David Guthrie took his first crack at the Masters world records in the short course meters breaststroke events in the 55-59 age group last weekend at the November Classic in Shenandoah, Texas, claiming all three to continue his world record-setting streak.
The 55-year-old Guthrie, swimming in his first short course meters meet for the 55-59 age group, started out with a 1:07.25 in the 100 breast, taking down the world record of 1:08.13 by Germany’s Walter Kusch. Another Kusch record fell when Guthrie put up a 30.41 in the 50 breast, erasing Kusch’s mark of 30.50.
“After a lackluster 1:07 in the 100, I thought the 50 was out of reach right now,” Guthrie said. “Even though I felt really strong in the 50 the next day, I was astonished to see a 30.4 on the board. It’s a very rare and wonderful thing to be pleasantly surprised by a time.”
Guthrie claimed his third record of the meet with a 2:27.00 in the 200 breast. That demolished the previous world record of 2:33.79 by American Tim Shead.
All three of the previous records were set in 2009. Look for Guthrie to take the 55-59 breaststroke world records even lower in the coming years, as he holds all three marks in the 50-54 age group with times of 29.84 in the 50, 1:04.54 in the 100 and 2:21.65 in the 200 breast.
Guthrie wasn’t the only world record setter in Texas. The Texas Lonestars celebrated five relay Masters world records, including an incredible 10:25.22 in the women’s 800 free relay for the 240-279 age group. Kristin Henderson (2:29.51), Lynn Morrison (2:39.23), Heidi Ernst (2:42.21) and Jacki Hirsty (2:34.27) broke the previous world record of 10:58.88 by 33 seconds.
These four ladies were back on the blocks to add their names to the record book again, this time in the 200 free relay. Morrison (31.39), Ernst (28.87), Hirsty (30.79) and Henderson (28.61) combined for a 1:59.66, which made them the oldest foursome to break two minutes in the relay. It broke the previous world record in the 240-279 age group of 2:05.29 by the Plano Wetcats back in 2013.
The four completed a trifecta of world records with a 4:38.25 in the 400 free relay, taking down the world record of 4:43.35 by Plano in 2013. Morrison (1:08.19), Hirsty (1:09.75), Ernst (1:15.20) and Henderson (1:05.11) contributed to drop the world record by five seconds.
Morrison and Henderson swam the 200 free relay again, this time with the goal of getting their names into the world record books for the 200-239 age group. The two teamed with Maureen Rea and Stephanie Stone for a 1:55.60 in the relay. The swim just barely got under the previous record of 1:56.19 swum in 2011 by Cape Town Masters.
The fifth record for the Texas Lonestars came in the women’s 400 medley relay for the 200-239 age group with a 4:48.61. Stone (1:09.19 backstroke), Rea (1:26.74 breaststroke), Mize (1:04.91 butterfly) and Morrison (1:07.77 freestyle) broke the former record of 4:52.08 by Oregon Masters from 2010.
Full meet results available on Meet Mobile.
Congratulations !! So happy for all the record breakers. Amazing!
Congratulations! It’s always bigger in Texas! I remember swimming with some of you back when I lived in Texas 20 years ago. You guys are so inspiring!
I would love to see Guthrie go a lifetime PB.
Amazing David
Well done Sir!! (Y)