Marine Corps’ Okinawa Dolphins Win Six Medals at Tokyo Masters Meet

TOKYO, Jan. 22. MARTHA Stanton of the Okinawa Dolphins set a Japanese Masters national record last Sunday at the 2002 New Year's Masters Swim Meet in Tokyo.

The meet, held at the 25-meter Urayasu City Athletic Park, attracted over 1,700 Masters swimmers, aged 18 and above, including four members of the MCCS Okinawa Dolphins Masters Swim Team.

Led by double gold medalist Martha Stanton, 45, the team returned to Okinawa with six medals. Stanton cruised to first place finishes in the 200 meter freestyle (2:29.92) and set a new Japan Masters national record for women 45-49 in the 200 meter backstroke (2:53.30).

Stanton's performance was one of 30 Japanese national records set at the meet. There was also one world record established at the competition.

Silver medal winning performances were turned in by ODST's George Novinger (US State Dept.), 45, in the 100 meter breaststroke (1:23.12) for men 45-49 and by Eiko Chinn, 30, in the 100 meter freestyle (1:34.07) for women 30-34.

Bronze medals were won by Colin Chinn (USN), 43, in the men's 40-44 100 meter freestyle (1:01.72) and Novinger in the 200 meter individual medley (2:47.51).
Chinn was also fourth in the 200 free (2:17.51).

The Dolphins plan to compete again at the Okinawa Spring Championships in Urasoe City and hope to compete in Hong Kong and Taiwan later this year.

The team is coached by Mathew Luebbers.

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