LIFE FITNESS – South Florida Aquatic Club's Blog

Swim Fort Lauderdale Masters Head Local Contingent For Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic

By Sharon Robb
ORLANDO, October 14, 2021—Swim Fort Lauderdale, fresh off its sixth U.S. Masters Swimming Long Course National Championship title, heads the local contingent for the 13th annual Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic at historic Rosen Aquatic and Fitness Center.

A field of 58 teams including Coral Springs Masters, Gold Coast Masters, Palm Beach Masters and Wellington Swim Club will compete in the premier short course United States Masters swim meet.

The 25-meter timed finals, sanctioned by Florida LMSC for U.S. Masters, Inc., will be hosted by YCF Masters.

The meet begins Friday at 3 p.m. with Session 1 and ends 5:44 p.m. The three-day meet continues Saturday with Session 2 at 9 a.m. and ending at 2:27 p.m. It concludes Sunday with Session 3 at 10:30 a.m. and ending at 1:54 p.m.

Swim Fort Lauderdale has 18 swimmers entered including Eduard Tiozzo, 48, seeded first in the 200-meter backstroke in 2:28.00.

Several Swim Fort Lauderdale swimmers who competed at masters nationals will also compete including Adrienne Chin-Ogilvie, Alan Hsieh, Hubie Kerns, Linda Larson, Richard Strzelecki, Kathleen Stutz, Kristin Volz and Linda Webb.

Palm Beach Masters is sending 20 swimmers to the meet. The team is led by Daniel Lotano, 41, seeded first in the 50-meter backstroke in 26.72, 100-meter backstroke in 1:02.45 and 25-meter backstroke in 13.03. Teammate Barry Garland, 43, is seeded first in 200-meter breaststroke in 2:34.28.

Gold Coast Masters has a 25-swimmer contingent headed by ageless Cav Cavanaugh, 86, a world and national age group masters champion. He will swim the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events. Debbie Cavanaugh, Celia Devanney, Bill Dykstra, Andres Miyares and Lee Scharf are also among the contingent.

Miyares is training for the June 5-12 2022 Special Olympics USA Games. He will represent Team Florida in the open water swim in Orlando at the Games.

Single club entries include Coral Springs Masters’ Sandro Herek, 50, and Wellington Swim Club’s Henry Eronimous, 21.

There is also the Rowdy and Lucky Lake Swim 1.5K Open Water Challenge on Sunday at 7:45 a.m. Entry fees benefit YMCA scholarship programs.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Swim Fort Lauderdale Wins Sixth U.S. Masters Swimming Long Course National Championships

By Sharon Robb
GENEVA, Ohio, October 10, 2021–Swim Fort Lauderdale, buoyed by depth and talent, captured the team title on the fourth and final day of the U.S. Masters Swimming Long Course National Championships Sunday at SPIRE Institute Aquatics Center.

After 357 events, the 67-member team, ages 21 to 79, won the combined team title with 2,435 points. It is Swim Fort Lauderdale’s sixth national title.

Sarasota Sharks were runner-up with 2,050 points. Michigan Masters and Ohio Masters tied for third with 989 points.

The team’s age group winners on Sunday were:

Double winner Maud Jean in the 45-49 50-meter breaststroke in 38.28 and 200-meter individual medley in 2:52.70. Both were best times.

Double winner Linda Webb in the 75-79 50-meter breaststroke in 54.70 and 200-meter individual medley in a best time 4:05.03.

Double winner Eddy Marin in the 25-29 50-meter butterfly in 26.65 and 200-meter individual medley in 2:21.69.

Juan Bermudez in the 30-34 100-meter backstroke in a best time 1:02.32.

Andre Steynberg in the 65-69 100-meter backstroke in a best time 1:10.86.

Franco Lupoli in the 25-29 200-meter freestyle in a best time 2:01.60.

Marcos Lavado in the 30-34 200-meter freestyle in a best time 1:55.06.

Andrea Uzcategui in the 30-34 200-meter freestyle in 2:16.58.

Joel Burns in the 75-79 50-meter butterfly in 32.41.

Wendy Rodriguez in the 30-34 50-meter butterfly in a best time 29.19.

Swim Fort Lauderdale also won three more relays.

Swim Fort Lauderdale Results:
Men 50-meter breaststroke: 30-34, 7. Michael Hicks 40.84, best time; 35-39, 7. Phil Wenzel 36.97, best time; 40-44, 2. Guillaume Filion 33.56, 6. Martin Torres 37.26; 45-49, 3. Richard Morris 32.90, 12. Richard Strzelecki 57.37; 50-54, 12. Victor Aimi 46.39; 55-59, 8. Pedro Correa-Marrero 38.39; 60-64, Henry Vehovec 35.94, best time, 6. Roberto Morego 37.79; 65-69, 8. Beda Dondi 42.98; 70-74, Hubie Kerns 39.63, best time.

100-meter backstroke: 30-34, Francisco Bolado 1:18.83; 50-54, 7. James Wray 1:17.06, 8. Mike Gaw 1:47.90; 55-59. Valeriy Krishtal 1:07.75, 4. Peter Horwitz 1:13.70, 7. Jim Monahan 1:23.76; 60-64, Jay Tapp 1:18.42, best time, 8. Marty HGendrick 1:22.09.

200-meter freestyle: 25-29, 8. Blake Woodrow 2:19.17; 30-34, 3. Michael Hicks 3:03.21, best time; 35-39, 2. Rinaldo Sintjago 2:09.67; 40-44, 3. Martin Torres 2:21.16, best time; 50-54 7. Jorge Mijares 2:28.70; 55-59, 8. Pedro Correa-Marrero 2:35.34; 70-74, 12. Clyde Akbar 9:06.76.

