Swim Meet Reports
Colonies Zone Meet, Rutgers University
The 2000 Colonies Zone Championship was held March 31-April 2 at the Sonny Werblin Recreation Center at Rutgers University. Jim O'Connor of Maryland Masters set a USMS record in the 45-49 200 yard fly (2:02.26) and 96-year-young Gus Langner from Connecticut Masters swam seven events: 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 free and 50 and 100 breast.
The meet ran quickly, with two courses used for events over 100 yards and one course used for the shorter events.
Potomac Valley event winners included:
Jennifer Main (ANCM), 30-34 50, 100 & 200 breast
Penny Bates (ANCM), 35-39 200 fly
Anita Callahan (GMUP), 40-44 50 & 100 free, 100 fly
Barbara Frid (DCM), 55-59 50 & 1000 free, 50 & 100 back, 100 IM
Darren Gorman (DCAC) 25-29 50 free, 50 & 100 breast, 50 fly, 100 IM
Neill Williams (DCAC) 30-34 50 free, 50 & 100 breast, 100 & 200 IM
Michael Fell (ANCM), 35-39 100 free
Dennis Crean (TCSD), 35-39 200 fly
Larry Sloan (GMUP), 50-54 50, 100, 200 & 500 free
Marshall Greer (ANCM), 60-64 50, 100 & 200 back
The Albatross Open: A Record Setting Meet
By Tom Denes
Fast. That is the word that best describes the Albatross Open held at the Montgomery Aquatic Center on March 25. An amazing eleven USMS or world marks were shattered at this short course meters meet. No less than 13 of the meet's 174 swimmers participated in the record setting swims.
Word has gotten around about the speed of the MAC. A gentleman named Cav Cavanaugh flew up from Florida specifically to try for some records. Unfortunately he didn't mention this in his entry form and ended up in lane eight for two of his swims. Undeterred, Cav swam a 1:02.84 in the 100-meter freestyle. That is an awesome time for anybody, but for a 65-year-old it set a new USMS record.
Mike Fell (35-39) made two attempts at national marks and was successful at swimming the 100-meter freestyle in a sizzling 53.06. Jayne Bruner (65-69) set the third USMS record in the 50 meter breaststroke with a time of 44.55.
Then the world records started falling. Joann Leilich (60-64) set two world marks swimming the 50-meter breaststroke in 41.35 and the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:30.58.
Jerry Frentsos (35-39) set three world records in the 200-meter backstroke (2:07.12), the 100-meter individual medley (59.11), and the 400-meter IM (4:35.23). His 400 IM time was 10 seconds faster than the old record.
Three relays also set records. The DC Masters quartette of Jane Bruner, Barbara Frid, Joann Leilich, and Beth Schreiner set two marks in the 200-239 age group. They swam a 5:25.45 in the 400 freestyle relay for a national record and a 2:19.96 in the 200 freestyle relay for a world mark. The Ancient Mariners 120-159 age group broke the world record with a time of 1:35.65. That team consisted of Mike Fell, Wally Dicks, Jeff Roddin and Tim Boyd.
The meet records for the Fastest Woman and Fastest Man on the Water were also broken. Thirty-nine year old Beth Baker spoke for Baby Boomers everywhere by slaughtering the competition in the women's venue. She swam a red-hot 27.17 in the 50-meter race. Thirty-eight year old Mike Fell also bested the competition in the men's race with a time of 24.05.
USMS One-Hour Postal Swim
Robbie Allen (GMUP) won the 30-34 age group swimming 5600 yards in one hour. The 1999 event was sponsored by Indy Swimfit Masters.
Four DC Masters women finished at the tops of their age groups: Barbara Frid was fifth in 55-59 (4035 yards) and Beth Schreiner was seventh (3715 yards). Joann Leilich finished sixth in 60-64 with 3720 yards and Mary Lathram was third in 80-84 with 2175 yards.
Maryland Masters Winter Meet
Over 250 people attended the Winter Meet held at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Age group pentathlon (50 of each stroke plus 100 IM) winners and high point winners included:
Pentathlon
Christina West, DCAC 19-24
Karen Bush, Alexandria Masters 35-39
Corey Carlisle, DCAC 25-29
Clay Britt, Ancient Mariners 35-39
Jose Cunningham, DCAC 40-44
Mark Pugliese, DCRP 45-49
High Point
Christina West, DCAC 19-24
Rachel Frentsos, DCAC 25-29
Penny Bates, Ancient Mariners 35-39
Denise Kirwin, DC Masters 45-49
Margot Pettijohn,Ancient Mariners 50-54
Patrick McGarrity, RMSC 19-24
Corey Carlisle, DCAC 25-29
Jerome Frensos, DCAC 30-34
Clay Britt, Ancient Mariners 35-39
Mark Pugliese, DCRP 45-49
James Ferguson, DC Masters 75-79
JCC Lox and Bagel Meet
Nearly 120 swimmers turned out for the Third Annual Lox and Bagel Meet on April 16. Alexandria Masters won the large team category with DC Masters taking the small team trophy.
Fifty percent of Alexandria Masters' members entered the meet. It was also the first Masters competition for ten members. In fact, first-timers Kay Sargent and David Reynolds ran the George Washington Parkway Classic marathon earlier that day!
The meet will be moving to the fall, beginning November 19. The Jewish Community Center will be accepting credit cards for payment of entry fees. For more information, contact Matt Alvin at matta@jccnv.org or call 703-232-0880.
Potomac Valley Senior Championships
Masters swimmers took on their younger counterparts at the Potomac Valley Senior Championships in early March. Eight masters swimmers participated in the meet, with five making the championship finals and two winning events.
Ancient Mariners Doug Chestnut (35), Mike Fell (38), Wally Dicks (37), Clay Britt (39), Jeff Roddin (30), Tim Boyd (29) and Erik Osborne (31) were joined by Virginia Masters' Beth Baker (39).
Wally Dicks won the 100 and 200 breaststrokes in 56.86 and 2:04.78. His 200 time broke his own USMS record set last December. Jeff Roddin won the 100 fly, with his prelim time of 51.47 under the U.S. Open cut-off. Mike Fell, Clay Britt and Beth Baker also made championship finals in at least one event.
The Ancient Mariner 400 medley relay team of Clay Britt, Wally Dicks, Jeff Roddin and Mike Fell broke its own USMS 25+ record, swimming 3:27.13. Since the team first broke the record in 1996, they have lowered it over eight seconds.