Nearly 2,000 swimmers including Olympians Matt Grevers, Josh Davis, Rick Colella and Mike Alexandrov will race at the United States Masters Swimming (USMS) 2019 Spring Championships April 25-29 in Mesa, Arizona. Swimmers aged 18 to 97 from across the country will compete in the meet.
Eight USMS National Records fell on day two, courtesy of Matt Grevers and Richard Burns in the 50 Backstroke, Andrew Appleby, Carlo Travaini and Rick Colella in the 100 IM, Margaret Toppel in the 100 freestyle, Richard Burns and Daniela Barnea in the 200 Butterfly and the Arizona Masters in the Mixed 200 freestyle Relay.
Men’s 100 IM
Three National Records fell in the 100 IM on day two of the competition courtesy of Andrew Appleby (48.96) in the 18 to 24 age group, Carlo Travaini (55.09) in the 55 to 59 age group and Rick Colella (57.37) for 65 to 69-year-olds. Colella earned a bronze medal for the United States in the 200 breaststroke at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.
Appleby was the lone swimmer under fifty seconds. Jeff Garnier won the 25-29 race in 50.94. Kaspar Raigla won the 30-34 race in 51.13, while former Olympian Mike Alexandrov was third in 51.90.
Mark Hamming (52.39; 35-39), Chris O’Sullivan (53.26; 40-44), Jeff Commings (52.46; 45-49), Jeffrey Roddin (54.83; 50-54), Bruce Kone (59.30; 60-64), Lee Childs (1:06.35; 70-74), Peter Anderson (1:15.07;75-79), Jeff Farrell (1:22.70; 80-84) and Clarke Mitchell (1:32.72; 85-89) also earned National Titles in the event.
Women’s 100 IM
Former Stanford standout Felicia Lee posted the fastest time in the women’s race with a 58.20. She was followed closely by Britta O’Leary in the 30-34 race and TOC teammate Naoko Watanabe (59.62) for 35 to 39-year-olds.
The Oregon Masters also had to winners in the 100 IM as Margaret Toppel (1:14.90) claimed the 70-74 title and Joy Ward (1:35.65) won the 75-79 event.
More 100 IM National winners include Kali Conlon (1:01.30; 18-24), Katie Grier (1:00.40; 40-44), Heather Wagner (1:02.23; 45-49), Kristin Gary (1:05.65; 50-54), Holly Green Blair (1:04.09; 55-59), Traci Granger (1:09.60; 60-64), Cecilia McCloskey (1:12.21; 65-69), Kristin Jaffe (1:59.58; 80-84) and Barbara Callison (2:12.50; 85-89).
Men’s 200 Breaststroke
MICH’s Ryan Sebastian (1:59.26) and Mitchell Gartland (2:11.53) put up a one-two finish for their team in the 18-24 200 Breaststroke. Steven van Deventer also put up a quick time of 2:00.30 to win the 25-29 race.
Alexandrov came back to earn his first National Title of the week in the 30-34 age group, coming into the wall at 2:01.98.
Blake Holden (2:05.10; 40-44), Steve West (2:02.72; 45-49) and Travaini (2:08.20; 55-59) were all also under the 2:10 barrier.
Other age groups were won by Reuben Trinidad (2:10.88; 35-39), Gregory Oxley (2:23.52; 60-64), Timothy Shead (2:28.24; 65-69), Douglas Springer (2:40.40; 70-74), David Gildea (3:05.23; 75-79) and Douglas Goode (5:19.49; 80-84).
Full Men’s 200 Breaststroke Results
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
In similar fashion, LVM’s Joelle Beachler (2:36.36) and Jaclyn Taylor (2:38.38) went one-two in the women’s 18 to 24-year-old race. AWJ’s O’Leary picked up another win, this time in 2:20.97.
Rachel Ripley of NYAC was not far off the top time with her 2:21.26 from the 25-29 race. Melissa Chamberlin (2:29.78; 35-39), Sara Dunn (2:30.33; 45-49) and Jodi Lee (2:31.14; 40-44) posted the next-fastest winning times.