50-meter butterfly: 18-24, 6. Abbas Karimi 38.21; 30-34, 5. Francisco Bolado 29.14; 35-39, 3. Rinaldo Sintjago 27.87; 40-44, 8. Jonathan Goler 30.76, 9. Martin Torres 31.55; 50-54, 14. Mike Gaw 40.16; 55-59, 9. Peter Horwitz 30.44; 60-64, 7. Francisco Parra 31.02, 9. Henry Vehovec 31.36, best time, 10. Roberto Merega 31.77; 65-69, 2. Andre Steynberg 29.35, 11. Beda Dondi 35.90.

200-meter individual medley: 30-34, 7. Francisco Bolado 2:46.24; 40-44, 2. Guillaume Filion 2:38.58; 45-49, 5. Richard Morris 2:31.22, best time; 55-59, 4. Valeriy Krishtal 2:44.30; 70-74, 2. Hubie Kerns 2:54.97.

Women 400-meter freestyle: 30-34, 2. Florencia Bolado 5:00.77, best time; 40-44, 5. Kathleen Sandner 6:13.52; 50-54, 4. Jody Wesgate 9:49.62.

Women 50-meter breaststroke: 30-34, 3. Amanda Singleton 41.47, best time; 40-44, 3. Kathleen Sandner 42.88; 45-49, 4. Daniela Rosenblat 48.02; 60-64, 6. Becky Monahan 1:06.96, best time; 75-79, 4. Stephanie Smith 3:34.68.

100-meter backstroke: 45-49, 3. Maud Jean 1:21.71; 60-64, 3. Maria Hung 1:24.83; 65-69, 2. Linda Larson 1:35.06, best time.

200-meter freestyle: 30-34, 3. Florencia Bolado 2:22.42, best time; 50-54, 4. Jody Wesgate 4:34.79, best time; 60-64, 5. Deborah Rosenbaum 5:02.91.

50-meter butterfly: 18-24, 5. Emmy Morillo 33.32, best time; 30-34, 2. Andrea Uzcategui 30.60; 60-64, 3. Maria Hung 36.04; 65-69, 3. Pamela Falcigno 41.35; 70-74, 3. Michelle Martin 1:05.46.

200-meter individual medley: 18-24, 2. Emmy Morillo 2:59.50; 35-39, 2. Kathleen Stutz 3:28.96; 60-64, 5. Marci Grady 4:32.03; 65-69, 2. Pamela Falcigno 2:43.41; 70-74, Michelle Martin 4:49.91, best time.

GOLD Results: 80-84, 200-meter freestyle, 1. Ahmed Hamada 3:14.63, best time; 50-meter butterfly, 1. Ahmed Hamada 44.19, best time.

Palm Beach Masters Results: 60-64, 100-meter backstroke, 5. Carolina Marnoch 1:32.34.

World/USMS Records Broken on Day 4

*Laura Val, Tamalpais Aquatic Masters: women’s 70-74 50 backstroke (35.16, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Diann Uustal, Sarasota Sharks: women’s 75-79 50 backstroke (40.08, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Lawrence Day, Michigan Masters: men’s 200 butterfly (2:47.17, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Robert Wright, MOVY Masters: men’s 70-74 50 breaststroke (36.21, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Beth Estel, New England Masters Swim Club: women’s 65-69 50 breaststroke (41.87, USMS record).

*Laura Val, Tamalpais Aquatic Masters: women’s 70-74 100 backstroke (1:17.98, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Diann Uustal, Sarasota Sharks: women’s 75-79 100 backstroke (1:28.67, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Diann Uustal, Sarasota Sharks: women’s 75-79 200 freestyle (2:56.75, USMS record).

*Chuck Barnes, New England Masters Swim Club: men’s 50 butterfly (25.24, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Steve Hiltabiddle, Colonials 1776: men’s 55-59 50 butterfly (26.56, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Lawrence Day, Michigan Masters: men’s 70-74 50 butterfly (29.98, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Lawrence Day, Michigan Masters: men’s 70-74 200 IM (2:42.94, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Tamalpais Aquatic Masters: mixed 280-319 200 freestyle relay (2:03.33, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

A field of 706 swimmers, ranging in ages from 18 to their 90s, competed. This event, re-named from Summer Nationals just for this year, was postponed from August 5-8 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The meet was last held in 2015.

U.S. Masters Swimming encourages adults to enjoy the health, fitness, and social benefits of swimming by providing more than 1,200 adult swimming programs and events across the country, including open water and pool competitions.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Swim Fort Lauderdale Wins Eleven Individual Events, Seven Relays On Day Three Of U.S. Masters Swimming Long Course Nationals

By Sharon Robb
GENEVA, Ohio, October 9, 2021–Swim Fort Lauderdale added eleven more national age group titles on Day Three of the U.S. Masters Swimming Long Course National Championships Saturday at SPIRE Institute Aquatics Center.

The team’s individual age group winners include:

Franco Lupoli, 25-29, 400-meter freestyle, 4:25.28.

Andrea Uzcategui, 30-34, 100-meter freestyle, 1:00.64, best time.

Richard Morris, 45-49, 200-meter breaststroke, 2:36.48.

Maud Jean, 45-49, 200-meter breaststroke, 3:04.56, best time.

Linda Webb, 75-79, 200-meter breaststroke, 4:34.90.

Rinaldo Sintjago, 35-39, 50-meter backstroke, 29.47.

Andre Steynberg, 65-69, 50-meter backstroke 31.55.

2020 ParaOlympian Abbas Karimi, 18-24, 200-meter butterfly, 3:33.64, best time.

Eddy Marin, 25-29, 200-meter butterfly, 2:18.99.

