On January 30, 2016 Masters swimmer Laura Val broke four world records within a single race at The Olympic Club of San Francisco’s annual 1500 Meter (SCM) Meet. The event achieved some extra attention in 2011 when Val, having just entered the 60-64 age group, broke six world records in a single 1500 (50, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500).
Val aged up to the 65-69 age group last month and took her new bracket by storm. This time she lowered the 200m by 3.94 seconds, the 400m by 16.45 and the 800m by 35.20. Her 1500m time bettered Barbara Dunbar‘s record by 1:27.76.
A regular on Swimming World Magazine’s list of World Masters Swimmers of the Year, Val owns every single freestyle world record in the 60-64 age group and is well on her way to rewriting the record books in the 65-69 age group.
Lynn Marshall attended the meet from her home in Canada and set two world records in her 1500. She broke the 55-59 age group record in the 800 (9:35.71, breaking Val’s 9:51.35 from 2009) and cruised past Val’s 1500 world record from 2010 (18:43.73) with a 18:06.01.
Women 65-69 1500 SC Meter Freestyle
Val, Laura B 65 Tamalpais Aquatic Masters-
*world records at 200, 400, 800, and 1500 in bold
33.08 1:10.37 (37.29) 1:47.84 (37.47) 2:25.41 (37.57) 3:05.55 (40.14) 3:45.91 (40.36) 4:26.38 (40.47) 5:06.74 (40.36) 5:47.40 (40.66) 6:28.16 (40.76) 7:08.92 (40.76) 7:49.57 (40.65) 8:30.48 (40.91) 9:11.67 (41.19) 9:53.01 (41.34) 10:34.67 (41.66) 11:16.44 (41.77) 11:58.07 (41.63) 12:40.02 (41.95) 13:22.17 (42.15) 14:04.14 (41.97) 14:46.24 (42.10) 15:28.49 (42.25) 16:10.46 (41.97) 16:52.41 (41.95) 17:34.42 (42.01) 18:16.43 (42.01) 18:58.84 (42.41) 20:21.61
Wow! Congratulations Laura
I actually set two World Records — the 800 (9:35.71 breaking Laura’s record from 2009: 9:51.35) as well as the 1500 (18:06.01 breaking Laura’s record from 2010: 18:43.73). She still had a net gain of 2 records — lost 2, but broke 4 🙂 !
Sorry about that, Lynn! I’ll make the change. Congratulations on the WRs! Two in one is quite a feat!
Thanks very much, Annie!
Congratulations to Lynn and to Val.
Their times and their spirit and love of swimming inspire me.
Thanks, Rob. Laura is such a great role model!