Courtesy: Mark Palace
Masters Swimmer Kelly Palace finished out an outstanding final quarter of 2023 by breaking two more national records in the women’s 60-64 age group.
On Nov. 5th she swam the 1650 record at the SwimRVA Commonwealth Cup clocking 19:24.90 to break the old record by over 12 seconds.
Then just five days later at the Coast Guard Blue Dolphin Carl Warner Open in Hampton, Va., Palace swam a time of 11:31.05 to demolish the former record in the 1000 free by 10 seconds.
Palace’s Six-Week Record Streak:
- 3000 SCY National Record, Oct. 1, 2023 (36:27.63)
- 500 SCY National Record, Oct. 8, 2023 (5:38.86)
- 800 SCM National Record, Oct. 13, 2023 (10:07.03)
- 1500 SCM National Record, Oct. 14th (19:27.09)
- 1650 SCY National Record, Nov. 5, 2023 (19:24.90)
- 1000 SCY National Record, Nov. 10, 2023 (11:31.05)
Palace swims for the Swim Melbourne Masters, but has been training in Richmond while helping family. She attributes her improvements to more intense training, more focus on stroke and turn technique and mindset training.
“It’s exciting to know that even after all the years of swimming that one can still improve stroke technique and your mental game, if you choose,” she said.
“I’d still like to go after these same events in long course in 2024.”
Kelly in an inspiration both in and and out of the pool! I learn a lot when working out with her through observing her outstanding stroke technique and work ethic. Plus I always enjoy the thoughtful and informed conversation’s we have about workouts and race preparations.
Outside the pool, if you haven’t listened to her awesome podcast “Champions Mojo” … I highly recommend it for incredible learning and also positive role models who provide great examples of how they achieve their successes.
Kelly is in her early 60s in the cover photo used for this story?! Dang, I guess Masters Swimming helps keep you young–I now have a new life goal! Congratulations to her on all of her outstanding athletic accomplishments too.
To my knowledge USMS doesn’t have a 3000 SCY record, they only have records for 50-1650.
Still, incredible performances all around!
They do indeed have virtual (formerly postal) distance records–1 hour, 5k, 10k, 3000, 6000. https://www.usms.org/events/usms-records/long-distance-usms-records
Ah, the postal records, didn’t think about those. Thanks for the clarification!
Hi Tim, USMS has been keeping “long distance records” in multiple events for decades. Kelly broke a 12 year old record in the 3,000. USMS lists that as a record per her profile https://www.usms.org/people/KERTY
So proud of you Kelly! You inspire me! Great job and congrats! Thank you so much to all the swim RVA family for pushing Kelly and making her train hard while in Virginia helping her elderly father!
Yay Kelly! Love her podcast with Maria.
Congratulations! Crushing it!
BTW 1000 is typo (actually 11:31.05)
It’s been a pleasure training with Kelly! She pushes me every time we are in the pool together!
It’s been great swimming with Kelly! She has a great attitude on deck and regularly surprises us in the pool!