Ayalon, Gostamelski Are Outstanding at the Israeli Long Course Champs

By Buky Chase

JERUSALEM, Aug. 11. SHILO Ayalon, a junior-to-be at Georgia Tech. University, and Ania Gostamelski were the stars at the Israeli Summer Long Course Championships, which ended yesterday at the Wingate Institute.

Just one day after returning from a very successful European Championships in Berlin, where he made the finals of the 1500 with a magnificant time of 15:18.31, an Israeli record, Shilo Ayalon broke two more Israeli records: the 800m freestyle (8:09.80) and the 400m freestyle (3:56.28). Coupled with an easy win in the 1500 (15:55.31) and Israel's second best ever 200m free of 1:52.90 (swum as the leadoff for his Jerusalem relay, Shilo was the overwhelming choice for MVP of the meet for the first time in his career.

Gostamelski, the female MVP, was also just back from Berlin where she set five national records, broke the Israeli standard in the 50 free, lowering it to 26.53. She also equaled her tenth-place time from Berlin in winning the 50m backstroke in the time of 29.98.

She also won the 100 free in 57.14, and the 200 free in 2:05.47.

Alexi Manzola set a national record in the 50 meter fly, in 24.71. He also won the 50 free in 23.58.

Ania Rabinovich swam to a national record of 17:21.40 in the women's 1500 meters — the first time the event has been contested at the national championships.

Other notable winners and their times:
Eithan Urbach won the men's 50 back in 26.98, the 100 back in 56.54, and the 100 free in 51.81.

Miki Halika took the 400 IM in 4:24.61, and also won the 200 IM (2:05.61) and the 200 fly (2:04.04).

Vered Borochovski won the women's 50 fly in 27.67, the 100 fly in 1:00.39 and the 200 IM in 2:18.95.

Dov Melnik a University of Minnesota grad defended his titles in the 100 and 200 meter breaststroke, clocking 1:05.10 and 2:17.86, respectively. The latter is a PR.

Or Meltzer, only 14, was second to Gostamelski in the women's 50 back in 30.24 and won the 100 back in 1:04.40. Both times are national age group records for 14 – 18.

Gilad Kaufman is the new Israeli champion in the men's 100 fly with a time of 55.98.

Three more outstanding Israeli swimmers are on their way to US colleges, adding to the 15 who are already there: Yonathan Cohen and Ofir Surias are Georgia Tech bound, and Inbal Levavi, who swam at the European Championships, will be doing her stroking for the University of Maryland.

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