BlackBerry CIS athletes of the week (#21): Swimming champions Morningstar, Cochrane honoured

OTTAWA (CIS) – Swimmers Erica Morningstar of Calgary and Ryan Cochrane of Victoria are the BlackBerry Canadian Interuniversity Sport female and male athletes of the week for the period ending Feb. 27, 2011.

Morningstar, a third-year arts student from Regina, was named CIS female swimmer of the year after she claimed seven medals in seven events – including six golds - and helped the Dino women three-peat as national champions at the CIS meet in Calgary. The 2008 Olympian was chosen season MVP thanks to her winning times in the 200m individual medley (2:09.70) and the 100 breaststroke (1:05.99), which gave her a combined FINA score of 1743 points. The 21-year-old also won the 100 backstroke, finished second in the 50 breast and guided the Dinos to victory in all three relays to up her medal tally to 20 golds and one silver in 21 races in three career appearances at the CIS championships.

St. Francis Xavier track and field athlete Susie Lajoie, Laval swimmer Marie-Pier Ratelle and Queen's hockey player Brittany McHaffie were also nominated for the women's award.

Cochrane, a first-year student from Victoria, was named male swimmer of the year and rookie of the year following the CIS championships. In four individual events, the 2008 Olympian, who captured bronze in the 1500m freestyle in Beijing, won gold in the 200, 400 and 1500 free races in Calgary, and added a bronze medal in the 400 IM. The 6-foot-4 freshman, who led the UVic men to their best team finish (fifth) since 2003, earned 1644 FINA points with his performances in the 400 (3:48.13) and 1500 free (15:03.47).

Dalhousie track and field athlete Robert McCulloch, Concordia wrestler David Tremblay and Wilfrid Laurier basketball player Maxwell Allin were the other male nominees.

Female nominees:
AUS: Susie Lajoie, track & field, StFX
RSEQ: Marie-Pier Ratelle, swimming, Laval
OUA: Brittany McHaffie, hockey, Queen's
CWUAA: Erica Morningstar, swimming, Calgary (recipient)

Male nominees:
AUS: Robert McCulloch, track & field, Dalhousie
RSEQ: David Tremblay, wrestling, Concordia
OUA: Maxwell Allin, basketball, Wilfrid Laurier
CWUAA: Ryan Cochrane, swimming, Victoria (recipient)

-CIS-