Five Records Fall on Opening Day of USMS Short Course Nationals

By Phillip Whitten

TEMPE, Arizona, May 15. FIVE national records were washed away today, the first day of competition at the 2003 USMS Short Course National Championships, held at the Mona Plummer Pool on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe.

Only two events were held for men and women — the 1000 yard freestyle and the 1650 yard freestyle — but the competition was highlighted by a brilliant 1650 by 80 year-old Margery Meyer of The Olympic Club. Meyer, who holds the "mile" record in the 75-79 age group became the first woman over 80 to break 30 minutes in the event, slashing Rita Simonton's 1999 standard of 30:00.58 with a stunning 28:59.28. Her swim was the only record set in the women's 1650.

Only one record was set in the women's 1000 as well. That distinction fell to 70 year-old Lavelle Stoinoff, Multnomah Athletic Club, who clocked 14:08.02. Her swim destroyed the listed standard of 15:06.37 set by June Krauser in 1998, and also bettered her own pending mark of 14:17.05 swum in March.

Oregon's Tom Landis saw his 60-64 records in both distance events fall today, each time by slim margins. In the 1000 free, Tamalpais Masters' Ed Cazalet stroked 11:31.46, erasing Landis' 11:34.34 set at this meet last year.

In the 1650, SCAQ's Sandy Galletly just slipped under Landis's 19:18.93 with a 19:18.81.

Jeff Erwin, SAWS, set the remaining record with a superb 15:53.88 effort for the 1650 in the 35-39 age group. Erwin's time was the fastest "mile" in any age group, as he knocked almost three seconds from Mike Shaffer's 15:56.73 set two years ago. Erwin also owns the 30-34 standard at 15:51.57.

Bobby Patten; At USMS Nats SC 03, Tempe

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