Laurel Hill (2:36.03; 50-54), Ellen Campbell (2:49.07; 55-59), Esther Iseppi (2:48.94; 60-64), Shirley Loftus-Charley (3:09.79; 65-69), Janet Gettling (3:27.18; 70-74), Daniela Barnea (3:19.57; 75-79), Kristin Jaffe (4:20.63; 80-84) and Yenney Van Dinter (4:57.37; 85-89) won the remaining 200 breaststrokes.
Full Women’s 200 Breaststroke Results
Men’s 100 Freestyle
Appleby took another victory, this time with a 44.34 100 Freestyle. Garnier did likewise with his quick 44.61. 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Darian Townsend took the 30-34 race in 45.52. His teammate Tyler DeBerry took the 35-39 event in 46.62.
Chuck Barnes was first to the wall for 40 to 44-year-olds in 46.93, while three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Davis won for 45 to 49s in 47.00. Mats Nygren was also under fifty seconds with his win for 50 to 54-year-olds in 49.56.
Other titles were won by Stephen Nichols (50.50; 55-59), Bill Sherman (52.79; 60-64), Colella (52.37; 65-69), Lee Childs (56.70; 70-74), Richard Burns (58.87; 75-79), Farrell (1:09.08; 80-84), Lee Bergen (1:24.53; 85-59) and Willard Lamb (1:43.99; 95-99).
Full Men’s 100 Freestyle Results
Women’s 100 Freestyle
The LVM, CMS, Arizona and Oregon Masters team all had double wins in the women’s race. LVM was led by Amy Lubawy (53.09) and Katarzyna Wilk (48.93) for 18-24 and 25 to 29-year-olds. CMS had victories from Collette Sappey (57.31) in the 50-54 race and Heather Wagner (53.77) for 45 to 49-year-olds.
Arizona dominated the 80-89 age groups. Gynt Clifford (1:37.02; 80-84) and Vel Perry (1:49.83; 85-59) earned the big wins. For Oregon, Karen Andrus-Hughes (1:00.50; 60-64) and Toppel (1:06.03; 70-74) got the job done. This time around, Toppel’s swim was good for a new National Record in the 70-74 event.
Other 100 Freestyle winners were Katherine Raatz (51.21; 30-34), Katy Coombe (52.82; 35-39), Grier (52.19; 40-44), Green Blair (55.34; 55-59), Laura Val (58.93; 65-69), Beth Schreiner (1:23.75; 75-79), Flora Wong (2:55.95; 90-94) and Maurine Kornfeld (2:14.26; 95-99).
Full Women’s 100 Freestyle Results
Men’s 50 Backstroke
Appleby claimed yet another 18-24 win with his 22.49 50 Backstroke. The event helped many others earn multiple wins as well: Barnes (24.13; 40-44), Commings (24.82; 45-49), Kone (27.28; 60-64), Burns (30.90), Mitchell (39.18; 85-89) and Lamb (57.54; 95-99). Burns clocked a new National Record with his swim for the 75-79 age group.
Among all the accomplishments, the race was highlighted by six-time Olympic Medalist Matt Grevers. He raced to a blistering 21.37 for the fastest time of the day and a new Masters 34-39 National Record.
Other event winners include Andrew Seata (22.92; 25-29), Christopher Gibson (23.45; 35-39), Steven Haugen (25.87; 50-54), Brad Hering (27.45; 55-59), Bruce Williams (28.70; 65-69), Jay Brzezinski (32.77; 70-74), Marty Mennen (37.45; 80-84) and Fred Leipziger (1:21.48; 90-94).
Full Men’s 50 Backstroke Results
Women’s 50 Backstroke
Watanabe (27.16; 35-39), Gary (29.52; 50-54), Green Blair (29.80; 55-59), Val (29.80; 65-69), Toppel (35.52; 70-74) and Clifford (50.17; 80-84) also added to their win tallies in the 50 Backstroke.
