Courtesy of Ryan Goodwyn
The USMS 2017 South Central LC Zone Championship meet was held at Texas A&M University on July 21-23 in a meet that saw dozens of new Zone Age Group records and one new USMS National Age Group Record.
Masters of South Texas won the overall team title with 1,337 points, followed by The Woodlands Masters Swim Team (720 points) and Rice Aquatic Masters (646 points).
Marissa Clapp, swimming for Rose Bowl Masters, set a Women 30-34 National Record in the 200 meter breastroke with a time of 2:38.90. The previous of 2:41.51, set by Wenke Hansen, dated back to 1999. Clapp also set Zone Records in 200 IM (2:24.54), 400 IM (5:09.91), and 100 breast (1:14.60).
The mother/daughter duo of Susan Matherne and Carol Mungavin had a fun weekend breaking freestyle records together. Matherne set Zone Records for the 50-59 Women 100 free (1:06.31) and 200 free (2:30.56).
Mungavin set Zone Record for the same two events as her daughter in the 80-84 Women age group. Her 100 free time of 2:04.51 broke the previous record by .73 and her 200 free time of 4:28.78 broke the previous Zone Record by over 27 seconds.
On the men’s side, the individual high point award winner was Graham Johnston, competing in the 85-89 Men division. During the three day meet, the 86-year-old Johnston swam the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 400 free, 1500 free, 50 back, 100 back, 200 back, 50 breast, and 50 fly.
Johnston, a member of the 1952 South African Olympic team, won his age group in every one of his events and set Zone Records for the 85-89 Men in all but the 50 free and 400 free (which he already owns).
In the first 800 meters of his 1500, Johnston was only 15 seconds off his own world record for that distance. By the end of the race, Johnston’s 27.53.75 was less that six seconds off the 85-90 Men World Record (27:47.93) held by Katsura Suzuki of Japan.
Johnston was accompanied at the meet by his wife Janice, who attends every one of his workouts and meets with him. They met as freshman at the University of Oklahoma. At the end of the meet, they left the pool hand in hand, with Johnston telling her what he’ll do differently next time to take back his 1500 free World Record.
It is amazing what swimming can do for you throughout your lifetime. In my humble opinion, all swimmers should keep on going and get in to Masters swimming. It keeps you young, it keeps you happy and it keeps you in touch with yourself. I am so happy with all of the swimmers that came to the meet and I hope beyond hope that i and all that helped me, were able to live up to their desires and goals.
Thank you Ryan for such an awesome write up.