The seven swimmers who went to the short course national meet in
Austin, TX had a great time and a great meet. The facility was
incredible. The six women finished 43rd of 107 women's teams scoring
points. That includes all the teams, regardless of size.
There were 10 state records set. Christine Tait and Colny Tucker
each set four records. Vickie Hauff and Melinda Greig-Walker each
set one.
Here are the results for each swimmer:
Stacey Cilia (25-29). Stacey improved her times in four of her
events from the state meet in February and improved her standing in
the state top ten in those events as well.
100 breast 1:15.88 13th/18
200 breast 2:45.55 12th/14
100 IM 1:08.61 18th/30
200 IM 2:31.08 13th/15
400 IM 5:16.46 9th/12
Vickie Hauff (35-39). Vickie swam personal bests in all four of her
events and broke the state record in the 100 breast. My favorite
moment of the meet was Vickie's 50 breaststroke. She looked at the
scoreboard for her time, then looked back towards Christine and me
and asked "Is that good?". Yes, Vickie, that was good, good enough
for the second-fastest time ever for an Alaskan in the 35-39 age
group.
50 free 27.75 21st/37
50 breast 34.85 11th/30
100 breast 1:16.53 12th/24 new state record
100 IM 1:09.49 19th/36
Christine Tait (40-44). Christine swam in the largest, and quite
possibly the most competitive, of the women's age groups. She had
all personal bests and set state records in four events. She broke
all her own backstroke records and also broke a 10-year-old record in
the 200 IM.
50 back 30.79 10th/33 new state record
100 back 1:06.51 10th/37 new state record
200 back 2:22.61 6th/27 new state record
50 fly 29.39 12th/36
200 IM 2:29.00 11th/21 new state record
400 IM 5:26.10 8th/14
Melinda Greig-Walker (50-54). Melinda broke her own state record in
the 200 back.
200 back 2:38.01 12th/25 new state record
100 breast 1:23.02 11th/27
Paula Smith (50-54)
50 back 37.06 16th/20
100 back 1:19.01 17th/21
200 back 2:47.29 18th/25
50 breast 36.53 7th/30
100 breast 1:20.85 8th/27
200 breast 3:02.78 8th/17
Colny Tucker (55-59). Colny broke her own state records in all four
of her events. Her time in the 50 fly was faster than her state
record in the 50-54 age group. Colny had the dubious honor of of
swimming with multiple national and world record holder Laura Val in
three of her events.
50 free 27.25 2nd/17 new state record
100 free 1:01.85 2nd/12 new state record
50 fly 31.16 2nd/15 new state record
100 IM 1:13.80 3rd/18 new state record
David Schmidt (60-64). Dave's focus was an open water swim on the
last day, but he did put in a little pool time, swimming in three
events.
50 free 27.67 17th/26
50 fly 31.96 19th/21
100 IM 1:15.39 13th/14
The next opportunity to be part of a national team will be long
course nationals this summer in Mt. Hood, Oregon. Check
http://www.usms.org/comp/nationals.php
for meet information and qualifying times. And remember, you can
swim three events without having a qualifying time. A good tune-up
for nationals will be our state long course meet the last weekend in
June. Check http://www.akmswim.org/pdfs/2008_LCM_Meet_Entry.pdf for
the meet information and entry form.
Congratulations to the short course national team for a great showing.
Paula Smith
Records/Top Ten
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