FEDERAL WAY, Washington, May 20. The water at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash., proved to be on fire as even more national Masters records fell at the 2007 USMS Short Course National Championships held from May 17-20.
Men's 200 backstroke
Richard Todd (65-69) posted a national record in the event with a time of 2:25.65. That performance chopped four seconds off the 2:29.38 set by Burwell Jones on Feb. 9, 2003.
Other national titlists included Jon Russell (18-24 – 1:52.75), Kyle Jackson (25-29 – 1:54.14), Tyler Blessing (30-34 – 1:56.84), Rick Hamilton (35-39 – 1:58.96), Chris Stevenson (40-44 – 1:54.23), Lincoln Djang (45-49 – 2:04.25), Robert Supple (50-54 – 2:04.84), Chuck Fischer (55-59 – 2:16.77), Richard Burns (60-64 – 2:20.68), Dick Peterson (70-74 – 2:54.76), Bob Miller (75-79 – 2:49.46) and Dale Webster (80-84 – 3:34.63).
Women's 200 backstroke
No national records fell in the women's 200 back. But, Marifaith Schweitzer (18-24 – 2:09.86), Jessi Crawford (25-29 – 2:09.89), Tobi Limke (30-34 – 2:13.02), Kristin Gary (35-39 – 2:05.50), Birgit Lohberg (40-44 – 2:14.78), Zena Courtney (45-49 – 2:19.72), Patty Landers (50-54 – 2:26.16), Barb Gundred (55-59 – 2:28.88), Constance Sasser (60-64 – 2:57.73), Ida Hlavacek (65-69 – 3:15.53), Betsy Jordan (70-74 – 3:03.06), Janet Kavadas (75-79 – 4:20.67), Berni Phillips (80-84 – 4:38.54) and Maurine Kornfeld (85-89 – 4:33.90) each walked away with a gold medal.
Men's 50 freestyle
Jeff Farrell (70-74) continued an incredible run at the meet with another national record. This time, he clocked a 24.79 to surpass the 25.41 set by Cav Cavanaugh on May 14, 2006.
Meanwhile, Christopher Smith (18-24 – 21.37), Trent Holsman (25-29 – 20.96), Lee Wanie (30-34 – 21.34), Curtis Taylor (35-39 – 21.70), Richard Landry (40-44 – 21.89), Brad Hering (45-49 – 22.50), Jack Groselle (50-54 – 22.37), Ronald Jacobs (55-59 – 24.68), Richard Abrahams (60-64 – 22.69), Tom Landis (65-69 – 25.24), Donald Sonia (75-79 – 30.79), Frank Piemme (80-84 – 30.02) and Gilbert Young (85-89 – 37.52) each earned a national title in their divisions.
Women's 50 freestyle
Laura Val (25.58) and Charlotte Davis (27.03) both took down the 55-59 division national record of 27.20 previously held by Davis since May 22, 2005. Val, however, finished with the standard after aging up this year.
Meanwhile, Carolyn Boak lowered her 60-64 standard with a time of 28.27. Previously, she'd set the mark at 28.56 on May 22, 2005.
In the 65-69 division, Beth Schreiner pipped the standard with a time of 30.42. Gail Roper held the 10-year-old record of 30.45 since May 18, 1997.
Other winners included Karla Bailey (18-24 – 24.68), Jocelyn Rau (25-29 – 24.11), Trina Schaetz (30-34 – 25.11), Heather Hageman (35-39 – 24.40), Lisa Rapuano (40-44 – 24.46), Liz Hobbs (45-49 – 25.00), Leianne Crittenden (50-54 – 26.16), Jeanne Little (70-74 – 32.46), Nan Bohl (75-79 – 36.39), Florence Carr (80-84 – 43.59) and Billie Burrill (85-89 – 48.76).
