Maxine Merlino Sets Masters World Record for Women 90-94 -- March 21, 2002

By Karlynn Pipes-Neilsen

SAN DIEGO, March 21. NINETY year-old Masters swimmer Maxine Merlino of Coast Masters and an Swimming Hall of Fame inductee, set a new Masters world record for the 90-94 age group at a Short Course Meters meet held at Allied Gardens, San Diego, on March 17.

The forever-young Merlino swam an impressive 10:45.34 for the 400 meter freestyle, smashing the previous world best of 14:16.35 by over 3 minutes and 30 seconds. The old mark was set by Anna Bauscher in 1993.