Bolar, Commings and Smith Sparkle at Arizona Masters Short Course Championships

By Phillip Whitten

TUCSON, Arizona, April 5. THERE were some fast times but no records at the Arizona Masters State Short Course Championships, held at the University of Arizona in Tucson, March 24-26.

The host team, Ford Aquatics, won the team title with an overwhelming 1,561 points to 630 for runner-up Sun Devil Masters. In all, there were 19 teams at the meet.

Sally Bolar, 66, of Ford Aquatics, turned in the best performance of the weekend when she won the 100-yard freestyle for women 65-69 in 1:08.78, just 14-hundredths off Gail Roper’s national record. Bolar also recorded wins in the 50 (31.94), 200 (2:43.07) and 500 free (7:25.98), plus the 50 (37.72), 100 (1:30.92) and 200 fly (3:28.88).

Jeff Commings, 32, Ford Aquatics, swam extremely well, winning the 100-yard races in each of the four strokes in the men’s 30-34 division. He won his specialty, the 100 breast in 57.39, not far off his own national record of 56.11. Then the former University of Texas star took the 100 free (48.69), 100 back (53.59) and 100 fly (53.54).

Colorado’s Paul Smith was a bit more than a second off the 100 free record for men 45-49 when he touched in 48.71. Smith also demonstrated his versatility with convincing wins in the 200 (1:48.54) and 500 free (4:56.16), 100 breast (1:05.85) and 200 IM (2:06.71).

Penny Taylor stroked a 46.96 for the 50 breast in the women’s 75-79 division, challenging the record of 44.36. She also took the 100 and 200 breast. Christie Altman won impressively in the 55-59 age group, recording victories in the 50 (29.09) and 200 free (2:30.05), and the 50 (33.59) and 100 fly (1:21.92).

Erika Lynch was a standout in the 50-54 division with very strong performances in the 50 free (28.16), the 50 (31.68) and 100 back (1:07.25) and the 200 IM (2:31.17).

Jeff Utsch and Kurt Dickson dominated the men’s 35-39 age group, with Utsch clocking 1:46.51 in the 200 free and 56.75 in the 100 back, and Dickson throwing down times of 4:57.26 for the 500 free, 2:01.68 for the 200 back and 4:34.53 for the 400 IM. Max von Isser swam a strong 44.08 to win the 50 fly for men 85-89.

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