Marina Spadoni (26.23; 25-29) and Kelly Harrigan (26.64; 30-34) posted the top winning times of the day. Kali Conlon was not far off to win the 18-24 race.
Other 50 Backstroke champions were Debbie Iles (27.99; 40-44), Michelle Davidson (29.71; 45-49), Bonnie Bilich (30.74; 60-64), Joy Ward (42.15; 75-79), Ann Kay (54.56; 85-89) and Maurine Kornfeld (1:17.85; 95-99).
Full Women’s 50 Backstroke Results
Men’s 200 Butterfly
Springer added another win to his resume with his 2:41.18 in the 70-74 200 Butterfly. His teammates Mark Modjeska (2:30.30) and Adrian Kirkpatrick (1:59.87) took the 65-69 and 30-34 races, respectively.
Sebastian also picked up another title in the 18-24 race (1:49.40). Mark Hamming (1:53.49; 35-39) and Dan Glaser-Garbrick (1:55.74; 25-29) also posted wins under two-minutes.
Michael Grados (2:01.69; 40-44), Morten Andersen (2:04.32; 45-49), Mike Shaffer (2:01.27; 50-54), David Sims (2:05.60; 55-59), Jim Sauer (2:09.81; 60-64), Frank Williams (3:26.34; 75-79) and Ira Rimerman (3:47.32; 80-84) were also victorious.
Full Men’s 200 Butterfly Results
Women’s 200 Butterfly
Daniela Barnea and Shirley Loftus-Charley led the way in the 200 Butterfly. Barnea set a new National Record with her time of 3:36.66 and Loftus-Charley won her second win of the day in 2:53.65.
The fastest winning times of the day went to Kelsey Hojan-Clark (2:08.24; 25-29), Kathryn Vandam (2:10.00; 30-34), Heidi Zuniga (2:10.30; 18-24) and Erin Moro (2:12.43; 40-44).
Other victors in the event were Amanda Sovik-Johnston (2:17.17; 35-39), Bonnie Moss (2:17.10; 45-49), Rebecca Friedlander (2:29.41; 50-54), Robin Klestinec (2:25.72; 55-59), Traci Granger (2:32.61; 60-64) and Betty Burfeind (4:10.76; 70-74).
Full Women’s 200 Butterfly Results
Men’s 500 Freestyle
The men also contested the 500 Freestyle on day two. The women will race the event on day three. Kirkpatrick picked up yet another win in the 30-34 age group in 4:47.58. Top finishers include Nikita Bondarenko (4:33.63; 18-24) and Trevor Scheid (4:35.09); 25-29).
Other winners were Billy Gaines (4:57.00; 35-39), Don Secor (4:56.52; 40-44), Dan Wagner (4:55.27; 45-49), Nygren (4:58.17; 50-54), Tore Blichfeldt (5:14.02), Andrew Bray (5:13.51; 60-64), Larry Wood (5:46.25; 65-69), Dan Kirkland (5:54.97; 70-74), Tony Ralphs (6:43.28; 75-79), William Van Horn (8:04.35; 80-84) and Lee Bergen (9:22.68; 85-89).
Full Men’s 500 Freestyle Results
Mixed 200 Freestyle Relay
The Arizona Masters led the Mixed 200 Free Relay with their 3:18.65 National Record in the 85 years and older event. The team consisted of Jack Fritz (48.32), Vel Perry (48.42), Gloria Tolaro (1:00.33) and Gelnn Tewksbury (41.58).
Cheryl Kupan did you see him?!
Ann Belew O’Brien yup. He did a 21 in the 50
Back. But, I ran into him before
Cheryl Kupan you were his good luck charm!
Ben Sappey Emma Sappey Andy Sappey
Congratulations!!
Carmen Young
Nice work Cecelia and Gregory.
Congratulations
Linda Irish Bostic
I thought he retired
All I can say is ‘WOW’! Good for him!