By Rich Burns and Michael W. Moore
MENLO PARK, Calif., April 26. SWIMMING in her first meet in the 55-59 age group, Laura Val set five long course Masters world records and bettered a sixth as she broke the existing standard in the 200-meter free on her way to a new record in the 400 free. Her time of 4:51.15 for the 400 meters destroyed the old mark of 5:08.91. Her split time at the 200 was 2:24.44, easily under the old record of 2:28.56. Both of the previous marks were held by Barbara Dunbar.
Competing at the Menlo Masters Long Course meet, a qualifying event for the upcoming FINA Masters World Championships held at Sacred Heart High School in Atherton California, on Saturday, April 22, Val also set new world records in the freestyle sprints, going 29.54 for the 50 meters to eclipse the old mark of 30.03; and 1:03.75 for the 100, more than three second under the former standard of 1:06.80.
The first event of the day was the 400 freestyle and in the fastest heat, Val battled with Jody Smith of Stanford Masters and Jana Matena of Menlo Masters for the lead. Smith led for all of the first 300 meters. On the last 50, the 55-year-old Val swam a 35.58 and touched out her younger competitors, beating 44-year-old Matena by .13 and 37-year-old Smith by .21.
Val, who swims for the Santa Clara Masters, also clocked 1:16.31 in the 100 back, slicing 1.2 seconds off the previous record of 1:17.51 and 32.10 for the 50 fly, just pipping the former record of 32.24.
Ann Hirsch of Walnut Creek Masters set a new national record for women 75-79 in the 100 meter breaststroke. She swam a 1:51.40, breaking the old standard of 1:55.57, set last year by Gail Roper, by over four seconds.