Gail Roper Blasts Five U.S. Masters Records at Arizona State Champs -- April 6, 2005

By Phillip Whitten

PHOENIX, April 6. IN a meet that saw some very fast swimming, Olympian Gail Peters Roper, 75, was a perfect five-for-five. She swam five events at the Arizona State Masters Short Course Championships at the Brophy East swim Club, April 1 - 3, and broke five US Masters national records in the women's 75-79 age group.

Roper began her assault by winning the 1650 yard freestyle in 27:18.05, chopping more than 15 seconds off Margery Myers' 27:33.86 from 1999.

The next day she added two more marks. In the 100 fly, Roper's 1:37.03 was more than three seconds faster than Lois Kivi Nochman's 1:40.13 set five years ago. Roper followed with a 33.87 for the 50 free, just under Flor Carr's 34.10 from 2002.

On the third day of the meet, Roper blasted Carr's 100 free standard of 1:19.38 from 2001 with a swift 1:16.42. In her final race, she punched in at 2:53.25 in the 200 free, two seconds under Jean Troy's 2:55.51 from 2003.