Marcos Lavado, 30-34, 200-meter butterfly 2:07.94, best time.

Joel Burns, 75-79, 200-meter butterfly, 3:35.02.

Swim Fort Lauderdale also won seven relays: Mixed 200-meter freestyle relays, 100-119, B relay 1:49.02; 120-159, 1:49.90; 240-279, 2:02.68; Men’s 200-meter medley relay: 100-119, A relay, 1:50.58; 120-159, 2:02.28; Women’s 200-meter medley relay: 100-119, A 2:18.90; 280-319, 3:02.66.

The only other South Florida masters swimmers age group winners were: Ahmed Hamada, GOLD, 100-meter freestyle, best time 1:22.66, dropping 16.34.

Swim Fort Lauderdale results:

Men 400-meter freestyle: 25-29, 7. Blake Woodrow 4:56.02, 9. Alan Hsieh, 6:19.05, 10. Adam Hsieh 6:33.62; 40-44, 2. Guillaume Filion 4:49.52; 50-54,5. Jorge Mijares 5:13.75, 7. James Wray 5:31.37; 70-74, 2. Hubie Kerns 5:33.71, 14. Clyde Akbar 17:20.26.

Men 100-meter freestyle: 25-29, 2. Franco Lupoli, 56.15, best time, 4. Lance Rutkin 57.20, best time, 6. Julian Mackrel 58.47; 30-34, 3. Juan Bermudez 54.54, best time, 6. Francisco Bolado 1:01.97, best time; 35-39, 2. Rinaldo Sintjago 54.85, 5. Francisco Manzi 1:00.98; 40-44, 5. Martin Torres 1:00.11, 9. Jonathan Goler 1:03.03; 45-49, 13. Richard Strzelecki 1:41.70; 50-54, 14. Mike Gaw 1:14.54; 55-59, 8. Peter Horwitz 1:04.02; 60-64, 4. Roberto Merega 1:03.16, 9. Jay Tapp 1:08.46; 65-69, 4. Andre Steynberg 1:03.12.

Men 200-meter breaststroke: 25-29, 6. Alan Hsieh 3:09.36, 7. Adam Hsieh 3:22.29, bes time; 30-34, 6. Michael Hicks 3:43.82; 35-39, 6. Phil Wenzel 3:11.70, best time; 40-44, 2. Guillaume Filion 2:48.51, best time; 55-59, 7. Pedro Correa-Marrero 3:21.92.

Men 50-meter backstroke: 25-29, 4. Alan Hsieh 34.59, 5. Adam Hsieh 37.54; 30-34, 2. Juan Bermudez 28.31, best time, 5. Francisco Bolado 33.79, best time; 50-54, 11. James Wray 34.45; 55-59, 2. Valeriy Krishtal 31.77, 7. Peter Horwitz 33.89, best time, 10. Jim Monahan 38.31; 60-64, 4. Jay Tapp 35.56, best time, 8. Francisco Parra 37.04, 11. Marty Hendrick 37.89.

Men 200-meter butterfly: 40-44, 3. Jonathan Goler 3:06.90; 50-54, 6. Andy Fischer 2:45.86, best time, 8. Jorge Mijares 2:54.97; 55-59, 4. Harold Wagner 2:58.05, best time; 70-74, 2. Hubie Kerns 3:07.46, best time.

Women 100-meter freestyle: 18-24, 4. Emmy Morillo, 1:09.37; 30-34, 2. Wendy Rodriguez 1:02.25, best time, 5. Florencia Bolado 1:03.92, best time, 7. Amanda Singleton 1:12.24, best time; 60-64, 13. Deborah Rosenbaum 2:12.06; 75-79, 9. Stephanie Smith 6:10.77.

Women 200-meter breaststroke: 45-49, 3. Daniela Rosenblat 3:46.07, best time; 60-64, 5. Adrienne Chin-Ogilvie 4:42.24, best time

Women 50-meter backstroke: 45-49, 8. Sulay Robayo 58.97, best time; 60-64, 2. Maria Hung 38.22, best time, 11. Becky Monahan 54.43, best time; 65-69, 4. Linda Larson 43.90, best time.

Women 200-meter butterfly: 35-39, 4. Kathleen Stutz 3:40.21, best time; 45-49, 3. Kristin Volz 4:44.83, best time; 60-64, 5. Marc Grady 4:42.15, 6. Adrienne Chin-Ogilvie 5:41.10; 65-69, 3. Laura Vaca 3:25.24, 5. Pamela Falcigno 3:59.74; 70-74, 3. Michelle Martin 5:43.06, best time.

GOLD Results
80-84, 2. Ahmed Hamada, 400-meter freestyle, 7:23.93, best time.

Palm Beach Masters Results
60-64, 7. Caroline Marnoch, 100-meter freestyle, 1:18.12.
45-49, 4. Charles Jeanpierre, 200-meter breaststroke, 2:49.07, best time.
75-79, 2. Eliot Winokur, 200-meter butterfly, 4:12.00, best time.

USMS Records Broken on Day 3

*Adam Ritter, Columbus Sharks Masters, men’s 35-39 100 freestyle (51.45, USMS record).

*Laura Val, Tamalpais Aquatic Masters, women’s 70-74 100 freestyle (1:06.90, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Diann Uustal, Sarasota Sharks, women’s 75-79 100 freestyle (1:17.38, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Mike Freshley, Sarasota Sharks, men’s 80-84 200 breaststroke (3:34.04, USMS record).

*Charlotte Davis, Tamalpais Aquatic Masters, women’s 70-74 200 breaststroke (USMS record).

