Six More World Records Fall on Third Day of Masters Long Course Nationals
By Phillip Whitten
PISCATAWAY, N.J., August 15. SIX world Masters records fell on the third day of competition at the USMS Long Course Nationals at the Sonny Werblin Natatorium on the campus of Rutgers University. Six additional national records also bit the dust.
Here's a rundown of tonight's record-setting:
400m Individual Medley
Colette Crabbe, 47, of Oregon Masters, took the women's 45-49 400m IM mark below 5:40 with a 5:38.12 effort.
In the 60-64 division, Jackie Marr, San Diego Swim Masters, set a US national mark of 6:56.07.
200m freestyle
The 200 free was the scene of most of the day's record-setting, with four world and two additional national records swept away.
Tod Spieker, The Olympic Club, got the ball rolling with a 2:11.66 world record for men 55-59. Spieker suffered a tachycardia incident yesterday and it was unclear as to whether he'd even be able to compete today, but he managed to pull himself together and turn in a superb effort.
Jessica Foschi, 23, only 10 weeks into training in her comeback to make the 2004 US Olympic team, touched in 2:03.06 to set a 19-24 record.
Suzanne Heim-Bowen set her sixth world record of the meet for women 45-49 when she stopped the clock in 2:13.17 (split: 1:05.05). She had some pretty tough competition: Karen Einseidler was second in 2:18.81, with Australia's 1972 Olympic star Shane Gould third in 2:20.21. All of Heim-Bowen's record-setting swims have been lifetime bests.
Francine Williamson, GAJA, clocked 2:33.61 to set a national mark for women 55-59. Jackie Marr set her third national mark of the meet in the 60-64 division, clocking 2:43.37. Rita Simonton came close to breaking four minutes when she touched in 4:02.19, a world record in the 85-89 age group.
50m Butterfly
Omaha's Keefe Lodwig clocked 29.23 seconds to natrrowly win the 50 fly for men 60-64 and set a new global standard.
Shane Gould set an Aussie record in the women's 45-49 division with her 30.32 second swim.
200m Breaststroke
Connecticut's Margit Jebe was the only 200 meter breaststroker to set a record, as her 3:39.76 was a USMS national mark.
200m Medley Relay
In the 320+ age group, the Florida Maverick Masters team of Paul Hutinger, Joe Kurtzman, Brud Cleaveland and Robert Blake clocked a national record 3:00.89.
Team Scores
In a very tight team race, host Garden State leads with 1097.5 points, 5 ahead of Colonials 1776. New England is third with 862.