Nov. 20, 1999
In their first shaved and tapered competition of the year, both men's and women's swim teams represented McGill with outstanding swimming from Matthew Walker, winner of the 100m, 200m, and 400m freestyle, Elaine Duranceau, Lisa Virgini, and Eric Shessler. Walker and Shessler both qualified for the CIAU championship for the men's team, along with Keith Sutherland. On the women's side, Tara Kuchmak, Lisa Virgini, Elaine Duranceau, Beth Carmody, Kerry Cregan, and Sue McKay swam CIAU qualifyling times. Both teams will be taking a break from competition, training over the break to prepare for their return to action against the Quebec conference teams in Quebec City on January 15.
Nov. 7, 1999
The McGill men's and women's swim teams are making an impression in the CIAU swimming community, after beating both men's and women's teams from University of Toronto (last year ranked 3rd and 2nd, respectively to McGill's 5th place finishes) in a dual meet in front of a large crowd at the Currie pool. Both teams also breezed past University of Montreal on the way. Leading the Redmen were veteran swimmers Matthew Walker, winning the 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyles, David Allard, winning the 50m and 200m breaststokes, and 200m IM, and Alex Pichette, who posted top times in the 100m and 200m backstrokes. Pichette also helped to lead out the victorious 4 x 50m freestyle relay. On the women's side, Kerry Cregan walked away with wins in both breastroke events, and Elaine Duranceau won the 200m IM. The following day in Sherbrooke, McGill swimmers posted several season best times, including CIAU qualifying times, at the Can-Am Challenge. Both teams were third of 10 teams, behind University of Conneticut and Boston College.
Oct. 19, 1999
After having conquered their conference cup finals in the Federation
Quebecoise Sport Etudiants last year and ranking 5th in the Canadian Intercollegiate
Athletic Union, the McGill swim team is back in action. They have been training since the
beginning of September, and are now preparing to compete as one of the most up and coming
teams in the nation. Last year's success set some very high standards for this year's
team, and with the loss of several graduating students including Holly McComb, Sebastien
Paddington, Chris Topham, and Benoit Janvier, reaching the same levels will not be easy.
The swimmers don't expect success to come easily, putting in two practices four to seven
days a week. If anything, they are not backing down to the challenges ahead of them.
Although recruiting didn't produce the number of swimmers they were expecting, head coach
Francois (Frank) Laurin remains undaunted. Because this is an Olympic year, many swimmers
may have chosen to stay with their regular coach instead of joining the McGill team.
"The women's team should do as well... as last year, or better," Frank says,
referring to some "pleasant surprises" in the recruited rookies such as Kerry
Cregan and Heather Kwok. He expects both to make their C.I.A.U. qualifying times. On the
men's side, Frank thinks "the men should go faster at C.I.A.U.s this year",
since most were there for the first time last year and weren't as focused as they will be
this year. "The C.I. standard is attainable for many on the team." Frank points
out a very promising rookie on the men's team, Phillipe Leblanc. He is another
"pleasant surprise" from the recruiting who is looking to qualify for C.I.A.U.s.
Although the goals that Frank has set for the team are ambitious, he feels they are
attainable. He wants to see the three F.Q.S.E. banners for winning men's team, women's
team, and combined points return to McGill this year. He also hopes to place a larger
number of swimmers in the C.I.A.U. championships at Guelph, Ontario next February.
"Everybody is going in the right direction," Frank says. "Everybody is
pushing their own limits."
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