David Quiggin Responsible For Three of Six USMS Records At YMCA Masters Nationals
Last weekend’s YMCA Masters nationals in Sarasota, Fla., featured more than 60 YMCA national records broken, and six U.S. Masters Swimming national records to put a close to the short course yards racing season.
David Quiggin, 70 years old and representing Broward County Masters, was responsible for three of those records. He started with a 12:09.40 in the 1000 freestyle, which took 10 seconds off the 70-74 age group record of 12:19.05 formerly held by Graham Johnston since 2001. Next up was the 200 freestyle, a record with which Quiggin was very familiar. He had swum a 2:07.37 in March to set the record, then lowered it last weekend to 2:06.63.
As an encore, Quiggin posted a 5:48.21 in the 500 free, taking down another 14-year-old Johnston record of 5:51.37. Quiggin owns several world and USMS short course meters records in the 65-69 and 70-74 age group, and now has three in short course yards.
Ellen Reynolds was a busy woman in Sarasota, swimming 11 events and setting YMCA records in all of them. The 50-year-old representing Treasure Valley saved her best for last, breaking her own USMS record 2:13.44 in the 200 IM with a 2:13.16.
Reynolds got close to USMS records in a few events. Her 1:58.95 in the 200 free nearly took down Jill Hernandez’s record of 1:58.43, while her 54.98 in the 100 free approached a Laura Val mark of 54.38 that has been around since 2002. Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen’s 1:02.18 in the 100 IM was threatened by the 1:02.65 by Reynolds, and Reynolds almost took down her own national record of 59.72 in the 100 back with a 59.99.
Two relay national records fell at the meet. Host team Sarasota posted a 3:53.33 in the women’s 400 free relay for the 45+ age bracket, beating the 3:55.16 swum by New England Masters in 2002. Sylvia Buxton, Larissa Carmichael and Julie Tafuto were joined by Olympic gold medalist Sheila Taormina for the record-breaking swim. Taormina was the key leg, splitting a very fast 54.62.
Cedar Rapids’ foursome of Steven Heck, Bruce Rollins, Hubie Kerns and Glenn Gruber combined for a 3:46.11 in the 400 free relay, smashing the record of 4:01.05 swum earlier this year by Gold Coast Masters. The first three swimmers posted splits between 57.0 and 57.4, then Gruber blazed on the anchor leg with a 54.40.
2015 YMCA Masters Nationals (Short Course) – Results