Nearly 2,000 swimmers including Olympians Matt Grevers, Josh Davis, Rick Colella and Mike Alexandrov continued to race at the United States Masters Swimming (USMS) 2019 Masters Spring Championships April 25-29 in Mesa, Arizona. Swimmers aged 18 to 97 from across the country are competing in the meet.
Saturday saw plenty of repeat titles and double titles across the board.
Here is a list of the Masters records that fell on Saturday:
Jeff Commings, Arizona Masters: men’s 45-49 200 backstroke (1:52.23)
Richard Burns, Tamalpais Aquatics Masters: men’s 75-79 200 backstroke (2:27.48)
Katarzyna Wilk, Las Vegas Masters: women’s 25-29 50 freestyle (22.00)
Daniela Barnea, Stanford Masters: women’s 75-79 200 IM (3:14.61)
Jeff Commings, Arizona Masters: men’s 45-49 50 breaststroke (25.66)
Carlo Travaini, Mission Viejo Masters: men’s 55-59 50 breaststroke (26.32)
Richard Burns, Tamalpais Aquatics Masters: men’s 75-79 100 butterfly (1:07.46)
Traci Granger, Los Angeles Peninsula Swimming: women’s 60-64 100 butterfly (1:03.59)
Arizona Masters Swim Club Inc: mixed 85+ 200 medley relay (4:17.52)
Women’s 500 Free
Morgan Fischer started the day off with a win in the 18-24 500 free, winning in 5:04.87. Allison Arnold won the 25-20 in 5:05.96, winning by nearly 15 seconds.
In the 30-34 age group, Emily Parker won in 5:16.95. The 35-39 title went to Ashley Witney in 5:17.03.
The races got closer in the 40s, as Kristi Lee won the 40-44 title in 5:34.22, just three seconds ahead of Julie Roddin (5:37.04).
In the 45-49 group, Heather Wagner claimed victory in 5:25.09.
Charlotte Peterson won the 50-54 group in 5:29.01, edging Jill Gellatly (5:32.86). Robin Klestinec won the 55-59 (5:44.85), Bonnie Spivey won the 60-64 (5:50.69), Christie Ciraulo won the 65-69 (6:16.45), Ann Lyttle won the 70-74 (7:17.48) and Louise Wise won the 75-79 (8:33.73).
Men’s 200 Back
Forrest Beesley led off the men’s session of the 2019 Masters Spring Championships with a win in the 18-24 200 back (1:48.10).
Ramunas Paknys won the 25-29 (1:51.43), while Alexander Bezugliy won the 30-34 (1:54.38).
Christopher Gibson won the 35-39 in 1:55.44. Chuck Barnes won the 40-44 in 1:53.49. Jeff Commings won the 45-49 in 1:52.33 ahead of Josh Davis (1:57.57).
James Webber won the 50-54 in one of the closest races of the day, finishing in 2:02.36, just ahead of Erwin Kratz (2:02.31).
Jean-Philippe Riblet won the 55-59 division in 2:09.09. Jim Sauer won the 60-64 in 2:10.45. Timothy Shead won the 65-59 in 2:20.45, while Dan Kirkland won the 70-74 in 2:25.24.
Richard Burns claimed victory in the 75-79 in 2:27.48, while Marty Mennen won the 80-84 in 3:02.97. Clarke Mitchell won the 85-89 in 3:24.35 and Willard Lamb won the 95-99 in 4:31.80.
Women’s 200 Back
Katherine Yu won the 18-24 200 back title in 2:11.68, while Marina Spadoni won the 25-29 (2:01.80) ahead of Felicia Lee (2:06.06).
Kelly Harrigan won the 30-34 title in 2:01.80, nearly 14 seconds ahead of the field.
Naoko Watanabe won the 35-39 division in 2:06.44. Debbie Iles won the 40-44 in 2:14.00, while Amy Piotz-Saribalas won the 45-49 in 2:17.15.
