Dan Rogacki Sets Two National YMCA Marks, the Oldest Record Falls on Day Three of the Y Nationals -- April 18, 2004

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 17. DAN “The Man” Rogacki of the Andover (Mass.) Y notched two national YMCA records on Day 3 of the YMCA Masters National Short Course Championships in Fort Lauderdale, as 14 Y marks bit the dust. Once again, the men did the lion’s share of the record-breaking, taking down 10 records to two by the women.

Interestingly, most of the records broken today were a decade or more old, including one that was older than many of the competitors here.

Competing in the 55-59 division, Rogacki won back-to-back events, both in record time. His 2:21.27 in the 200 yard backstroke lowered his own standard of 2:23.33 set just last year. In the 100 breast, he touched in 1:08.94 to wipe out John Kortheuer’s 1:09.64 set way back in 1986, when Dan was a youngster of just 38 summers.

The 100 yard freestyle saw two records fall, including the longest-standing mark in the YMCA record book. In the men’s 75-79 age group, Peter Van Dijk zipped through the four laps in 1:05.42, taking down Clarence Ross’s 28 year-old mark of 1:10.00. Bernie Zeruhn, who is having a fabulous meet here, followed by breaking a 16 year-old record in the men’s 30-34 division. Zeruhn split 22.39 on his way to a 46.24-second effort, erasing John Tudor’s 46.84 from 1988.

The 400 IM saw Jeff Erwin set his fourth record in four swims in the 35-39 age group, while former German Olympian Peter Berndt swam away with his second Y standard in the 40-44 division.

Erwin, 39, clocked 4:21.12, slicing more than two seconds off the previous record of 4:23.30. But he’s got his work cut out for him when he ages up for next year’s meet. Berndt clocked 4:18.02 to erase Clay Evans’ 40-44 standard of 4:220.57 set 10 years ago.

Two records fell in the 50 fly. Joni Davidson, Jordan (IN) Y, clocked 27.19 seconds, 5-hundredths faster than the old mark for women 19-24 set back in 1991, when Davidson was a 10 & under. West Broward’s Joel Burns followed with a 26.05 effort, taking Chris Ostrom’s 26.30 record for men 55-59 from 2002. Ostrom finished third today.

Terry Freerks and John Smith joined Rogacki as record-breakers in the 200 backstroke.
Swimming in the women’s 50-54 age group, Freerks slashed almost 10 seconds off Betty Bennett’s record that had stood for a decade. Freerks touched in 2:27.71. Smith notched his second backstroke record for men 65-69 when he negotiated the eight laps in 2:30.10, erasing Roger Franks’ 2:34.39 from 1995.

Two additional records fell in the 100 yard breaststroke. Joann Leilich took the women’s 65-69 record down to 1:24.09. Jayne Bruner had set the previous mark of 1:28.92 back in 2001. Tim Shead notched his third Y record of the meet when he clocked 1:02.33 in the men’s 50-54 age group, just dipping under Chet Miltenberger’s 1:02.51 from 2002.

Two 200 yard medley relay records also were broken today. In the 45+ division, West Broward’s women’s team clocked 2:06.59. The South Hills men’s team in the 55+ age group swam off with the other relay record, touching in 1:56.38.

Results: YMCA Masters National Short Course Championships