Fast Times at Israeli Masters Meet

By Buky Chass

EILAT, Israel, October 16. FAST times were the order of the day at the Eilat Masters Short Course Meet in the Red Sea resort town of Eilat.

Seventeen Israeli Masters marks were broken and two swimmers — Gershon Shefa and Ivona Leonov-Tovis — challenged world records in their age group.

Shefa, 60, came within 12-hundredths of a second of the global standard in the 100 meter breaststroke for men 60-64 with his 1:17.97. He also just missed the world record of 2:35.04 in the 200 IM, as he touched in 2:37.14. In the 100 IM, his 1:11.21 was just shy of the world record time of 1:09.93 and his own national record.

Shefa added Israeli marks in the 50m (28.44) and 100 free (1:03.77), and won the 50 breast (35.99).

Competing in the women's 55-59 division, Leonov-Tovis recorded four national records, four times coming within hailing distance of the world records.

Her national marks came in the 100 back (1:23.01), 50 fly (33.85), 100 IM (1:20.00) and 200 IM (3:04.11), and she also won the 50m back (38.27),

Zohar Weiss lowered two Israeli marks in the men's 40-44 age group: the 100 (54.70) and 400 meters (4:17.06).

He also won the 50 free in a swift 24.98 and took the
50 fly (28.61), 100 IM (1:06.09) and 200 IM (2:28.16).

Sagi Shtigman scored with a national record 1:13.78 for men 35-39 in the 100m breast. He also won the 50 breast (33.45), 100 IM (1:06.21) and 200 IM (2:29.25).

On the women's side, Lior Birkan-Voltman set four marks in the 40-44 age group: 50m free (31.53), 100 free (1:07.98), 50 fly (32.51), and 100 IM (1:17.21). She also won the 50 back (37.38).

In the 55-59 division, Ester Hodshtein posted two national marks: 50m free (34.04) and 100m free (1:16.06).

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