2018 Nationwide USMS Spring National SCY Championship

[Ruth]

Greetings Masters Swimmers. 

Ten Alaska Masters, plus one coach (Grant Gamblin, NLSC) and our favorite spouses/cheerleaders (Marco, Hope), traveled to the 2018 Nationwide USMS Spring National SCY Championship in Indianapolis, IN. There were 2378 participants representing 269 clubs. Swimmers ranged in age from 18 to 95. The Indianapolis University Natatorium houses two 25-yard competition pools, plus a diving well and two 25 meter pools set up for warm ups. 

Five of the ten AKMS swimmers had top ten meet finishes to earn team points for 77th overall. 

Men 60-64, Rick Abbott earned the most points with two golds, one silver and one bronze. He placed 1st and looks like he set new National and AKMS records in the 100 back (59.90). And his 1st place in the 50 free (23.58) looks like he broke his own state record, thus raising the bar again. His 2nd place finish was in the 50 fly (25.42) crushed his previous AKMS record. Rick’s 3rd place finishes were in 50 back (28.04) and 100 IM (1:00.01); again breaking his own AKMS records. All 5 of his swims are National Top Ten. Great job Rick!

Men 25-29, Wyatt Adams swam 2 events with apparent top ten Alaska finishes in 50 breast and 100 free. 

Women 18-24, Kendra Ashwell swam 3 events placing in 13 and 11th in two of the events (200 and 500 free, 6:38.69 and 2:21.51). 

Women 55-59, Ruth Carter swam 5 events and earned 8 points finishing in the top ten for this competition in the 200 free (7th 2:22.96), 100 breast (8th, 1:23.73), and 50 free (10th, 29.50). These plus her 100 IM and 50 breast are all apparent AKMS top ten.  

Women 35-39, Kieara Conway swam 2 events; her 50 breast (36.84) is an apparent AKMS top ten swim. 

Men 35-39, Jiracek, Jakub was unable to swim due to an injury, however did participate on one mixed relay. :-)

Women 25-29, Lauren Langford swam 5 and earned 1 point with her 10th place finish in the 50 free (25.80) and an apparent new AKMS top ten time. She also raised the AKMS Top Ten bar on the 100 and 50 fly (1:00.86 and 27.11, resp.). 

Women 25-29, Kristina Miller swam 2 events and earned 3 points with 8th place finish in the 1650 (23:16.76, apparent AKMS Top Ten). 

Women 35-39, Signe Pignalberi swam 5 events and earned 3 points in the 50 and 200 backstroke (30.02 and 2:24.32). She also did 100 back (1:05.92), 100 IM (1:08.15) and 50 free (26.53). All five swims are apparent top ten AKMS, with her backstroke events being Number 1. 

Men 45-49, Max Rabinowitz swam 4 events, with apparent AKMS Top Ten in 50 and 100 back and free. 

A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO AKMS SWAMmers Rick Abbott and Jakub Jiracek were awarded 2017 All-American Status for their first place finishes in SCY 100 IM (Rick, 60-64, 59.90) and 400 IM (Jakub, 35-39, 4:10.08). WOW! Congratulations! 

Additional 2017 USMS Top 10 finishers include: Shannon Titzel (45-49, 200 fly, 2:32.60); Margaret Van Flein (80-81, 1000 free, 25:04.97; 200 back, 5:05.38; 200 IM, 5:35.08); Jakub Jiracek (35-39, 50 breast 27.59; 100 breast 57.78; 200 breast 2:05.35; 200 IM 1:55.56; 400 IM 4:10.08); Scott Collier (60-64 1000 free 11:45.94); and Rick Abbott (60-64, 50 free 23.69, 100 free 52.13, 200 free 1:56.94, 500 free 5:28.54, 1000 free 11:32.94, 50 back 28.70, 100 IM 59.90). 

The next time you see any of these inspirational athletes, congratulate them on these incredible swims. Strong work everyone! 

See you on deck, 

Ruth Carter

Awards Chair

p.s. My apologies if I mistyped any of this. Check out the USMS and AKMS databases following these links. 

AKMS 2017 TOP TEN 

     https://www.usms.org/comp/tt/toptenlmsc.php?Year=2017&CourseID=1&LMSCID=56

2018 SPRING NATIONALS 

     https://www.usms.org/events/national-championships/pool-national-championships/2018-nationwide-usms-spring-national-championship