Swimmers were sooo fast at the NW Zone/Gil Young Memorial LCM Meet August 21st-23rd, that there was a thick smoke over the area on Saturday and Sunday! Actually, many people said the smoke was from the large fires in central/eastern Oregon that blew over with the east wind. Others thought it was from the welcome bonfire that Meet Directors Dennis and Aubree lit off prior to the meet on Saturday. Those of us who were crazy enough, I mean motivated enough, to swim the 400 IM and/or 1500 Free on Friday had clear and sunny weather for our swims. Saturday we were surprised with the thick constant cloud of smoke that was not that far off the ground. Those with allergies were noticeably affected and it was just kind of weird to see such a smoke screen over the entire metro area. Sunday the smoke screen was higher in altitude, but still visible. Very surreal way to swim, but the backstrokers did like not having to look up into the sun.
Based on the records set at this meet, maybe it was the smoke coming off all the fast swimmers in the fast races. Our OMS records guru reports there were 12 Oregon, 13 NW Zone, 1 National, and 1 World record set at this meet. Dave Radcliff had a good 400 Free to set the National & World records for his age group. What made this more impressive is that Dave arrived home the night before the meet began after doing his record-setting Catalina Channel open water relay swim! Mary Sweat, Geri Kawabata, Dan Kirkland, and Chris Hiatt were the other record-setters plus we had an 800 Free relay record (OMS & Zone) by Colette Crabbe, Christina Fox, Jeanna Summers, and Bonnie Edwards. Another great meet at Mt. Hood CC that many competed in with thoughts of getting ready for USMS LC Nationals here next summer! Next up: SCM NW Zone Championships in Federal Way in November. See you at the pool!