Kristin Gary won the 50-54 division in 2:16.17, while Stephanie Saucy won the 55-59 in 2:27.25, Bonnie Bilich wont he 60-64 (2:21.35), Cecilia McCloskey won the 65-69 (2:34.72), Stella Preissler won the 70-74 (3:03.79), Joy Ward won the 75-79 (3:19.79), Gynt Clifford won the 80-84 (4:00.45), Ann Kay won 85-89 (4:26.73) and Maurine Kornfied won the 95-99 in 5:42.12.
Men’s 50 Free
Andrew Appleby won the 18-24 title in the 50 free in 20.35. Marcin Cieslak claimed the 25-29 title in 20.24.
Maxime Marechal-McCoy won the 30-34 division in 21.28, while Tyler DeBerry won the 25-29 in 21.28.
Chuck Barnes won the 40-44 for the second consecutive event, winning in 20.99.
Former Olympian Josh Davis won the 45-49 event in 21.68.
Nicholas Decker claimed the 50-54 title in 22.49, while Stephen Nichols won the 55-59 in 22.83, Bruce Kone won the 60-64 in 23.34, Bruce Williams won the 65-59 in 24.28, Richard Abrahams won the 70-75 in 24.97, Robert Pilger won the 75-79 in 27.35, Jeff Farrell won the 80-84 title in 29.13, Clarke Mitchell won the 85-89 in 33.76, Fred Leipziger won the 90-94 in 1:19.95 and Willard Lamb won the 95-99 (46.29).
Women’s 50 Free
Amy Lubawy claimed the 18-24 women’s 50 free in 24.35, while Katarzyna Wilk touched in 22.00 to win the 25-29 title.
Katherine Raatz won the 30-34 division in 23.42. Katy Koombe won the 35-39 in 24.21.
Katie Grier won the 40-44 in 24.00, while Heather Wagner won the 45-49 in 24.59, Collette Sappey won the 50-54 in 25.52, Holly Green Blair won the 55-59 in 25.44, Traci Granger won the 60-64 in 26.29, Laura Val won the 65-59 in 27.57, Margaret Toppel won the 70-74 in 28.87, Beth Schreiner won the 75-79 in 36.53, Gynt Clifford won the 80-84 in 43.16, Vel Perry won the 85-89 in 46.28, Flora Wong won the 90-95 in 1:13.96 and Maurine Kornfeld won the 95-99 in 1:00.42.
Men’s 200 IM
Francois Van Wynsberge won the 18-24 title in the 200 IM, finishing in 1:49.75, while Juan Jose Garcia Mesa claimed the title in the 25-29 division in 1:51.96.
Alexander Bezugliy claimed his second title of the day, winning the 30-34 division in 1:52.90.
Former Michigan swimmer Christian Vanderkaay won the 35-39 division in 1:58.66, while Blake Holden won the 40-44 in 1:58.22.
Steve West won the 45-49 title in 1:56.16, finishing ahead of former Olympian Josh Davis (1:57.29).
Lawrence Lee won the 50-54 title in 2:02.40, while David Sims won the 55-59 in 2:05.48, Tito Morales won the 60-64 division in 2:12.40, Rick Colella won the 65-69 in 2:05.87, Lee Childs won the 70-74 in 2:28.77, David Gildea won the 75-79 in 2:58.47, William Van Horn won the 80-84 in 3:23.26 and Steve Barrett won the 85-89 division in 4:38.13.
Women’s 200 IM
Caitlin Krull started the women’s event with a win in the 18-24 division, finishing in 2:15.39.
Rachel Ripley won the 25-29 division in 2:07.19, while Courtney Monsees won the 30-34 in 2:05.99 and Sara Shepherd claimed victory in the 35-39 in 2:13.96.
