Men Dominate First Day of USMS Short Course National Championships

FEDERAL WAY, Washington, May 17. DURING the first day of competition at the 2007 USMS Short Course National Championships held at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash., from May 17-20, the men's distance freestylers put on a show. During the first session, nine national short course yard records fell in the meet – all set by men.

Men's 1000 freestyle
In the opening event of the day, Jeff Erwin (40-44) and Paul McCormick (60-64) led the way with national records. Erwin clocked a time of 9:37.46 to lower his previous standard of 9:39.98 set on May 22, 2005. Meanwhile, McCormick touched in 11:09.94 to smash the previous standard of 11:25.35 set by James McCleery on April 9, 2006.

Other national title winners included Brian Olver (25-29) in 9:55.80, Ili Sellinger (30-34) in 10:27.08, Mark Magee (35-39) in 10:12.19, John Morales (45-49) in 10:36.02, Tim Buckley (50-54) in 10:56.14, Jim Clemmons (55-59) in 10:57.73, Dick Stewart (65-69) in 12:10.43, David Radcliff (70-74) in 12:24.51, Bob Miller (75-79) in 14:45.35 and James Edwards (80-84) in 24:10.37.

Women's 1000 freestyle
The women's 1000 free went by without a national record in the event falling.

However, Ann Skerkoski (18-24 – 11:31.89), Kathryn Hennessey (25-29 – 11:11.42), Sara Nelson (30-34 – 11:15.25), Jill Gellaty (35-39 – 11:24.16), Lauree Welting (40-44 – 10:53.27), Susanne Simpson (45-49 – 11:03.84), Terry Latham (50-54 – 12:19.09), Barb Gundred (55-59 – 12:11.10), Beverly Montrella (60-64 – 14:18.51), Susanne Schumann (65-69 – 16:54.62), Lavelle Stoinoff (70-74 – 15:51.51) and Rita Simonton (85-89 – 20:52.59) each walked away with a national title.

Men's 1650 freestyle
National records took some heavy shots in the men's 1650 free. Jim McConica (55-59), James McCleery (60-64), Tom Landis (65-69) and Graham Johnston (75-79) each eclipsed a national standard.

McConica clocked a 17:11.12 to chop five seconds off his previous record of 17:16.75 set on Feb. 12, 2006. McCleery hit the wall in 18:49.29 to demolish his old standard of 18:55.22 set on April 9, 2006. Additionally, Landis touched in 19:16.25 to surpass the 20:00.61 set by the incomparable Graham Johnston on May 18, 1997. Johnston, meanwhile, answered right back with a record of his own in 22:21.61 to obliterate the 23:29.79 set by Frank Piemme on April 23, 2000.

Johnston also set the 500 free (6:34.15) and the 1000 free (13:26.07) en route to the record. Also in split records, Landis beat Johnston's 1000 free in the 65-69 with a time of 11:41.40.

Other national titlists were David O'Hern (18-24 – 21:09.28), Brian Wadley (25-29 – 17:02.25), Travis Everett (30-34 – 18:01.92), David Kays (35-39 – 16:59.11), Mike Shaffer (40-44 – 16:26.47), Pete Colbeck (45-49 – 17:58.65), Matthew Kanzler (50-54 – 18:00.09), Will Rauch (70-74 – 24:09.15), Jurgen Schmidt (80-84 – 27:40.23) and Gilbert Young (85-89 – 32:10.13).

Women's 1650 freestyle
The women's distance freestyle record book stayed clean in the mile as well.

The following swimmers each claimed national records: Ginny Miller (18-24 – 17:48.79), Courtney Mills (25-29 – 17:38.76), Kristi Lee (30-34 – 18:42.60), Laurie Dodd (35-39 – 17:59.24), Amy Dantzler (40-44 – 18:15.00), Denise Brown (45-49 – 18:54.28), Charlene O'Brien (50-54 – 19:28.81), Linda Shoenberger (55-59 – 22:06.22), Suzanne Dills (60-64 – 22:23.10), Susan Munn (65-69 – 26:53.42), Betsy Jordan (70-74 – 25:58.15), Lida Gaschke (75-79 – 29:50.87) and Margery Meyer (80-84 – 32:34.28).

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