2019 Masters Spring Championships Sees 8 Records Fall

Laura Val. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Nearly 2,000 swimmers including Olympians Matt Grevers, Josh Davis, Rick Colella and Mike Alexandrov continued to race at the United States Masters Swimming (USMS) 2019 Masters Spring Championships April 25-29 in Mesa, Arizona. Swimmers aged 18 to 97 from across the country are competing in the meet.

Saturday saw plenty of repeat titles and double titles across the board.

Here is a list of the Masters records that fell on Saturday:

Jeff Commings, Arizona Masters: men’s 45-49 200 backstroke (1:52.23)
Richard Burns, Tamalpais Aquatics Masters: men’s 75-79 200 backstroke (2:27.48)
Katarzyna Wilk, Las Vegas Masters: women’s 25-29 50 freestyle (22.00)
Daniela Barnea, Stanford Masters: women’s 75-79 200 IM (3:14.61)
Jeff Commings, Arizona Masters: men’s 45-49 50 breaststroke (25.66)
Carlo Travaini, Mission Viejo Masters: men’s 55-59 50 breaststroke (26.32)
Richard Burns, Tamalpais Aquatics Masters: men’s 75-79 100 butterfly (1:07.46)
Traci Granger, Los Angeles Peninsula Swimming: women’s 60-64 100 butterfly (1:03.59)
Arizona Masters Swim Club Inc: mixed 85+ 200 medley relay (4:17.52)

FULL MEET COVERAGE

RESULTS

Women’s 500 Free

Morgan Fischer started the day off with a win in the 18-24 500 free, winning in 5:04.87. Allison Arnold won the 25-20 in 5:05.96, winning by nearly 15 seconds.

In the 30-34 age group, Emily Parker won in 5:16.95. The 35-39 title went to Ashley Witney in 5:17.03.

The races got closer in the 40s, as Kristi Lee won the 40-44 title in 5:34.22, just three seconds ahead of Julie Roddin (5:37.04).

In the 45-49 group, Heather Wagner claimed victory in 5:25.09.

Charlotte Peterson won the 50-54 group in 5:29.01, edging Jill Gellatly (5:32.86). Robin Klestinec won the 55-59 (5:44.85), Bonnie Spivey won the 60-64 (5:50.69), Christie Ciraulo won the 65-69 (6:16.45), Ann Lyttle won the 70-74 (7:17.48) and Louise Wise won the 75-79 (8:33.73).

Men’s 200 Back

Forrest Beesley led off the men’s session of the 2019 Masters Spring Championships with a win in the 18-24 200 back (1:48.10).

Ramunas Paknys won the 25-29 (1:51.43), while Alexander Bezugliy won the 30-34 (1:54.38).

Christopher Gibson won the 35-39 in 1:55.44. Chuck Barnes won the 40-44 in 1:53.49. Jeff Commings won the 45-49 in 1:52.33 ahead of Josh Davis (1:57.57).

James Webber won the 50-54 in one of the closest races of the day, finishing in 2:02.36, just ahead of Erwin Kratz (2:02.31).

Jean-Philippe Riblet won the 55-59 division in 2:09.09. Jim Sauer won the 60-64 in 2:10.45. Timothy Shead won the 65-59 in 2:20.45, while Dan Kirkland won the 70-74 in 2:25.24.

Richard Burns claimed victory in the 75-79 in 2:27.48, while Marty Mennen won the 80-84 in 3:02.97. Clarke Mitchell won the 85-89 in 3:24.35 and Willard Lamb won the 95-99 in 4:31.80.

Women’s 200 Back

Katherine Yu won the 18-24 200 back title in 2:11.68, while Marina Spadoni won the 25-29 (2:01.80) ahead of Felicia Lee (2:06.06).

Kelly Harrigan won the 30-34 title in 2:01.80, nearly 14 seconds ahead of the field.

Naoko Watanabe won the 35-39 division in 2:06.44. Debbie Iles won the 40-44 in 2:14.00, while Amy Piotz-Saribalas won the 45-49 in 2:17.15.

