submitted by Valerie Jenkins
A strong contingent of 33 Oregon Masters swimmers ventured to Federal Way, WA April 15th and 16th to compete in the Pacific Northwest Zone Championship meet. The ages of our team spanned 23 (Matty McComish) to 100 (Wink Lamb). With 270 swimmers participating, it provided great competition and fast swimming. Some of the Oregon team members were using this as a warm-up for the upcoming Spring Nationals in Irvine, or trying out new events, or preparing for our Oregon Association Championship in May.
Highlights for Team Oregon included numerous new OMS and Zone Records and 12 new National Records! Hearty congratulations to Colette Crabbe, Joy Ward and Wink Lamb for setting new National Records!
Colette knocked off .03 seconds in the 50 breaststroke with a new record of 36.55 for the 65-69 age group. Joy conquered both Individual Medley events in her new age 80-84 group with a 3:43.60 in the 200 IM and a 7:54.93 in the 400 IM. This was the first short course yard meet for Wink as a 100-year-old, so he set the following National records while swimming 6 events (thankfully official splits count as official times):
50 backstroke 1:00.22
100 backstroke 2:17.43
200 backstroke 4:41.83
50 freestyle 52.18
100 freestyle 2:09.56
200 freestyle 4:32.38
500 freestyle 12:14.04
1000 freestyle 24:52.32
1650 freestyle 41:11.26
Overall, it was great to see each other on the pool deck again, as well as meet new teammates!
