Hedrick, Wolf Sparkle as Seven Masters World Marks Fall on Day 3 of USMS Long Course Nationals

By Jason M. Parker

SAVANNAH, Georgia, August 14. FAMILIAR names made the headlines again
on the third day of the 2004 USMS Long Course Nationals as seven more world records bit the dust, four of them in the 100 fly.

Trip Hedrick turned in a stunning performance when he crashed through the one-minute barrier, clocking 59.49 seconds for a new men's 50-54 record. The old mark of 1:01.79 was set by Greg Shaw in 2003.

New England's Michael Ross touched in 56.07 seconds to set a 35-39 mark, breaking Tyler Jourdonnais' four year-old standard of 56.39.

In the 30-34 division, Razvan Petcu, 31, swam 56.25, erasing the five year-old standard of 56.49 by Brazil's Robereto Neto.

Lois Kivi Nochman, who set two national records yesterday in the women's 80-84 age group, destroyed the global mark in the 100 fly with her 2:08.58. The previous record, 2:21.88, was set by Germany's Gertrud Meerwald in 2000.

Tom Wolf, who destroyed the 100m backstroke world record for men 50-54 yesterday, whacked five seconds off the 200 meter standard today with a blazing 2:20.51. Jim McConica was the previous record-holder at 2:25.70 from 2000.

Joann Leilich swam the 100 Breast in 1:36.94 to set a new world record
for women 65-69 while Robert MacDonald set a new mark for the 75-79
men of 1:35.55 in the same event.

Arizona's Sally Bolar recorded a new US mark in the 100 fly. Swimming in the 65-69 division, she touched in 1:35.57. Sylvia Eisele (Florida Aquatic Combined Team) swam the 100 Breast in 1:57.62, for a new USMS mark for women 75-79.

In the 280+ 200 Medley Relay, North Carolina Masters Clarke Mitchell, John
Kortheuer, Richard Kitchell and Dick Webber swam a 2:22.68 for a new
world record by nearly six seconds under the previous mark.

After the day's events, about 300 athletes took a paddleboat dinner
cruise down the Savannah River to enjoy the scenery and the cool
evening breeze before Sunday's final day of competition.

Masters Nationals, Savannah

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