Illinois Masters Shred 800 Free Mixed Relay Record -- April 18, 2005

CHICAGO, Ill., April 18. TYPICALLY, record-breaking swims shave hundredths of a second off the former mark. Sometimes, maybe tenths. The Illinois Masters, though, had a different philosophy over the weekend.

Competing during the Central Masters Swimming Association Short Course Championships, the mixed relay of Liz Dillman (40), Jennifer Ridge (36), Ron Kurza (37) and Matt Keller (35) registered a time of 7:24.36 in the 800 freestyle relay. That effort was good for a national record in the 35-plus age group and hacked 20 seconds off the old standard.

The old record, set by the Badger Masters (N.Y.) stood at 7:43.46. The Badger foursome consisted of Andrea Luallen, James Anderson, Steven Newman and Maria Doelger.