*Laura Val, Tamalpais Aquatic Masters, women’s 70-74 50 backstroke (FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Diann Uustal, Sarasota Sharks, women’s 75-79 50 backstroke (FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Lawrence Day, Michigan Masters, men’s 70-74 200 butterfly (FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Tamalpais Aquatic Masters, mixed 280-319 200 freestyle relay (2:03.33, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

A field of 706 swimmers, ranging in ages from 18 to their 90s, are competing. This event, re-named from Summer Nationals just for this year, was postponed from August 5-8 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Florida Gold coast swimmers from Swim Fort Lauderdale (43 men and 26 women in 304 events), Palm Beach Masters (one woman and two men in 16 events) and Gold Coast Masters (two men in eight events) are competing.

The meet was last held in 2015. COVID health and safety precautions are being enforced including mandatory face masks in the venue.

Results, psych sheets and live streaming can be found at usms.org.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Swim Fort Lauderdale Dominates Day Two Of U.S. Masters Swimming Long Course Nationals

By Sharon Robb
GENEVA, Ohio, October 8, 2021–Swim Fort Lauderdale is sitting pretty after two days of competition at the U.S. Masters Swimming Long Course National Championships Friday at SPIRE Institute Aquatics Center.

Swim Fort Lauderdale had 12 individual age group wins and five relay winners.

Andrea Uzcategui and Maria Hung were double winners.

Uzcategui, 32, won the 30-34 100-meter butterfly in a best time 1:09.37 and 50-meter freestyle in 27.87, also a best time. She was also a member of the winning 200-meter freestyle relay.

Maria Hung, 61, won the 60-64 100-meter butterfly in 1:21.06 and 200-meter backstroke in a best time 3:03.49. She was also a member of the winning 200-meter freestyle relay.

2020 ParaOlympian Abbas Karimi, 24, won the 18-24 200-meter backstroke in a best time 3:37.45. His seed time was 4:38.43.

Other Swim Fort Lauderdale winners were:

Ryan Rosenbaum, 27, 25-29 400 IM 5:00.32 followed by teammate Eddy Marin runner-up with a best time 5:01.52.

Marin, 29, won the 25-29 100-meter butterfly in 58.40.

Hubie Kerns, 72, won the 70-74 400 IM 6:29.56

Kathleen Stutz, 39, won the 35-39 400 IM in 7:29.19.

Marcos Lavado won the 30-34 100-meter butterfly in a best time 55.59.

Andre Steynberg, 65-69, won in 1:10.11.

Maud Jean, 45-49, won the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:24.89.

Swim Fort Lauderdale also finished one-two in the 100-119 men’s 200 freestyle relay and one-two in the 120-159 age group.

Swim Fort Lauderdale won the women’s 100-119 200 freestyle relay in 1:59.06; 160-199 200 freestyle relay in 2:04.82 and 280-319 200 freestyle relay in 2:34.22.

Other Swim Fort Lauderdale results:

Men 400-meter individual medley: 25-29, 6. Kristof Kertesz, 5:29.37, best time; 9. Adam Hsieh, 7:22.92, best time; 45-49, 3. Richard Morris 5:22.75, best time; 50-54, 6. Andy Fischer, 6:03.78, best time; 8. Victor Aimi 7:37.84; 55-59, 4. Harold Wagner 5:58.48, best time.

Men 100-meter butterfly: 25-29, 5. Lance Rutkin, 1:02.20, best time; Kristof Kertesz, 1:05.80; 11. Blake Woodrow 1:09.75; 40-44, 6. Martin Torres 1:11.12, best time; 7. Jonathan Goler 1:11.86; 50-54, 7. Andy Fischer 1:10.56, best time; 8. Jorge Mijares 1:12.73; 7. Harold Wagner 1:10.07, best time; 70-74, 3. Hubie Kerns 1:22.30, best time; 75-79, 2. Joel Burns 1:29.32.

Men 50-meter freestyle: 25-29, 2. Julian Mackrel 24.87, best time; 4. Franco Lupoli 25.40; 6. Lance Rutkin 26.46, best time; 8. Blake Woodrow 28.32; 30-34, 3. Juan Bermudez 24.98, best time; 35-39, 2. Rinaldo Sintjago 24.89; 5. Francesco Manzi 27.12; 10. Phil Wenzel 29.76; 40-44, 4. Martin Torres 26.89; 7. Jonathan Goler 27.67; 45-49, 16. Richard Strzelecki, 42.75; 50-54, 16. Mike Gaw 32.55; 60-64, 3. Roberto Merega 28.07, 7. Francisco Parra 28.72, 12. Jay Tapp 30.76, 13. Henry Vehovec 30.82, best time; 65-69, 4. Andre Steynberg 27.53, 17. Beda Doni 30.95.

Men 200-meter backstroke: 25-29, 7. Adam Hsieh 3:08.67, 8. Alan Hsieh 3:10.71; 50-54, 6. James Wray 2:51.44; 55-59, 3. Valeriy Krishtal 2:35.46, 5. Peter Horwitz 2:42.53, best time, Jim Monahan 2:59.05; 60-64, 8. Marty Hendrick 2:56.89.

100-meter breaststroke: 25-29, 3. Ryan Rosenbaum 1:12.51, 5. Julian Mackrel 1:15.75, 6. Kristof Kertesz 1:17.00, 10. Alan Hsieh 1:22.53, 11. Adam Hsieh 1:26.60; 30-34, 2. Marcos Lavado 1:08.78, best time; 35-39, 8. Phil Wenzel 1:25.75; 40-44, 2. Guillaume Filion 1:14.71; 45-49, 2. Richard Morris 1:12.14; 55-59, 9. Pedro Correa-Marrero 1:28.51; 60-64, 3. Henry Vehovec 1:24.47.