Kristin Gary won the 50-54 division in 2:16.17, while Stephanie Saucy won the 55-59 in 2:27.25, Bonnie Bilich wont he 60-64 (2:21.35), Cecilia McCloskey won the 65-69 (2:34.72), Stella Preissler won the 70-74 (3:03.79), Joy Ward won the 75-79 (3:19.79), Gynt Clifford won the 80-84 (4:00.45), Ann Kay won 85-89 (4:26.73) and Maurine Kornfied won the 95-99 in 5:42.12.

Men’s 50 Free

Andrew Appleby won the 18-24 title in the 50 free in 20.35. Marcin Cieslak claimed the 25-29 title in 20.24.

Maxime Marechal-McCoy won the 30-34 division in 21.28, while Tyler DeBerry won the 25-29 in 21.28.

Chuck Barnes won the 40-44 for the second consecutive event, winning in 20.99.

Former Olympian Josh Davis won the 45-49 event in 21.68.

Nicholas Decker claimed the 50-54 title in 22.49, while Stephen Nichols won the 55-59 in 22.83, Bruce Kone won the 60-64 in 23.34, Bruce Williams won the 65-59 in 24.28, Richard Abrahams won the 70-75 in 24.97, Robert Pilger won the 75-79 in 27.35, Jeff Farrell won the 80-84 title in 29.13, Clarke Mitchell won the 85-89 in 33.76, Fred Leipziger won the 90-94 in 1:19.95 and Willard Lamb won the 95-99 (46.29).

Women’s 50 Free

Amy Lubawy claimed the 18-24 women’s 50 free in 24.35, while Katarzyna Wilk touched in 22.00 to win the 25-29 title.

Katherine Raatz won the 30-34 division in 23.42. Katy Koombe won the 35-39 in 24.21.

Katie Grier won the 40-44 in 24.00, while Heather Wagner won the 45-49 in 24.59, Collette Sappey won the 50-54 in 25.52, Holly Green Blair won the 55-59 in 25.44, Traci Granger won the 60-64 in 26.29, Laura Val won the 65-59 in 27.57, Margaret Toppel won the 70-74 in 28.87, Beth Schreiner won the 75-79 in 36.53, Gynt Clifford won the 80-84 in 43.16, Vel Perry won the 85-89 in 46.28, Flora Wong won the 90-95 in 1:13.96 and Maurine Kornfeld won the 95-99 in 1:00.42.

Men’s 200 IM

Francois Van Wynsberge won the 18-24 title in the 200 IM, finishing in 1:49.75, while Juan Jose Garcia Mesa claimed the title in the 25-29 division in 1:51.96.

Alexander Bezugliy claimed his second title of the day, winning the 30-34 division in 1:52.90.

Former Michigan swimmer Christian Vanderkaay won the 35-39 division in 1:58.66, while Blake Holden won the 40-44 in 1:58.22.

Steve West won the 45-49 title in 1:56.16, finishing ahead of former Olympian Josh Davis (1:57.29).

Lawrence Lee won the 50-54 title in 2:02.40, while David Sims won the 55-59 in 2:05.48, Tito Morales won the 60-64 division in 2:12.40, Rick Colella won the 65-69 in 2:05.87, Lee Childs won the 70-74 in 2:28.77, David Gildea won the 75-79 in 2:58.47, William Van Horn won the 80-84 in 3:23.26 and Steve Barrett won the 85-89 division in 4:38.13.

Women’s 200 IM

Caitlin Krull started the women’s event with a win in the 18-24 division, finishing in 2:15.39.

Rachel Ripley won the 25-29 division in 2:07.19, while Courtney Monsees won the 30-34 in 2:05.99 and Sara Shepherd claimed victory in the 35-39 in 2:13.96.

Erin Moro won the 40-44 title in 2:16.05, while Bonnie Moss won the 45-49 in 2:19.02, Jill Gellatly won the 50-54 in 2:22.27, Kathleen Steffe won the 55-59 in 2:29.22, Bonnie Bilich won the 60-64 in 2:29.28, Shirley Loftus-Charley won the 65-69 in 2:45.88, Carolyn Boak won the 70-74 in 3:04.12 and Daniela Barnea won the 75-79 in 3:14.61.

