Leilich, Poiletman Set Masters National Records

PHOENIX, March 7. SIX weeks from now the top Masters swimmers in the USA will gather in Indianapolis for the USMS Short Course National Championships. But the record-breaking has already begun, with Virginia's Joann Leilich and North Carolina's Robert Poiletman leading the way.

Swiimming at the Tropical Splash in Arlington last month, Leilich, 65, notched two marks in the 65-69 age group. She touched in 1:24.73 in the 100 yard breaststroke to erase Jayne Bruner's 1:26.53 from 2000. In the 200 breast, Leilich lopped over nine seconds off Diane Stowell's standard of 3:15.83 with her 3:06.27.

Leilich also holds the 60-64 records at 1:21.55 (in 2000) and 2:56.39 (in 1999).

One week earlier, at a meet in North Carolina, Poiletman claimed the 100 and 200 yard butterfly records for men 60-64. He just missed becoming the first man over 60 to break a minute for 100 fly when he touched in 1:00.06, a second better than Don McIntosh's 1:01.19 from last year.

In the 200 fly, Alan Cartwright's 2;25.02 from 2002 was destroyed by almost 10 seconds when Poiletman cruised to a sweet 2:15.05.

–Phil Whitten

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