Erin Moro won the 40-44 title in 2:16.05, while Bonnie Moss won the 45-49 in 2:19.02, Jill Gellatly won the 50-54 in 2:22.27, Kathleen Steffe won the 55-59 in 2:29.22, Bonnie Bilich won the 60-64 in 2:29.28, Shirley Loftus-Charley won the 65-69 in 2:45.88, Carolyn Boak won the 70-74 in 3:04.12 and Daniela Barnea won the 75-79 in 3:14.61.
Men’s 50 Breast
Francois Van Wynsberge won again at 18-24, winning the 50 breast in 25.55, while Hunter Cobleigh won the 25-29 in 25.07.
Olympian Matt Grevers won the 30-34 division in 24.39 to take the top overall time in the event.
Christian Vanderkaay earned his second win of the day in the 35-39 division with a 26.62.
Blake Holden won the 40-44 in 26.19, while Jeff Commings won again in 45-49 (25.66), Jim Tuchler won 50-54 (28.10), Carlo Travaini won 55-59 in 26.32, Bruce Kone won 60-64 in 28.91.
In the 65-69 age group, Timothy Shead and Stuart Waterbury tied in 30.27 to win the division together.
Douglas Springer won the 70-74 in 33.11, Peter Anderson won the 75-79 in 35.29, Steve Barrett won the 85-89 in 58.63 and Fred Leipziger won the 90-94 in 1:35.80.
Women’s 50 Breast
Jacklyn Taylor edged teammate Joelle Beachler to win the 18-24 women’s 50 breast. Taylor finished in 30.62, while Beachler was just behind in 30.90.
Carmen Young won the 25-29 in 29.56, Britta O’Leary won the 20-24 in 30.79, Molly Connolly won the 35-39 in 31.71, Kerry Lindauer won the 40-44 in 30.78, Trina Schaetz won the 45-49 in 30.99, Corrin Buck won the 50-54 in 33.52, Robin Tracy won the 55-59 in 34.15, Elizabeth De Herder won the 60-64 in 35.04, Regula Steiger won the 65-69 division in 37.11, Janet Gettling won the 70-74 in 40.89, Daniela Barnea won the 75-79 in 41.76, Kristin Jaffe won the 80-84 in 49.12, Yenny Van Dinter won the 85-89 in 1:02.82 and Flora Wong won the 90-94.
Men’s 100 Fly
Neil Franka bettered his seed time by nearly three seconds to win the 18-24 division in the 100 fly. He finished in 49.25.
Marcin Cieslak earned another win in the 25-29 with a 46.62.
Kaspar Raigla won the 30-34 division in 49.21. Mark Hamming won the 35-39 in 49.93, while Andrew Babcock won the 40-44 in 52.46.
John Landreth won the 45-49 in 53.43, while Jeffrey Roddin won the 50-54 in 53.81, David Sims won the 55-59 in 54.74, Paul Carter won the 60-64 in 55.51, Rick Colella won the 65-69 in 57.84, Richard Abrams won the 70-74 division in 1:03.11, Richard Burns won the 75-79 in 1:07.46 and Ira Rimerman won the 80-84 in 1:39.57.
Women’s 100 Fly
In the final women’s individual race of the day at the 2019 Masters Spring Championships, Kathryn Siegel started things off with a win in the 18-24 division with a 57.41.
Christina Bechtel won the 25-29 in 55/88, while Kelly Harrigan won again in the 30-34 division, finishing in 56.23.
Kaoko Watanabe earned another win with a 59.24 at 35-39.
Erin Moro won the 40-44 division at 58.84, while Bonnie Moss won the 45-49 in 1:01.14, Tara Buzzelli won 50-54 in 1:04.93, Andrea Block won the 55-59 in 1:06.23, Traci Granger claimed victory in the 60-64 in 1:03.59, Laura Val claimed another title with a 1:07.21 in the 65-69 division, Joanne Menard won the 70-74 in 1:31.90, Diana Todd won the 75-79 in 1:40.15 and Judith Morton won the 80-84.
Congratulations AJ Andrea Block
Go AJ!!!
1960 Olympian Jeff Farrell also competed in the meet (and won 3 individual events).