Women 400-meter individual medley: 45-49, 4. Kristin Volz 8:55.66; 60-64, 7. Adrienne Chin-Ogilvie, 10:05.85; 65-69, 2. Laura Vaca, 6:43.26; 4. Pamela Falcigno 7:49.74, 6. Linda Larson 8:08.52; 70-74, 4. Michelle Martin, 10:18.81; 75-79, 2. Linda Webb 8:58.10, best time.

Women 100-meter butterfly: 35-39, 5. Kathleen Stutz 1:39.48; 65-69, 3. Laura Vaca 1:28.14; 5. Pamela Falcigno 1:41.42; 70-74, 4. Michelle Martin 2:23.22, best time.

Women 50-meter freestyle: 18-24, 3. Emmy Morillo 31.11, best time; 30-34, 2. Wendy Rodriguez 28.04, best time; 40-44, 9. Kathleen Sandner 31.30; 45-49, 8. Sulay Robayo 42.92, best time; 60-64, 14. Becky Monahan 44.87, best time; 16. Deborah Rosenbaum 55.50; 65-69, 6. Pamela Falcigno 34.86; 75-79, 6. Stephanie Smith 3:05.90.

Women 200-meter backstroke: 65-69, 2. Linda Larson 3:22.95, best time.

Women 100-meter breaststroke: 30-34, 2. Amanda Singleton 1:29.54, best time; 35-39, 5. Kathleen Stutuz 1:47.23; 40-44, 3. Kathleen Sandner 1:34.11; 45-49, 6. Daniela Rosenblat 1:48.33; 75-79, 2. Linda Webb 2:06.13.

Palm Beach Masters results
Men 400-meter individual medley: 75-79, 3. Eliot Winokur, 8:10.04, best time.
Women 50-meter freestyle: 60-64, 10. Caroline Marnoch 34.97.

USMS Records Broken on Day 2

*Shirley Loftus-Charley, Virginia Masters: women’s 70-74 400 IM (7:13.95, USMS record).

*Lawrence Day, Michigan Masters: men’s 70-74 100 butterfly (1:07.40, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Laura Val, Tamalpais Aquatic Masters: women’s 100 butterfly (1:16.07, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Diann Uustal, Sarasota Sharks Masters: women’s 75-79 50 freestyle (34.11, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*Laura Val, Tamalpais Aquatic Masters: women’s 70-74 200 backstroke (2:49.43, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

*David Guthrie, Rice Aquatic Masters: men’s 60-64 100 breaststroke (1:11.72, FINA Masters world record and USMS record).

A field of 706 swimmers are competing. Swimmers ranging in ages from 18 to their 90s are competing. This event, re-named from Summer Nationals just for this year, was postponed from August 5-8 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The meet was last held in 2015. COVID health and safety precautions are being enforced including mandatory face masks in the venue.

Results, psych sheets and live streaming can be found at usms.org.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Bolado, Rosenbaum Lead Swim Fort Lauderdale On Day One Of U.S. Masters Swimming Long Course National Championships

By Sharon Robb
GENEVA, Ohio, October 7, 2021—Swim Fort Lauderdale got off to a great start on opening day of the U.S. Masters Swimming Long Course National Championships Thursday at SPIRE Institute Aquatics Center.

Florencia Bolado and Ryan Rosenbaum were top finishers for Swim Fort Lauderdale.

Bolado, 32, was a double winner in the 30-34 1500-meter freestyle in 20:15.87 and 800-meter freestyle in a best time 10:30.19. She has the 100, 200 and 400-meter freestyles left to swim.

Rosenbaum, 27, was first in the 25-29 800-meter freestyle in 9:13.02 and second in the 1500-meter freestyle in 18:16.09. He has the 400 IM and 100 breaststroke remaining.

Other Swim Fort Lauderdale results are:

Men’s 1500-meter freestyle: 25-29, Kristof Kertesz, fourth, 19:44.34; 35-39, Phil Wenzel, third, 22:39.70; 50-54, Jorge Mijares, third 20:33.87; 55-59, Harold Wagner, second, 20:49.55, best time; 60-64, Marty Hendrick, eighth, 60-64, 24:11.83.

Women’s 1500-meter freestyle: 30-34, Amanda Singleton, second, 23:12.11; 65-69, Linda Larson, fifth, 27:16.17.

Men’s 800-meter freestyle: 25-29, Franco Lupoli, third 9:20.69; Kristof Kertesz, seventh 10:04.78; 30-34, Francisco Bolado, third, 11:24.94; 35-39, Phil Wenzel, fifth, 11:42.21; 40-44, Guillaume Filion, second 10:11.13, best time; Jonathan Goler, fourth, 10:59.08, best time; 50-54, Victor Aimi, tenth, 13:40.74; 55-59, Harold Wagner, sixth, 10:50.51, best time; 60-64, Marty Hendrick, eighth, 12:18.60; 70-74, Clyde Akbar, 12th, 34:22.09.

Women’s 800-meter freestyle: 35-39, Kathleen Stutz, fourth, 13:19.46, best time; 40-44, Kathleen Sandner, third, 12:34.81; 45-49, Maud Jean, fourth, 11:41.17; Daniela Rosenblat, seventh 14:24.96; Kristin Volz, eighth 15:02.79, best time; 50-54, Jody Wesgate, seventh 20:57.83, best time; 65-69, Laura Vaca, third, 11:40.96; Linda Larson, eighth 13:51.06, best time; 75-79, Linda Webb second 15:13.52, best time.

