Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338

News Release

February 21, 2001

2001 CIAU swimming championships set for this weekend at the University of Guelph

Some of the world’s best swimmers will assemble at the University of Guelph February 23rd to 25th to contend for national honours in Canadian University Swimming.

In all, 318 student-athletes from 31 universities will vie for personal records and team awards at the Gryphon pool.

The CIAU Swimming Championships will feature among others, former Olympians, Mark Versfeld, Mark Johnston and Jessica Deglau from UBC, University of Toronto’s Jen Button and Rick Say from the University of Calgary.

Joining them will be stars like CIAU Athlete of the Week recipients, Liz Warden and Jean-Francois Langlais.

Warden captured 4 gold medals at the OUA Championships, led the Toronto Blues to the team title and was selected OUA Swimmer of the Meet. In the 200m Backstroke event, she broke the 1996 OUA record set by former Olympian, Joanne Malar, (2:12.55) with a 2.11.62 performance and will attempt to best Malar’s CIAU mark of 2:11.04 this weekend.

Laval’s Langlais, QSSF Swimmer of the Meet, claimed 5 golds, 1 silver medal and established a new CIAU record. His time of 24.72 in the 50m Butterfly surpassed the old mark of 24.80 set by the University of Alberta’s Collin Sood in 1997.

Guelph’s Sean Sepulis demonstrated the most incredible display of OUA Swimming since Alex Bauman broke the world record at OUA’s in the early ‘80’ s and as a result was named OUA Swimmer of the Meet. In his three individual Backstroke swims not only did he pick up 3 gold medals, but he also demolished the OUA records, set an Ontario open record and rocketed up the world ranking list.

One of Canada’s brightest young swimmers at 18 years of age, Brian Johns from UBC, is ranked in the top 50 in the world in 5 events. He recently won 3 gold medals at the CWUAA Championships and broke Curtis Myden’s record in the 200m Individual Medley.

Rookie, Kelly Stefanyshyn, captured 5 gold medals at the CWUAA conference championships where she had record setting races in the 100 and 200m Backstroke.

In the East, Dalhousie’s Chris Stewart, a national team member, set an AUAA record in the 50 and 100m Breaststroke. 1996 and 2000 Olympic finalist, Carla Geurts, reigned gold in 6 events at the AUAA Championships.

The UBC Thunderbirds, a traditional powerhouse, will be led by Tom Johnson, who has cornered the market on the Men’s and Women’s CIAU Coach of the Year Award for three consecutive years.

This year’s Championship is sure to be exciting and many records could fall.

For results from the championship visit:
http://www.ciau-results.athletics.uoguelph.ca/

The Swimming Championships are held in the Gold Pool in the Athletic Centre on campus.

Ticket Prices

Individual Session Tickets $5.00 Adults (includes heat sheets and program)

Preliminaries are set for 10:00 on Fri. Sat and Sun.

Finals go at 5:00 p.m. every evening.

Each session is usually about 2 1/2 to 3 hours in duration.

For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs, 824- 4120, Ext. 3338.