Masters Swimmers Rewrite U.S. Masters Swimming Short Course Yard Record Book

FRESNO, California, May 13. OVER the weekend, Masters swimmers took dead aim successfully at the U.S. Masters Swimming short course yard record books. During the meet held at Clovis North High School in Fresno, Calif., 12 pages of new records were created.

Rita Simonton, 90, demonstrated just what Masters swimming is all about by setting six records in the women's 90-94 age division.

She clocked a time of 21:36.39 in the 1000-yard free to smash the previous record of 26:03.69 set by Maxine Merlino back in 2003. Simonton then posted a time of 1:24.33 in the women's 50 fly to obliterate the previous record of 1:37.66 set by Marie Kelleher in 2005.

In the 200 free, Simonton hit the wall in 3:59.22 to become the first woman older than 90 to clear 4:00. Anne Walker held the previous record with a 4:42.10 set in 2006. Simonton also checked in with a 10:22.61 in the 500 free to take Merlino's 2003 record of 12:48.67.

Simonton showed off some versatility with a record-setting 2:37.61 in the 100 IM. That swim beat the 2:46.94 set by Audrey Etienne in 2007. Simonton then eclipsed the 100 free standard with a 1:52.75. That time beat Julia Dolce's 2001 mark of 2:08.96.

For the men, Richard Burns, 65, proved dominant in the men's 65-69 age division. He turned in a 5:13.89 in the 400 IM to beat Tom Landis' 2007 standard of 5:19.23. He then stopped the clock in 1:01.04 in the 100 back to end the day with the record after Robert Smith posted a 1:03.43 earlier in the day. Both beat John Smith's 2004 record of 1:05.03.

In the 200 back, Burns registered a 2:18.14 to beat Richard Todd's 2007 standard of 2:25.65, while also snaring the 200 IM record with a 2:23.17. That performance wiped out the 2:24.24 set by Jeff Farrell in 2002.

Burns also claimed the 100 IM record with a 1:02.26, which beat James Elder's time of 1:03.29 set earlier in the day that, in turn, erased Farrell's 2002 record of 1:03.54. Burns finished his individual record breaking with a 28.27 in the 50 back. That swim beat Robert Smith's April record of 28.43.

Burns then clocked a 28.09 50 back leadoff to help Tamalpais Aquatic Masters record-setting 55+ 200 medley relay of 1:56.64. Burns also leadoff Tamalpais' 55+ 200 free relay with a 24.63 en route to a 1:43.00 for the record.

For a complete rundown of records set over the weekend, see below:

Complete list of records

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