Report from the USMS Short Course Nationals by Bill Ireland (Thanks Bill!)

The SCAQ Nationals team, minus several no shows, including our fearless leader, and despite the delayed delivery of the classy SCAQ 2001 USMS National Team T-Shirts (we're still waiting), competed in the heat and glamour of Santa Clara at USMS Nationals, finishing 10th for small team women, and a little lower in the small men and small combined category. Other teams set many records, and the full details are available at the USMS website, or courtesy of Michael Collins at the SwimInfo website. SCAQ highlights of the weekend included a field trip to the new Belardi Pool, the halftime show of the Santa Clara Synchronized Swimmers, and Bill Ireland proving that it is possible to split 43 seconds on the Breaststroke leg of the 200 IM, while still moving forward, and without being disqualified.

At the other end of the performance spectrum, Sandy Galletly had 2 firsts for the Men's 55-59 Age Group in the 400 IM (5:06.01), and in the 1650(19:05.56). He also had a 2nd in the 500, 6th in the 200 IM, and 8th in the 200 Breast. George Brinton, while socializing mostly with the SLUGs at the meet, won the 50 and 100 Back in the 75-79 age group. Dan Wegner won the 200 Free for 25 to 29 Men, in a very fast 1:41.80, and had a 3rd place in the 50 Free. Craig Nadel finished 2nd in the 1650 Free, 9th in the 400 IM, and inspired the Men's Over 35 Medley Relay to an 8th Place finish with an oxymoronic (for a Nadel) sprint 50 Back leadoff leg. Incidentally, that relay was the only SCAQ relay survivor, which is more than enough on that subject.

Kristen Robertson dorsaled to a 7th, 4th and 5th in the 50, 100, and 200 Back in the 25 to 29 women. Coach Kim Davis was 5th in the 100 Back, and 4th in the 200 Back in the just barely old enough for Masters 19-24 division. Coach Annie Tom survived the weekend and finished 9th in the 100 Breaststroke after barely finishing out of the medals in the 200 Breaststroke in the Women's 25 to 29.

Peter Taft racked up a 5th, 7th, 6th and 9th in the Men's 65 to 69 in the 100 Free, 200 Free, 50 Free, and 50 Fly.

The Reiersons had a 4th(for Lars--35-39 Men: 4:26.98) and a 5th(for Joanne--25-29 Women: 4:53.84) in the 400 IM. Joanne also had a 5th in the 500 Free (5:22.54), and a 7th in the 200 Breaststroke. Jocelyn Rothbard had 5th place finish in the 200 Free for Women's 30-34 of 2:01.64, and a leadoff :25.98 for the 50 Free.

Marc Willick broke :50 in the 100 Free, :49.48 and Dave Drapeau barely missed in :50.68. Dave also anchored the Men's medalling relay in :23.02. Marc swam :22.45 in the 50 Free and finished in the money in the 100 Fly with :54.89 for 9th place in the Men's 30-34. Nick Gardener was just out of the money in the 1650 for Men 35-39 with a strong 20:19.39. Dave Nelson swam a strong 400 IM in 4:53.27 but was stuck in the tough Men's 40-44 division. Dave also proved in the 100 Fly that his times are remaining the same from decade to decade--and it's only a matter of time until Bill Specht comes back to him. Bill Ireland, fortified by much appreciated cheering of the SCAQ contingent, overcame the shock and humiliation of his 50 Breast split in the 200 IM, to finish his 4th day of competition with a 2:08.42 in the 200 Fly for a 7th place in the same Men's 40-44 division.

Through some sort of inexplicable author error, Diana Todd's results were previously omitted from the Nationals report, and she swam great. In her 55-59 age group, she had three seconds and two thirds. Her runner-up finishes were in the 50 Free with a time of :28.34, 50 Fly at :30.04, and in the 100 Fly at 1:09.08. Her two thirds were in the 100 Free at 1:01.35, and in the 100 IM, with a time of 1:12.67. Her time in the 100 Free was under the previous USMS Age Group National Record for that event. Diana's existing national record in the Women's 50-54 50 yard Freestyle, from 1997, remained unbroken also.

In addition, we have been reminded that Joanne Reirson's finest moment at USMS Nationals was in the Women's 25-29 50 Breaststroke where she earned her highest placing of the meet, and revealed her new-found sprinting skills, frogging(as the Ireland girls call it) to a 4th place finish, with a time of :33.31. Congratulations and apologies for the delayed update.

Apologies for anyone who was missed in this report, and any errors are solely the responsibility of the SCAQ Swim Office (talk to Clay). Next year's resolutions--relay start practice, and lets get someone a coaching badge so we can share the coaches' free food.