Russell bids golden farewell at CIS swim championships Curtis Samuel to win the 4x200m freestyle relay by more than 2.5 seconds. Russell also came away with a gold While Canada's winter Olympians were medal in his final individual event, racking up gold medals on the weekend, a defending his CIS title by winning the summer Olympian was having a golden 100m freestyle in 47.94 seconds. But his weekend of his own. best swim of the meet came in the 50m Colin Russell won five gold medals and free where he set the CIS record on his added two silvers at the Canadian way to victory in a time of 21.73, breaking Interuniversity Sport swimming champi- the 18-year-old mark of 22.01. onships in Toronto. Russell's performance Even Russell didn't think he was capahelped him defend his title as the CIS ble of such a fast time since last year's ban male swimmer of the meet. on polyurethane-based swimsuits that And although his three individual golds made swimmers more buoyant in the included a Canadian university record in water. the 50-metre freestyle, Russell's "I'm not really a 50 (metre) biggest source of pride was the "It was the guy but there's been a lot of University of Toronto's two relay perfect way to improvement there," Russell victories. said. "But because of the swimfinish my "Last year we were third in suit controversy, 22 (seconds), university both and we really weren't I never thought I'd have a expected to win," Russell, also a career." chance to get under that member of the Dolphins Swim again." Club, said of the 4x200m n Colin Russell Russell earned his other freestyle relay and the 4x100m gold medal in the 200m medley relay. "And we dominated. We won freestyle, winning by more than two secboth by quite a margin." onds by turning in a time of 1:45.04. He In the final event of the competition, very nearly added another victory in the Russell teamed up with three Oakville 50m breaststroke -- an event he swims Aquatic Club swimmers -- Cam "for fun" -- finishing just .17 seconds Cummings, Marco Monaco and Zack behind Calgary's Jason Block, who overChetrat -- to win the medley relay. They took him in the final five metres. turned in a time of three minutes, 37.53 Russell also earned a silver medal in seconds to beat the University of Calgary the 4x100m freestyle relay. by 1.23 seconds. The 25-year-old will now begin prepar"It was the perfect way to finish to fin- ing for national team trials in April. ish my university career," Russell said. Though Russell's proud of what he accom"Especially considering me and two of the plished in his university career, he said it's other guys (Cummings and Monaco) were time to close that chapter. finishing their careers." "I've been swimming university Chetrat, the lone returning member of (meets) for seven years," he said, "and I that relay, didn't have a bad weekend him- feel all seven of them." self. Chetrat took first in the 100m and Cummings picked up two bronze 200m butterfly, taking the latter in medals, taking third in the 50m and 100m 1:56.70, almost two full seconds ahead of backstroke, while Monaco also earned a his nearest rival. He also added a gold in bronze in the 200m breaststroke. the 400m freestyle. U of T finished fifth in the team compeChetrat picked up a fifth gold medal, tition, which was won by the University of teaming up with Russell, Cummings and Calgary. By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Blades/Raiders series schedule The Oakville Blades have announced the tentative schedule for their Ontario Junior A Hockey League second-round playoff series with the Georgetown Raiders. The Blades and Raiders, meeting in the postseason for the fifth time in the last seven years, will open their series tonight (Friday) at Joshua's Creek Arenas. Game time is scheduled for 7:30. Game 2 will be played Saturday in Georgetown, while Game 3 will be contested Tuesday in Oakville. The start time of Tuesday's contest has not been confirmed. Game 4 will be played Wednesday in Georgetown. If necessary, Game 5 will go next Friday (March 12) at Joshua's Creek Arenas, the sixth game will be held Saturday, March 13 in Georgetown and a seventh game would be played Wednesday, March 17 in Oakville. The Blades and Raiders split four games during the regular season. Oakville was victorious in the last two meetings between the clubs. 33 · Friday, March 5, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Basketball teams seeded first at OFSAA If Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) boys' basketball organizers have it right, Oakville is likely to have two provincial champions next week. Both the Loyola Hawks and St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders have been named the top seeds in their respective OFSAA tournaments. Loyola will compete in the AAA tournament in Kingston, while Aquinas will shoot for its second straight provincial gold in Windsor. The tournaments begin Monday. Adult Hockey Schools A social, relaxed, fun, and safe recreational atmosphere Average & Lower Level Players Men & Women Register Now for Spring/Summer Programs ph: 1-(800)-905-0270 Oakville School - Sunday Nights Oakville League - Thursday Nights Burlington School - Friday Mornings + Many More Across GTA!