Men's 200 IM
Erik Scalise (25-29) and Dennis Baker (45-49) both set national records in the event. Scalise clocked a 1:49.11 to shave two seconds off the 1:51.83 get by Neil Pfeiffer n May 18, 2003. Meanwhile, Baker nipped his age group standard with a time of 1:58.92. The previous standard of 1:58.92 set by Paul Smith came on May 14, 2006.
Additionally, Perry Bullock (18-24 – 1:56.22), Lee Wanie (30-34 – 1:56.69), Roque Santos (35-39 – 1:56.90), Brad Meacham (40-44 – 1:59.81), Spencer Eldred (50-54 – 2:07.84), Jim McConica (55-59 – 2:12.75), Robert Strand (60-64 – 2:18.48), Mike Freshley (65-69 – 2:28.72), Dennis O'Brien (70-74 – 2:46.37), Graham Johnston (75-79 – 2:57.94) and Warren Foster (80-84 – 5:01.29) each picked up a title.
Women's 200 IM
Kim Crouch (2:18.48) and Lisa Pace (2:19.88) each eclipsed Robin Parisi's 45-49 national record of 2:19.91 set on May 17, 2002 with Crouch winning both the title and the record.
In other action, Marifaith Schweitzer (18-24 – 2:11.57), Jessi Crawford (25-29 – 2:12.76), Maureen Rea (30-34 – 2:13.21), Laurie Dodd (35-39 – 2:18.79), Susan von der Lippe (40-44 – 2:06.30), Colette Crabbe (50-54 – 2:25.44), Charlotte Davis (55-59 – 2:31.99), Suzanne Dills (60-64 – 2:51.86), Susan Meyers (65-69 – 3:04.15), Betsy Jordan (70-74 – 3:11.99) and Rita Simonton (85-89 – 5:14.16) each touched first in their divisions.
Men's 50 butterfly
Cappy Sheeley (65-69) provided the only record in the event with a time of 27.36. That effort cleared the 27.44 set by Mike Freshley n May 14, 2006.
Brett Bannan (18-24 – 23.06), Jesse Gage (25-29 – 23.01), Lee Wanie (30-34 – 23.65), Michael Sorensen (35-39 – 23.74), Steve Hiltabiddle (40-44 – 23.08), Brad Hering (45-49 – 23.89), Max Stinchcombe (50-54 – 25.34), Fred Baird (55-59 – 26.44), Richard Abrahams (60-64 – 25.27), Jeff Farrell (70-74 – 29.83), Ashley Jones (75-79 – 32.89), Frank Piemme (80-84 – 37.33) and Andrew Holden (85-89 – 50.51) comprised the rest of the winners.
Women's 50 butterfly
Traci Granger (45-49) erased Laura Val's nine-year-old record of 27.02 set on May 10, 1998 with a time of 26.78. Meanwhile, Carolyn Boak (60-64) knocked a half-second off Joy Ward's 32.43 set on April 13, 2003 with a time of 31.95. Barbara Frid (65-69) also got into the record action with a time of 34.01 to surpass Gail Roper's 11-year-old record of 34.45 set on March 30, 1996.
Other winners included Linda Urbatchka (18-24 – 26.21), Lyndsey Linke (25-29 – 25.49), Nikki Weeks (30-34 – 27.55), Michelle Chow (35-39 – 27.23), Anna Scott (40-44 – 27.04), Karen Rosener (50-54 – 28.90), Charlotte Davis (55-59 – 30.02), Helen Bayly (70-74 – 52.76) and Florence Carr (80-84 – 55.09).
Men's 100 breaststroke
Gary Marshall (25-29) wiped out the 55.66 set by Adam Jerger on May 14, 2006 with a time of 54.92 in the event. Jeff Commings (30-34) also nabbed a record with a time of 55.85 to lower his standard of 56.11 set on April 25, 2004.
Meanwhile, Richard Todd (1:10.58) and Mel Dyck (1:12.71) both went under the 65-69 division standard of 1:13.47 set by Mike Freshley on May 21, 2006. Todd, however, touched well ahead to shatter the record.
