Streamlined News: College Season Starts; Birthdays Celebrated

PHOENIX, Arizona, September 23. ON Friday’s show we told you about Ryan Murphy’s victory at the Cal Poly Pentathlon to signal his college competition debut and crown him King of the Pool. After we taped that episode of Streamlined News, we got the results of the women’s competition, and it was Cal freshman Celina Li who won Queen of the Pool by just 12 hundredths of a second over her teammate Missy Franklin. Li had the advantage as the fastest butterflyer, breaststroker and IMer, and Franklin made it a very close match with a 49.43 in the 100 free that was two seconds faster than Li. Defending Queen of the Pool Rachel Bootsma was no match for these two on Friday, finishing fourth behind Elizabeth Pelton.

The other major college team to race on Friday was the University of Alabama, and the men and women won 31 of 32 races against Delta State. Bonnie Macdonald of Australia impressed in her first college meet, particularly with a 10:05.39. Vlad Zinca was the only Delta State winner on the day, taking the 200 fly with a 1:52.23.

Another big name was added to the European All-Stars list for December’s Duel in the Pool over the weekend. Yannick Agnel, the reigning Olympic champion in the 200 freestyle, announced that he is skipping the European short course championships for the chance to be at his best for the Duel in the Pool, which is likely to also feature North Baltimore Aquatic Club teammate Conor Dwyer, who tweeted that he intends to compete there. Agnel will hone his racing skills at the Minneapolis Grand Prix next month before the Duel in the Pool in Scotland.

A couple of people celebrated their birthdays in a big way over the weekend. On Friday, Margaret Wachs marked her 100th birthday with 500 yards at her local pool in Milford, Connecticut. Not only was the swim a way for Wachs to gracefully enter a new century, but also to raise money for her church, the Stratford United Methodist Church. Wachs was not a swimmer growing up, but took up fitness swimming in 2009, and couldn’t complete a length of a 25-yard pool. And now she’s doing 500 yards. Congratulations to Margaret, and happy birthday.

Kosuke Kitajima turned 31 on Sunday, and he also marked the occasion by marrying his fiancee, the pop singer Chisa. Chisa’s group, Girl Next Door, is planning to break up at the end of the year, and Chisa said she’ll become a full-time wife, and possibly mother in the near future. Kitajima still has plans to race internationally for Japan.

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