Men’s 50 Breast

Francois Van Wynsberge won again at 18-24, winning the 50 breast in 25.55, while Hunter Cobleigh won the 25-29 in 25.07.

Olympian Matt Grevers won the 30-34 division in 24.39 to take the top overall time in the event.

Christian Vanderkaay earned his second win of the day in the 35-39 division with a 26.62.

Blake Holden won the 40-44 in 26.19, while Jeff Commings won again in 45-49 (25.66), Jim Tuchler won 50-54 (28.10), Carlo Travaini won 55-59 in 26.32, Bruce Kone won 60-64 in 28.91.

In the 65-69 age group, Timothy Shead and Stuart Waterbury tied in 30.27 to win the division together.

Douglas Springer won the 70-74 in 33.11, Peter Anderson won the 75-79 in 35.29, Steve Barrett won the 85-89 in 58.63 and Fred Leipziger won the 90-94 in 1:35.80.

Women’s 50 Breast

Jacklyn Taylor edged teammate Joelle Beachler to win the 18-24 women’s 50 breast. Taylor finished in 30.62, while Beachler was just behind in 30.90.

Carmen Young won the 25-29 in 29.56, Britta O’Leary won the 20-24 in 30.79, Molly Connolly won the 35-39 in 31.71, Kerry Lindauer won the 40-44 in 30.78, Trina Schaetz won the 45-49 in 30.99, Corrin Buck won the 50-54 in 33.52, Robin Tracy won the 55-59 in 34.15, Elizabeth De Herder won the 60-64 in 35.04, Regula Steiger won the 65-69 division in 37.11, Janet Gettling won the 70-74 in 40.89, Daniela Barnea won the 75-79 in 41.76, Kristin Jaffe won the 80-84 in 49.12, Yenny Van Dinter won the 85-89 in 1:02.82 and Flora Wong won the 90-94.

Men’s 100 Fly

Neil Franka bettered his seed time by nearly three seconds to win the 18-24 division in the 100 fly. He finished in 49.25.

Marcin Cieslak earned another win in the 25-29 with a 46.62.

Kaspar Raigla won the 30-34 division in 49.21. Mark Hamming won the 35-39 in 49.93, while Andrew Babcock won the 40-44 in 52.46.

John Landreth won the 45-49 in 53.43, while Jeffrey Roddin won the 50-54 in 53.81, David Sims won the 55-59 in 54.74, Paul Carter won the 60-64 in 55.51, Rick Colella won the 65-69 in 57.84, Richard Abrams won the 70-74 division in 1:03.11, Richard Burns won the 75-79 in 1:07.46 and Ira Rimerman won the 80-84 in 1:39.57.

Women’s 100 Fly

In the final women’s individual race of the day at the 2019 Masters Spring Championships, Kathryn Siegel started things off with a win in the 18-24 division with a 57.41.

Christina Bechtel won the 25-29 in 55/88, while Kelly Harrigan won again in the 30-34 division, finishing in 56.23.

Kaoko Watanabe earned another win with a 59.24 at 35-39.

Erin Moro won the 40-44 division at 58.84, while Bonnie Moss won the 45-49 in 1:01.14, Tara Buzzelli won 50-54 in 1:04.93, Andrea Block won the 55-59 in 1:06.23, Traci Granger claimed victory in the 60-64 in 1:03.59, Laura Val claimed another title with a 1:07.21 in the 65-69 division, Joanne Menard won the 70-74 in 1:31.90, Diana Todd won the 75-79 in 1:40.15 and Judith Morton won the 80-84.

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Doreen Lemke

4 years ago

Congratulations AJ Andrea Block

Anonymous

4 years ago

Go AJ!!!

Jeff Roddin

4 years ago

1960 Olympian Jeff Farrell also competed in the meet (and won 3 individual events).