World and National Records set at Oregon City Spring Ahead Swim Meet


Oregon City Swim Team hosted their annual Spring Ahead B/C Masters Dual Sanctioned meet March 5-6, 2016.  This dual sanctioned meet allows USA Swimmers and U. S.  Masters Swimmers the opportunity to swim in the same meet.  The 12 & under age groups swim in the morning and the Open/ Masters swim in the afternoon.  The greatest part of this meet is seeing the families swimming together.  Several of the Oregon City Tanker Masters swimmers have children who swim with Oregon City Swim Team .The meet is a short course meters meet and attracts the attention of people looking to set records.  This year, a USA Swim Team from Sun Valley, Idaho, came to set several Idaho state age-group records.  The Masters swimmers came from California, Florida, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.   Eight FINA World records, 11 USMS National records, 10 NW Zone records, and 13 Oregon Masters Swimming records were established.

Christian, Alexis and Alicia Tujo — father & daughter swam together

Christian, Alexis and Alicia Tujo — father & daughter swam together

Saturday afternoon, the UCLA Bruin Masters womens relay team started out the meet with a new FINA World and National record in the 200 Freestyle relay.  Jacki Hirsty, Christie Ciraulo, Jenny Cook, and Veronica Hibben made the trip from California in an attempt to break the current World and National records in all four relay events.  This dynamic foursome was exciting to watch and the crowd enjoyed seeing these ladies establish new records in the 400 Freestyle, 400 Medley, and 200 Freestyle relays.  They just missed the 200 Medley relay World and National record by .18—so close.  Mike Freshley from Rose Bowl Masters Swimming established new FINA World and National records in the 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 200 IM, and new National records in the 50 Breaststroke and 50 Butterfly.  Robert Strand from Eagle, Idaho, also set World and National records in the 100 Breast and 200 Breast.  Robert just missed the World record in the 50 Breast, setting a new National record.

Several Oregon masters swimmers set new NW Zone and Oregon records during the two day competition.  Sonja Skinner set new Oregon records in the 100 Fly, 200 IM, and 400 IM.  Olympian Colette Crabbe set new Oregon records in the 50 and 100 Breast and NW Zone/Oregon records in the 400 Freestyle, 50 Back, 200 IM, and 400 IM.  Ginger Pierson swept the breaststroke events setting new NW Zone and Oregon records in the 50, 100, and 200 Breaststroke events.  Scot Sullivan established a new Oregon Masters record in the 400 Freestyle.

The weekend was full of excitement and everyone had a great time.  The idea behind this meet is to have USA Swimmers and US Masters Swimmers come together and show off their talents.  The kids love to see the Masters swimmers set records and are motivated to swim faster.  Inspirational swimmers like Willard Lamb and Olympian Dave Radcliff are crowd favorites.  The UCLA women’s team was even asked for autographs following their World record swims.  Swimming is a lifetime sport and having the US Masters swimmers in the same event shows the younger athletes that swimming is truly for life.

Hope to see you all at the Oregon Masters Swimming Association Championships.  This years championship will be long course meters so that swimmers can make National Qualifying Times for the 2016 U. S.  Masters Swimming Summer National Championship being held at Mt Hood Aquatic Center this August.

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