It was a weekend of firsts for the Martha’s Vineyard Masters Swimming Team. The team competed at the New England Championships, held at Harvard University Friday through Sunday, March 20 to 22.
Rainy Goodale (45-49) set New England records in all three breaststroke races (33.18 in the 50, 1:12.03 in the 100, and 2:37.77 in the 200). Those three records had stood since 2004 and 2005. Rainy now holds seven age-group New England records, including all 3 breaststroke records for the 40-44 and 45-49 age groups. She also had two second-place finishes (50 backstroke and 100 individual medley) and two thirds (50 butterfly and 50 freestyle). As a team, the Vineyard finished in second place among small teams (out of 11) and 20th overall (out of 69), with 529 points (Weymouth Masters had 669 points, the most among small teams).
The Vineyarders entered team relays for the first time in years, and had their first firsts. On Friday, the mixed (two men and two women) over-45 relay of Jonathan Chatinover, Rainy Goodale, Leslie Craven, and Jason Snow won the 400 free relay in a time that would have also won the over-35 event. Jason had the fastest split (57.12), anchoring the relay. On Saturday, the same four swimmers won the 200 free relay and finished second in the 400 medley relay (Jason: back, Rainy: breast, Jon: fly, and Leslie: free). On Sunday, the Vineyard women (Elizabeth Lytle, Elizabeth Goodell, Rainy Goodale, and Leslie Craven) took second in the over-45 200 medley relay.
Individually, Sharon Pearson (70-74) won the 50 fly in her first Masters race. Leslie Craven (55-59) followed up her second-place finish in the 1,650 free with a fourth in the 500 free, fifths in the 200 free and 200 IM, seventh in the 100 free, ninth in the 50 fly, 10th in the 50 free and 11th in the 100 IM. Elizabeth Lytle (45-49, also in her first Masters meet) took two sixths (50 back and 100 IM) and an eighth (50 free). Elizabeth Goodell (45-49, also in her first Masters meet) followed up her sixth place in the 1,650 with a fifth in the 100 breast and 13th in the 50 free. Liz Fox (60-64, 4th in the 1000 free) swam on March 15 (distance day).
On the men’s side, Jonathan Chatinover (50-54) took a second in the 200 breast, third in the 400 IM, fifths in the 100 breast and 200 IM, sixth in the 100 IM, eighths in the 50 breast and 500 free and 14th in the 200 free. Jason Snow (45-49) finished ninth in the 100 fly, 10th in the 500 free, 11th in the 100 free, and 12th in the 100 IM.
Les Cutler (70-74; fourth in the 1,650 free) brought the Phoenix Group swimmers to swim the 50 free on Sunday. Alexander Campbell (25-29) took 19th, Todd McGee (40-44) took 13th, and Eric Turner (60-64) placed 14th.