USMS Records Broken on Day 1

Charlotte Davis, Tamalpais Aquatic Club: women’s 70-74 800 freestyle (12:01.89—FINA Masters world record)
Charlotte Davis, Tamalpais Aquatic Club: women’s 70-74 1500 freestyle (22:18.76—USMS record and FINA Masters world record)
Laura Val, Tamalpais Aquatic Club: women’s 70-74 200 freestyle (2:38.04—FINA Masters world record)
Laura Val, Tamalpais Aquatic Club: women’s 70-74 400 freestyle (5:27.70—FINA Masters world record)
Laura Val, Tamalpais Aquatic Club: women’s 70-74 800 freestyle (11:11.89—FINA Masters world record)
Carolyn Boak, Woodlands Masters Swim Team: women’s 75-79 800 freestyle (13:22.23—USMS record)

Only the distance events were held on opening day. The meet runs through Sunday.

A field of 706 swimmers are competing. Swimmers ranging in ages from 18 to their 90s will compete.This event, re-named from Summer Nationals just for this year, was postponed from August 5-8 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The meet was last held in 2015. COVID health and safety precautions are being enforced including mandatory face masks in the venue.

Results, psych sheets and live streaming can be found at usms.org.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

U.S. Masters Swimming Long Course National Championships Begin Thursday; Swim Fort Lauderdale Heads Field

By Sharon Robb
GENEVA, Ohio, October 6, 2021—A field of 706 swimmers will compete in the U.S. Masters Swimming Long Course National Championships Thursday through Sunday with four sessions at SPIRE Institute Aquatics Center.

Swimmers ranging in ages from 18 to their 90s will compete. Among them U.S. Olympian and 1996 gold medalist Ashley Whitney and 1952 Olympic gold medalist Yoshi Oyakawa.

The field also features FINA Masters world and USMS record holders. There are 442 men and 264 women competing in 3,122 events.

Swim Fort Lauderdale is among favorites to win the team title. In July, Swim Fort Lauderdale masters team was second at the U.S. Masters Short Course Nationals in Greensboro, N.C.

Among Swim Fort Lauderdale’s entries are Ryan Rosenbaum, Deborah Rosenbaum, Kristof Kertesz, Phil Wenzel, Jorge Mijares, Harold Wagner, Florencia Bolado, Amanda Singleton, Linda Larson, Francisco Bolado, Phil Wenzel, Kathleen Sander, Kristin Volz, Linda Larson, Linda Webb, Eddy Marin, Adrienne Chin-Ogilvie, Marci Grady, Joel Burns, Franco Lupoli, Blake Woodrow, Andrea Uzcategui, Timothy Shead and masters coach Marty Hendrick.

The meet was last held in 2015. COVID health and safety precautions are being enforced including mandatory face masks in the venue.

Results and psych sheets can be found at usms.org.

USMS’s nearly 55,000 members range from age 18 to 100-plus and include swimmers of all ability levels. USMS, a nonprofit, also trains and certifies coaches and provides online workouts, a bimonthly member magazine, monthly newsletters and technique articles and videos at usms.org.

Also in Masters news, Catherine Rust of Florida Gold Coast was among 14 recipients to be honored for her outstanding volunteer service earning the U.S. Masters Swimming Dorothy Donnelly Service Award.

Indiana’s Michelle Harter earned the June Krauser Communications Award for contributing to the growth and improvement of masters swimming

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Registration Under Way For Broward Senior Games, Qualifier For Florida Senior Games

By Sharon Robb
FORT LAUDERDALE, September 21, 2021—Registration for the swimming event is open for the 2021 Broward County Senior Games, a qualifier for the Florida Senior Games, presented by Humana.

The 30th anniversary Florida Senior Games are scheduled for December 4-12 in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area.

The Broward Senior Games is Oct. 9 at 10 a.m., hosted by Caporella Aquatic Center in Tamarac. Entry fee is $30. Events are 50- and 100-yard backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.

All registration payments include a free event t-shirt to be picked up on event check-in day. Contact information is Blue Purple Vail, LLC in Fort Lauderdale at 754-304-3287.

Age groups are 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94, 95-99 and 100-plus.

The Senior Games are an Olympics-styled sport event series for older adults (50 years and above), sanctioned by the State of Florida Sports Foundation as a qualifying event for the Florida Senior Games series.

The 2021 Florida Games offer competition in 21 sports including swimming, for athletes age 50 and over, and is a qualifier for the 2022 National Senior Games, to be held in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, May 10-23.

For competition information about the 2021 Florida Senior Games, and to register, go to the individual sport pages at http://www.floridaseniorgames.com. Entry fees vary by sport and the registration deadline is Monday, November 15.

With the 2022 National Senior Games being held in Florida, many Florida athletes will be looking to qualify for the National Games. For many sports in the National Senior Games, it’s a three-step process.

The first qualification takes place at a Local Senior Games Qualifying event. For those athletes who didn’t qualify for the 2021 Florida Senior Games at a Spring 2021 Local Senior Games, there are 10 opportunities to qualify between September and November. Host sites and dates are:

Gainesville Senior Games, September 10-19, 2021.

Palm Coast and Flagler Beaches Senior Games, September 10-19, 2021.

Pensacola Senior Games, September 10-26, 2021.

Jacksonville Senior Games, September 24-October 2, 2021.

Broward Senior Games, October 3-17, 2021, 754-304-3287.

Tampa Bay Active Life Games, October 4-12, 2021.

Cutler Bay Senior Games, October 18-22, 2021, 305-234-4262.

Ormond Beach Senior Games, October 23-30, 2021.

Martin County Senior Games, October 23-31, 2021.

