By Glenn Gruber
The Ventura County Masters 65+ relay quartet set three new relay Masters National records this weekend at the SPMS Zone Championships held at the Riverside Aquatics Association pool, site of the 2017 USMS Masters Nationals.
Jim McConica, one of Swimming World’s 12 best World Best masters swimmers for 2015, led the assault by setting a new national record in the 65-69, 1000 freestyle as a split while swimming the 1650. McConica swam the distance in 11:23.13 besting the old record set by Dan Kirkland, 11:25.42.
That swim set the stage for his teammates to step up to the challenge of the 400 free, 400 medley and 800 free records.
The 400 free record was set last year by Gold Coast Masters with a 4:01.05. The VCM four led off with a 55.07 by Glenn Gruber, followed by McConica’s 58.06, Hubie Kerns‘ 57.87 and anchor Bruce Rollins‘ 57.65 for a new record of 3:48.65.
The 400 medley relay record was set in February in 4:30.63 by Michigan Masters. The VCM team recorded a new record in 4:21.08. McConica started the backstroke leg with a 1:05.94. Rollins brought the breaststroke home in 1:16.05 while Kerns, after swimming the 400 IM, split a 1:05.36 fly leg. Gruber had a fine anchor leg recording a 53.73.
The final record came in the 800 free relay when the VCM wrecking crew demolished the old record of 9:14.50 set by Gold Coast Masters with a blazing 8:32.89. The four geezers split it as follows: McConica, 2:05.46, Rollins, 2:13.66, Kerns 2:10.55 and Gruber, 2:03.22.
Smokin’ fast, guys!