Over 275 Masters swimmers from around the country, ranging in age from 21 to 96, competed in a fast pool at Rutgers University during the two day Colonies Zone Short Course Meters Championship meet hosted by the Rutgers Masters Swim Club. Meet director Cathy Copeland once again ran an excellent meet.

Many fast times were turned in by the swimmers, including a number of times bettering currently published USMS records. Record breakers included: Emily Peters (Garden State Masters, 19-24), two records; Gail Roper (unattached, 70-74), six USMS records and two world records; Doris Steadman (Garden State Masters, 75-79), two USMS and world records; Curtis Sawin (Garden State Masters, 25-29), one record; Wally Dicks (Montgomery Ancient Mariners, 35-39), one record; and Jim Dragon (Garden State Masters, 55-59), one USMS and world record.

Besides the winning and USMS record setting swim by Wally Dicks in the 200 breaststroke, numerous other medals were collected by those Potomac Valley swimmers in attendance.

Potomac Valley Medal Results:

Barbara Clifford (ANCM), 30-34, 3rd place, 100 backstroke

Carole Kammel (ANCM), 30-34, 3rd place, 800 and 1500 freestyle, 100 breaststroke

Deborah Morrin (TERR), 35-39, 1st place, 50 and 200 backstroke; 3rd place, 200 IM

Dorothy Buchhagen (ANCM), 55-59, 2nd place, 50 free; 3rd place, 200 and 1500 free

Barbara Frid (DCM), 55-59, 1st place, 50, 400, 800 and 1500 freestyle

Michael Flynn (DCAC), 25-29, 1st place, 100 and 200 backstroke; 2nd place, 100 free and 50 fly; 3rd place, 200 free

Michael Lee (TERR), 30-34, 1st place, 200, 400 and 1500 free, 100 IM; 2nd place, 100 free; 3rd place, 50 freestyle, breaststroke and fly

Neill Williams (DCAC), 30-34, 1st place, 50 and 100 free, 200 IM; 2nd place, 50 and 100 backstroke, 100 and 200 breaststroke

Douglas Chestnut (ANCM), 35-39, 1st place, 200, 400 and 800 free, 400 IM

Wally Dicks (ANCM), 35-39, 1st place, 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke

Michael Fell (ANCM), 35-39, 1st place, 50 freestyle, 50 and 100 backstroke

Thomas Denes (ANCM), 40-44, 1st place, 200 backstroke; 3rd place, 100 fly

John Feinstein (ANCM), 40-44, 1st place, 50 backstroke, 100 fly; 2nd place, 100 back and 50 fly

Mark Pugliese (DCRP), 45-49, 1st place, 100 freestyle, 50, 100 and 200 back, 100 IM; 2nd place, 50 and 100 fly

Matt Shirley of Reston Masters recently competed in the Pan-Pacific Masters Swimming Championships in Perth, Western Australia. He competed in the hotly contested Mens 35-39 age group, entering the 50, 100 and 200 meter fly, the 100, 200, 400 and 800 meter free, and the 3K open water swim. His accomplishments included a third in the 200 fly, a qualifying time for next year's World Championships in the 400 free, and a blazing 40:36 in the open water swim while finishing 28th overall of 145 swimmers entered. He was the sole swimmer from Potomac Valley and one of only seven Americans at the meet. More than 1000 swimmers from around the world attended the meet, including Shane Gould who won three gold medals for Australia at the 1972 Olympics. Matt was most enthusiastic about his cordial Australian hosts--'the friendliest people in the world' and the other swimmers in the meet. Here are some of his experiences:

Great Britain may not have much of a reputation as a swimming power, but the half dozen swimmers they did send kicked some serious butt. It seemed that every time a British swimmer hit the water, he or she was winning a gold medal, including Nuala Muir-Cochrane. She was planning a visit to her sister in Adelaide, and thought she'd drop in on the Pan-Pacs for a swim, completing the fastest 800 meter free of any competitor, male or female, and setting a European record (9:45.77 in the 35-39 age group).

Jack & Jean Matheison celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary with Jack winning gold medals in the 80-84 800 free and the 200 breast. Simon Edwards, 28, wanted to join the police force three years ago, but needed to lose a little weight, so he joined the Bayswater club. Since then, he's lost approximately 120 pounds and in his first international meet won four medals (800 free, 400 free, 400 IM and 200 IM).

Max Van Gelder was a member of Holland's Olympic Water Polo Team in 1948, 1952 and 1956. He celebrated his 75th birthday with wins and Dutch masters records in the 400 free and the 50 fly (6:52.67 and 40.88).

The Chinese Taipei fielded a team of ten swimmers, after dealing with the loss and grief of the recent earthquake in their homeland. Some of the team could not attend. Their Mens' 280-319 Medley Relay showed off their gold medals and biceps for the local newspaper.

One morning Matt saw a visual image that will stay with him for some time. In the warm-up pool three Japanese gentlemen, all of them at least in their sixties were smiling, capering, and high-fiving each other just like college kids. Going to a Masters meet is a psychological fountain of youth!

Matt also had an interesting experience timing with an 82-year-old Japanese woman. He did some quick math and figured she was born in 1917 and was in her teens when World War II broke out. He couldn't imagine women were encouraged in that era to engage in athletics, yet there she was swimming 400 meters at a fairly good pace.

The DCAC’s Annual Columbus Day Classic attracted 215 swimmers from all over the country. When the proverbial dust had settled, Team New York Aquatics had won the large visiting team trophy, Atlanta Rainbow Trout had won the medium team trophy, and Virginia Masters Swim Team took the small team award. It was wonderful to see so many PV swimmers at the meet and we encourage more of you to come out next year.

I would like to extend a personal note of thanks to all of the volunteers and officials who made the meet a tremendous success. A special note of congratulations goes to the meet director, Mike, for pulling together such a wonderful event. Great job everyone!