Elliot Ptasnik (18-24 – 57.67), Roque Santos (35-39 – 58.76), Richard Landry (40-44 – 1:00.58), Jon Blank (45-49 – 1:00.46), Jack Groselle (50-54 – 1:02.31), Jim Capers (55-59 – 1:07.15), Robert Strand (60-64 – 1:06.74), Bob Johnston (70-74 – 1:22.13), Ashley Jones (75-79 – 1:26.95) and Frank Piemme (80-84 – 1:34.54) all went home winners with golds in their hands.
Women's 100 breastroke
Caroline Krattli (1:06.01) and Kim Crouch (1:10.39) both eclipsed the 45-49 division standard of 1:10.76 set by Melinda Mann on May 18, 2003, but Krattli destroyed it to snare the title and the record.
Additionally, Karen Metlick (50-54) knocked a second off the 1:14.82 set by Susan Jones-Roy on April 30, 2000 with a time of 1:13.93 for the standard. Meanwhile, Barbara Hummel (55-59) clocked a 1:17.15 to nip the 1:17.43 set by Ginger Pierson on April 25, 2004.
Other swimmers winning titles included Marion Gallagher (18-24 – 1:07.03), Allison Lloyd (25-29 – 1:07.80), Katie McClelland (30-34 – 1:03.76), Leanne Farmer (35-39 – 1:08.99), Susan von der Lippe (40-44 – 1:04.12), Pierson (60-64 – 1:22.31), Margit Jebe (65-69 – 1:33.53), Donna Ryman (70-74 – 1:43.12), Nan Bohl (75-79 – 1:49.30) and Betty Christian (85-89 – 2:30.63).
Men's 500 freestyle
In the final individual event of the weekend, Dennis Baker (45-49) hit the wall in 4:39.10 to take seven seconds off the 4:46.53 set by Jim McConica on April 30, 2000. McConica, however, came back and lowered his 55-59 standard to 4:57.82 from the 4:59.74 he recorded on May 14, 2006.
In the 60-64 division, Paul McCormick (5:21.61) demolished the James McCleery standard of 5:32.93 set on Jan. 21, 2006. McCleery also surpassed his previous record with a second-place 5:29.74.
Tom Landis took aim at the 10-year-old 65-69 record of 5:44.52 set by Graham Johnston on May 18, 1997 when Landis stopped the clock in 5:37.64.
National titlists included Jon Russell (18-24 – 4:36.95), Justin Brannock (25-29 – 4:51.41), Ili Selinger (30-34 – 4:59.80), Erik Hochstein (35-39 – 4:43.17), Mike Shaffer (40-44 – 4:47.27), Matthew Kanzler (50-54 – 5:13.93), David Radcliff (70-74 – 5:57.07), Thomas Taylor (75-79 – 7:08.37), Jurgen Schmidt (80-84 – 7:48.66) and Gilbert Young (85-89 – 9:13.75).
Relay Records
Colorado Masters Swimming's team of Kim Crouch, Kathy Garnier, Richard Abrahams and Mark Johnston set the mixed 45+ 200 freestyle relay record with a time of 1:36.76. The performance surpassed the 1:38.10 set by Arizona Masters on May 18, 2003.
Meanwhile, Tamalpais Aquatic Masters' contingent of Richard Burns, Rick Meyerhoff, Linda Shoenberger and Laura Val clocked a 1:46.37 to grab the mixed 55+ 200 freestyle relay record previously held by Tamalpais since May 16, 1999.
A pair of teams clocked national-record times in the mixed 65+ 200 freestyle relay. Oregon Masters' squad of David Radcliff, Susanne Schumann, Barbara Frid and Tom Landis placed second with a time of 2:00.29. Meanwhile, San Diego Swim Masters' quartet of Mike Freshley, Jeanne Little, Gynt Clifford and Bob Best clocked a 1:59.75 to wind up with the record and the title. Previously, San Diego Swim Masters owned the record of 2:00.31 set on May 17, 2002.