Golden Age Games, November 5-14, 2021.

For more information on the 10 remaining Local Senior Games Qualifier events, go to http://www.floridaseniorgames.com/all-sports-schedule.

The Florida Senior Games, presented by Humana, is an annual Olympic-style Sports Festival, for athletes age 50 and over, by the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports promotion and development organization for the State of Florida, presented in conjunction with the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB. Since 1992, over 56,000 athletes have participated in the Florida Senior Games.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

LIFE FITNESS CORNER: Comets Swim School Offers Free Swim Lesson This Summer

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

May 28, 2012

With the last day of school right around the corner, kids are getting ready for summer and some well-deserved fun.

Many kids will head to the pool or beach with parents or friends this summer.

Many are already water-safe and know how to swim. But others, particularly children ages one to four, do not know how to swim while others need a refresher course.

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, drowning is the leading cause of injury or death among children ages one to four.

Males make up approximately 80 percent of drowning victims. Researchers say they often overestimate their swimming ability.

According to the USA Swimming Foundation, 70 percent of African-American and 60 percent of Hispanic children cannot swim.

Also in the CDC report, black children between the ages of 5-14 are three times more likely to drown than white children. There is an ongoing effort to increase education in communities populated with African-American and Hispanic children.

CDC officials strongly urge everyone should learn swimming basics and CPR. Early formal swimming lessons are recommended for kids as well as basic water survival skills.

To get kids started off on the right foot this summer, the Comets Swim School is offering one free swim lesson at the Academic Village Pool in Pembroke Pines, site of the South Florida Aquatic Club, one of the most successful teams in the Florida Gold Coast.

Also available are lessons at reasonable prices for infants, adults, beginners to competitive swimmers and those who want triathlon-specific training.

The dates which the free lesson is being offered are June 9, 16, 23, 30 and July 7.

Those interested in signing up for this summer’s free lesson can call the swim office at 954-538-3724 or go to www.swim4comets.com.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com

TRIATHLON ROUNDUP: SOFLO’s Rich Nixon Helps Fallen Triathlete, May Have Cost Him Hawaii Ironman Slot

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

May 1, 2011

The selfless act of Rich Nixon going to the aid of a fallen pro woman triathlete in Sunday’s 70.3 St. Croix Half Ironman in the U.S. Virgin Islands may have cost him.

Nixon, 47, of Coconut Creek, trains at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex. His daughter Morgan is a member of the South Florida Aquatic Club swim team.

Nixon was in contention with three other riders during the bike leg for one of the two available Hawaii Ironman slots in his age group.

The top four age group riders were within a minute of each other when Nixon pulled up on the course to help a pro woman triathlete who crashed during the bike leg and was unable to return to the race.

“I would rather be a good human being than win a race,” Nixon said. “You still have to be a human being and gentleman. I can’t swerve by somebody like they are road kill.

“I helped her to side of the road,” Nixon said. “She went down hard. She didn’t hit her head but she was full of road rash. I would do that over and over again and not get a slot to Kona.”

Nixon finished fourth in his age group (45-49) and 36^th overall among a field of more than 500 in 4 hours, 55 minutes and 51 seconds. He had moved from ninth in his age group after his 32:25 1.2-mile split to fifth after his 3:17:38 56-mile bike split.

Nixon lost about two minutes and maybe even two places by stopping. He may have been able to make it up on the run but encountered stomach problems early in the run.

“The real issue I had was nutritional,” Nixon said. “The first six miles of the run I hadn’t digested what I ate and I felt nine months pregnant. I may have eaten too much for breakfast or took in too many calories during the bike. It was all sitting in my stomach and I was absolutely miserable. I drank nothing but water. I finally found my mojo the last six miles but it was too late.”

By midway through the run, Nixon knew his shot at a Kona slot was gone.

“Mentally, it was absolutely good because at that point it would have been easy to quit,” Nixon said. “I just thought suck it up Buttercup and go as hard as you can. It was good learning to deal with adversity.”

It was Nixon’s first race in St. Croix and proved more challenging than he expected.

“This is a big boy race, it is tough,” Nixon said. “There is not a flat part to the race. The only flat part was the swim and that wasn’t that flat, it was choppy, too.

“They talk about ‘the beast’ and how grueling it is to get up that hill and it is, that is no joke. It is just hill after hill after hill and we had pretty relentless winds as well.”

Nixon will make another attempt to qualify for Hawaii at the June 12 Subaru Ironman 70.3 Eagleman in Oxford, Maryland.

In the St. Croix men’s pro race only sixteen seconds separated first and second place. Ukrainian Maksym Kriat, who lives and trains in Clermont, won the men’s race in 4:11:43 and Aussie Luke Bell was second in 4:11.59.

Great Britain’s Catriona Morrison, coming off her Ironman 70.3 Texas win, won the women’s race in 4:29:28, more than a 4-minute margin of victory.

Tampa Triathlete Comes To The Rescue

Tampa nurse Teresa McCoy, who was competing in Saturday’s St. Anthony’s Meek and Mighty Triathlon in St. Petersburg, saved the life of a fellow triathlete during the race.

McCoy stopped during her race to help a man who had collapsed on the course. She recognized the man, whose family asked that he not be identified. She had talked with him briefly before the race.

McCoy checked for a pulse and couldn’t feel one. The police thought he may have had a seizure. McCoy started CPR and asked for a defribillator. The man came to as soon as they used the defribillator. Paramedics rushed him to the local hospital where he is being treated.

McCoy returned to the race and finished in 50:37. Her splits were 5:10, 31:09 and 9:59. Later she told local reporters that “God put her where she was supposed to be Saturday.”

