Alex Kostich, Frank Piemme and Jim McConica Set Masters World Records in Southern California

FULLERTON, California, July 26. FOUR individual Masters world records fell last weekend at the Southern Pacific Masters zone championships, with Alex Kostich responsible for two new marks.

Kostich, a former USA Swimming national team member, started the weekend with a world record in the 1500 freestyle for the 40-44 age group, swimming a 16:36.91 to break Jeff Erwin's world record of 16:39.60. Two days later, Kostich broke Erwin's world record of 8:41.65 in the 800 free, swimming an 8:37.81.

Frank Piemme broke a world record in the 100 breast for the 85-89 age group. Piemme swam a 1:51.79 in the 100 breaststroke to break Barton Greenberg's time of 1:53.27. Notably, Piemme also set a United States Masters Swimming national record in the 50 breast with a 49.49, erasing Greenberg's 50.57 from the record book.

Jim McConica set a new Masters world record in the 400 free for the 60-64 age group with a 4:40.52, breaking the world record held by Graham Croft by almost eight seconds.

Twenty-one teams swam under the published world records in the 400 free relay, 400 medley relay and 800 free relay at the meet. This is the first long course season that these events are being recognized for world records by FINA, and Swimming World has not been able to verify if the times swum in Fullerton are indeed the fastest swum so far in the world in those events. The next official list of world records will be released by FINA in early November.

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