Four members of the Martha’s Vineyard Masters Swim Club team competed in the New England Short Course Yards championship meet held in Harvard’s Blodgett Pool on March 12, 18, 19 and 20.
The Martha’s Vineyard contingent did very well. Rainy Goodale swam in the 40- to 44-year-old age group and placed first in the 200 yard breast stroke, setting a New England record in the time 2:37.1. Rainy also placed first in the 100- and 50-yard breast stroke events, second in the 50-yard butterfly and 200-yard individual medley and 5th in the 50-yard freestyle.
Leslie Craven swam well in the 50- to 54-year-age group placing 6th in the 100-yard freestyle, 7th in the 200-yard freestyle, 8th in the 200-yard and 13th in the 100-yard individual medley events. All of Leslie’s times were personal bests improving on her previous best times by 3 to 5 seconds in each event.
Liz Fox was inspiring in the 55- to 59-age group. Liz placed 3rd in the 1,000-yard freestyle, 6th in the 500-yard freestyle, 5th in the 200-yard freestyle, 7th in the 50-yard freestyle, 6th in the 50-yard and 8th in the 100-yard breast stroke events. Liz lowered her personal best times in the 1,000, 500 and 200-yard freestyle events by an incredible 15 to 35 seconds.
Les Cutler swam in the 65-to-69-age group placing 5th in the 1,650-yard (mile) freestyle, 9th in the 200-yard freestyle, 12th in the 100-yard freestyle and 10th in the 50-yard freestyle.
The short course yards championship is the largest masters meet in New England. More than 850 swimmers competed with teams from all of the New England states as well as New York, New Jersey, the eastern seaboard and several other parts of the country ranging from Florida to the Pacific Northwest.
The YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard Masters Swimming club provides structured fitness swimming workouts that include stroke refinement and set design, according to a press release. The new session begins April 4 and is open to all swimmers ages 18 and older. For more information call Julian Villegas, director of program operations at 508-696-7171, extension 120.
