Indiana University Athletics
Q&A with Colin Russell
11/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Nov. 8, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Junior Colin Russell sat down with IUHOOSIERS.com to talk about the 2006 Big Ten Championships being held in the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in Feb. 23-25. He also spoke about how important it will be to have a home-crowd advantage during the meet.
What are your goals for the Big Ten Championships this year?
"The way I have been swimming in the water this season, I am pretty sure I can break some Big Ten records. I am definitely going to be scoring pretty high."
How important is it for each member of the team to step up and win IU's first Big Ten title since 1985?
"I am pretty sure that the team has been anticipating a win for too many years. Last year came so close, that we know we are going to win this year. It is just something that has to happen. I think it is something that needs to happen very soon."
Does coming within three points of winning the title last year give any additional motivation to train for this season's Big Ten meet?
"That three points comes up a lot when we are doing dual meets. It is known and people realize that. This year is going to be different. We need to find a way to make up for those points."
How great will it be to compete at home in the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in front of a friendly crowd?
"Being at home and knowing my pool is an advantage. We are going to have a few more parents on our side than at Minnesota last year. We are going to have the home-crowd advantage. When I swam at Worlds, we had the home-crowd advantage and the Canadian team had not swam that well in years. I know IU will do the same."
