s Head Coach Dave Campbell for all his work with Eric and the team last year. Without his efforts the present accomplishments would not have been possible.
Department of Athletics