Here is a meet summary, from the records/top ten recorder's
perspective, anyway. The records have all been updated and
should be posted later today. The zone records have been
submitted and those will be updated once the Oregon meet is
over.
The 44 swimmers
who participated in the annual short course meters meet made a
significant impact on the state records. Overall, 30 individual
and 6 relay state records were set. There are also two potential
zone records.
On the women's side, there were 14 records, 10 of which broke previous
records and 4 of which were set for the first time. For the men,
there were 16 records, 11 of which were broken and 5 of which were
new. Six of the eight relay teams swimming also set records.
The oldest men's record broken was the 70-74 200 free by Ed Mjolsnes.
This record was last set in 1988. The oldest women's record
broken was the 60-64 100 breast by Susan Ellis. It was last set
in 1999.
Two records have been submitted for zone records. The first ever
400 meter medley relay swum in the state, by Andrea Kettler, Amber
Hahn, Aimee Rathbun, and Maura Shea, broke the existing zone record by
just under 5 seconds. That record was last set in 1987.
Paula Smith broke the 55-59 women's 200 back record.
Margret Van Flein continues to set the women's standards. She
challenged herself to swim the 400 IM this year despite never having
swum fly for more than 50 yards at a time. Margret became the
oldest Alaskan to swim this event. She then went on, after the
IM, to break her own record in the 50 back. Margret has now swum, and
holds records for, every event in the 70-74 age group except the 200
fly.
Yaro Mucha was our oldest participant and our first male swimmer in
the 80-84 age group since 1998. He immediately went to work on
the record book, breaking two records and becoming the first to swim
the breaststroke events.
Gina Taylor swam the most in competition on the women's side and Ken
Winterberger was tops on the men's side. Each swam 2400 meters
in individual and relay events.
Ray Hamilton ended the meet with a flourish, swimming butterfly for
the last 25 of his 1500 free.
Paula Smith
Alaska records/top ten recorder
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