Eight World Masters Marks – Five by Jim McConica – Fall at Pacific Masters Champs

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., USA, JULY 12. EIGHT Masters world records – five by superstud Jim McConica – were swept away at the Pacific Masters Long Course Championships, held July 8-10, at the pool of the University of California, Santa Cruz, home of the Swimming Banana Slugs, reports meet director Joel Wilson. In addition, 11 national and 17 Pacific Masters marks fell during the three-day aquatic extravaganza that attracted 550 swimmers.

McConica, newly arrived in the men’s 55-59 age group, entered not by politely knocking on the door but by kicking it down. In what is likely only a preview to Long Course Nationals next month, the Buenaventura ace dispensed with global standards in the 400, 800 and 1500 meters freestyle, 200 fly and 200 I.M.

Tod Spieker was McConica’s victim in all three freestyle events. In the 400, McConica touched in 4:32.89, erasing Spieker’s 4:38.81 from 2003. In the 800, the former USC ace clocked 9:11.78, blasting Spieker’s 9:40.68. In the 1500, McConica hacked almost a full minute off Spieker’s year-old standard of 18:57.38 with his 17:58.62.

The 200 fly saw McConica take the world mark below 2:30 with his 2:29.80. Robert Poiletman had the previous mark at 2:33.32 from 2002. He dipped under 2:30 again in the 200 I.M., touching in 2:29.02 to erase John Calvert’s 2:30.33 set five years ago.

Karen Humphreys lowered the 100-meter backstroke standard for women 50-54 with her 1:14.19. Jane Swagerty-Hill, a 1968 Olympian, had the old mark of 1:14.44 from 2002.

San Diego’s Jackie Marr took her own 1500 meters mark for women 60-64 down by 24 seconds, as her 22:05.65 obliterated the 22:29.85 she swam last year.

The final world record was set by the Tamalpais Masters 240+ relay team of Nancy Ridout, Laura Val, Rich Burns and Ken Frost. These worthies roasted the 200m medley relay record of 2:17.78 set by Heart (England) last year with a blistering 2:16.11.

National Records
1996 Olympian Allison Wagner took down the national record in the 200 individual medley for women 25-29 with her 2:24.88. The former mark – 2:25.85 by Sara Shand – had stood for 16 years.

Other Records
WOMEN
1500 Free 55-59 Linda Shoenberger Pacific 22:18.76

800 free relay 160-199 MENLO Pacific 10:22.17

50 Back 50-54 Karen Humphreys Pacific 33.67

200 Breast 19-24 Rebecca Tukua Pacific 2:52.72
25-29 Allison Wagner Pacific 2:46.32

50 Breast 60-64 Daniela Barnea Pacific 45.72

400 MR 160-199 MENLO Pacific 5:29.92

MEN
800 FR 200-239 STANFORD National, Pacific 8:46.21
James Kemp, Matt Kanzler, Tim Broderick, Ken Shilling

400 IM 55-59 Jim Clemmons Pacific 5:30.81

50 Fly 40-44 Roger Brisbane Pacific 27.03

100 Fly 50-54 James Kemp Pacific 1:05.37

400 MR 280-319 WCM Pacific 6:31.65

MIXED
400 Mixed FR 240-279 TAM National, Pacific
Nancy Ridout, Laura Val, Rich Burns, Ed Cazalet 4:41.62

Team Results
Large team division: 1st place, University of San Francisco; 2nd place, Menlo Masters; 3rd place, Walnut Creek Masters.

Medium team division: 1st place, San Mateo Master Marlins; 2nd place, Davis Aquatic Masters; 3rd place, Tamalpais Masters.

Small team division: 1st place, Stanford Masters; 2nd place, Mountain View Masters; 3rd place, Los Gatos Swim and Racquet Club.

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