World Masters Championships – Day 4 Highlights

By Michael Collins

MUNICH, Germany – Day 4 at the meet was a much needed day-away-from-the-pool for me. After 3 days of the meet, going from 7am to after 10:30pm, I needed a change of pace. I visited the Ludwig castle of Neushchewinstein on a bike and hiking tour. Luckily it was one of the most beautiful days of the summer. Not wanting to totally take the day off, I was even able to get in a swim in Swan Lake at the base of the castle.

Still there was plenty of action going on at the pool. Here's how it went:

200 BACK MEN

Three world records fell in the Men's 200 Back. Gastao Mariz de Figueiredo from Brazil set a time of 5:06.10 in the 90-94 age group; Toshiji Sato of Japan set an 85-89 record of 3:52.7;, but most impressively, Tim Birnie of the USA representing the Olympic Club cruised to a 10 second margin of victory on his was to a new record in the 55-59 (2:32.51). The old mark was 2:37.14 by Richard Burns of the United States.

Birnie's victory inspired two other Americans from The Olympic Club to take first in their age group. Tod Spieker won the 50-54 in 2:29.71, and Fred Ferroggiaro threw in a phenomenal last 50 to run down two swimmers on his way to victory in the 45-49 (2:26.75). Phillip Djang from New Mexico Masters held on to take third in that division.

Other top American finishes included Ray Taft taking the 80-84 division (3:41.36) and Paul Hutinger winning the 75-59 group (3:23.02). The USA showed great depth in the 70-74 age group finishing 3-4-5-7 with Ken Kimball (3:38.29), Dale Webster (3:41.69), Michael Torsney (3:42.15), and Robert Cunningham (3:47.15). George Quigley from Indy Swim Fit had a respectable fifth place in the 60-64 age group (2:58.08).

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200 BACK WOMEN
Only one world record fell in the women's 200 Back. Edith Thein of Israel swam 4:11.83 to lower her own record of 4:12.86.

Doris Steadman was the only American to win an age group, taking the 75-79 division in 3:41.38. Betsy Jordan took a close second (3:13.41) in the 60-64 age group to Christel Schulz of Germany (3:12.62).

Fourth place was the curse for the Americans, who finished there in five age groups: Jill Coleman, 70-74, (4:14.74), Miek McCubbin, 65-69, (3:55.61), Marcia Barry, 50-54, (3:14.84), and Nancy Steadman-Martin, 45-49, (2:52.10).

Katherine Casey from Pacific Northwest had a nice swim to finish fifth in the 50-54 (3:16.62)

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50 BREAST – MEN
Nick Gillingham completed his sweep of the breaststroke events with the fastest overall time (29.98) to win the 30-34 age group. Gillingham was the only one to break :30.

USA swimmers managed two first place finishes. Manuel Sanguily won the 65-59 (37.22), while Robert Strand barely completed his sweep of the 50-54 breaststroke events, finishing in a tie with Germany's Wolfgang Janßen (33.80).

Other Americans to place high included Frank Starr, second in 85-89 (1:54.68), Aldo da Rosa, second in 80-84 (49.51), Ken Frost, second in 55-59 (35.33). Barton Greenberg was third in the 75-59 (42.64) but it was fast enough to set a new USMS record. Ronald Gainsford from Allegheny Mountain Masters finished just off the podium for fourth in the 70-74 division (43.42).

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50 BREAST – WOMEN

Again the Euro women cleaned up in breaststroke. Only three Americans could crack the top five. The highlight was Dea Ann Joslin's new USMS record of 36.37 to take second in the 40-44 group behind breaststroke monster, Dagmar Hilbig, who set another world record (34.97).

Margot Lenigk from San Mateo Masters was second in the 85-89 division (2:50.49), while Violetta Schlesinger brought home another medal to Virginia Masters with third in 30-34 (36.36)

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100 FLY – MEN
American men had a very strong showing in the 100 Fly. Malcolm Jourdonnais Tyler from Montana had the fastest overall time (56.39), on his way to easily winning the 35-39 age group over Ricardo Santos of Brazil (59.00). His time broke the world record time of 56.60 held by Jeff Stuart of the USA from 1996.

Also impressive was the USA's 1-2-3 sweep of the 45-49 age group with Bradley Horner of Wisconsin shattering the old world record of 1:02.47 by Boo Grainer Gallas (1:00.42), David Vandam from Heart of Texas, finished second (1:03.59), and Rick Abbott from Alaska finished third (1:03.75).

Americans winning their age group included: Jesse Coon, 90-94, (3:51.36) in world record time; Anton Cerer, 80-84 (2:03.87); Robert MacDonald, 70-74 (1:36.50); Dave Tanner, 50-54 (1:04.82); and Bill Specht, 40-44 (59.35).

Other high placing included Brant Hasebe with a rare top 5 finish for the Americans (1:00.54) in the 25-29 age group; David Levinson, third in 50-54 (1:08.35); Art Kelly, fourth in 75-59 (1:58.05); Michael Torsney and Robert Cunningham, 3-4 in 70-74 (1:43.26-1:54.53); and William Muter, who was fourth in 55-59 (1:11.59).

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100 FLY – WOMEN

Judy Wilson from Great Britain must have found the fountain of youth as she set the only world record with a 1:15.41, to win the 55-59 by nearly five seconds. She broke her own record of 1:18.11 by a healthy margin.

Hilda Buel won her age group, taking the 85-59 division in 4:48.34. Lois Kivi Nochmann (2:02.13) and Betty Dunn (2:31.31) gave the 1-2 USA punch in the 75 -79 division. Jill Coleman (2:13.93) and Ann Sheck Dallman (2:17.49) placed 2-3 in the 70-74, but were far behind Silvia Neuhauser of Austria (1:48.19). Joan Alexander from Walnut Creek snuck in for third in 65-59 (2:04.23), along with Cathy Shonkwiler, third in 40-44 (1:14.11), and Catherine Quill finished fourth in the 50-54 (1:29.02)

The meet was done at a more respectable 8:30pm.
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Summer At Castle

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