Ospaly, Haskins Wins St. Anthony’s Triathlon

2008 Olympian Filip Ospaly won the men’s title and Sarah Haskins won the women’s title Sunday in the 28^th annual St. Anthony’s Triathlon in St. Petersburg.

Ospaly, 35, of the Czech Republic, won in 1:41:22, just 14 seconds ahead of two-time St. Anthony’s champion Matt Reed in 1:41:36 and 19 seconds ahead of defending champion Cameron Dye in 1:41:41.

“This is a big win for me,” said Ospaly, who was second in last year’s 70.3 Clearwater event. His 10K run split was 30:54. “I knew my finish was strong.”

U.S. Olympian Haskins, 30, the defending women’s champion, had a little more breathing room winning in 1:52:28 ahead of Liz Blatchford (1:53:07) and Sarah Groff (1:53:34).

The course was a 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run. The swim leg had to be re-located and shortened by 500 meters because of high winds.

Jacobs Wins First Ironman Title

Pete Jacobs, who ran a 2:53:37 final marathon leg, won Ironman Australia Sunday in 8 hours and 29 minutes to take home his first title.

Jacobs had a 46:29 split for the 2.4-mile swim, nearly a 3-minute lead. He finished the 112-mile bike leg in 4:41:04.

Defending champion Peter Vernay, going after his fifth title, was second in 8:35:14.

Caroline Steffen of New South Wales won the women’s title in 9:29:54. She was second after her swim split of 50:35. She took the lead early in the bike and despite two flats completed her split in 5:12:39. Her run split was 3:22:10.

About 1,100 athletes competed in the New South Wales event.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com

ISHOF Adds New Safety Device For Jan. 8 Rough Water Swim

WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB

December 28, 2010

With a solid safety plan already in place for years, an additional safety device will be offered to swimmers in the January 8 International Swimming Hall of Fame’s 41^st annual Fort Lauderdale Rough Water Swim off Fort Lauderdale beach.

Since the tragic death of 26-year-old U.S. national team member Fran Crippen at an October open water swim in the United Arab Emirates, open water swimming has come under scrutiny.

While the investigation into Crippen’s death is ongoing, local open water race officials are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of every swimmer and for the race to maintain its perfect safety record.

“This is about safety and lives of swimmers,” said ISHOF CEO and president Bruce Wigo, who has been an open water swimmer since age 10.

ISHOF ordered three hundred open water safety balls that will be made available to any swimmer wishing to use one during the swim.

Wigo first saw a photo of the unique product, that ties around the swimmer’s waist, used at the Pearl River Swim, featuring 15,000 swimmers in China, is not only a flotation safety device but also has a compartment that can hold towels, clothes and valuables when swimming alone in open water.

“I always wanted to try this product, something like this is inevitable,” Wigo said. “It doesn’t impede or slow down the swimmer. It goes around the waist. It’s an inflatable float that rides the back flow of the swimmer, it doesn’t pull, it just rides through the water. There is no drag at all.”

Wigo remembers his early days as an open water swimmer when he put himself at risk unknowingly. “When I look back at it now…” Wigo said.

“We would like as many people possible to use them as an experiment,” Wigo said. “I am convinced if Fran had been wearing this it would have been easy to note that his identification marker wasn’t moving. I think it’s perfect. We want to try to get people to use it.”

Crippen, in Fort Lauderdale last year for an open water clinic for local swimmers and coaches, won the Rough Water Swim in 19 minutes and 25.4 seconds.

ISHOF is working closely with Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue to ensure all standards established by the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) for open water swimming are in place including safety buoys.

The swim is parallel to the beach and swimmers will be observed from both the beach and ocean side of the course.

The open water swim was started in 1969 by the legendary Buck Dawson, founder of the International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum and one of the early open water swimming pioneers.

Wigo is hoping for a good turnout of swimmers of all ages from local clubs, high school and masters teams to the popular event. Numbers were low last year, he said.

Even before Crippen died, some college athletic directors would not allow their teams that were pool training in South Florida during the holidays, to participate in any open water swim because of the risk. College swimmers always looked forward to the change of scenery swimming in the ocean.

Numbers have been low for the College Swim Forum in Fort Lauderdale as well mainly because of the economy and travel problems.

Awards will be presented for the one mile swim in age group, college and masters divisions as well as the top 10 male and female finishers.

Registration is underway online at www.ishof.org or at the ISHOF Gift and Pro Shop. There is also race day registration with an additional $10 fee. The race begins at 9:30 a.m. on Fort Lauderdale Beach at Vistamar Street. The race finishes in front of the ISHOF facility on the beach at SE Fifth Street.

Another open water swim is scheduled for Sunday, January 2 at 9:30 a.m.

The Delray Beach Ocean Rescue Ocean Mile Swim will be held on Anchor Park Municipal Beach right off South Ocean Blvd. The well-organized event, open to all ages, benefits the Delray Beach Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Competition Team. There is free parking at Sandoway Park. Lifeguards will be on paddleboards and all lifeguard towers will be open. For more information call 561-243-7352 or email fosterj@mydelraybeach.com.

Another fun event this weekend is the largest paddle boarding event hosted by Miami.

The World Paddle Association’s Orange Bowl Paddle Championship will take place at 11 a.m. on Sunday, January 2 at the Bayside Marketplace Marina, 401 Biscayne Blvd. The event includes a five-mile race from Biscayne Bay to the Miami River for competition and amateur paddle boarders.

There will also be live music, charity raffle and demonstrations. The race is open to anyone. All proceeds benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Great Miami. The event fee is $10. Admission includes credit for a burger and refreshment. For more information go to www.orangebowlpaddle.com.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

http://www.swim4soflo.com