Masters Swim Hosts Record Breaking Swimmers
Kroc Center Hosts Masters Swim Competition
10 World Records Broken
On February 25 and 26, The Kroc Masters Swim Team sponsored The Kroc Masters (ages 18 and over) Swim Meet. The aptly named "February Flurry" swim meet added some excitement this year as Laura Val, 72-year-old swimmer from California, and Richard Burns (80) traveled to Coeur d’Alene to attempt to set national records and potentially world records for their age groups.
The two visiting swimmers broke 10 world records. Laura Val set world and national records for the 70- to 74-year-old age group in the 400 individual medley, 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke and 400 freestyle. Richard Burns set world and national records for the 80-84 age group in the 50, 100, and 200 backstroke, the 100 and 200 individual medley and the 50 butterfly.
With over 70 individual swimmers from ages 21 to 88 from Idaho, Montana, Washington, Montana, Oregon, and California, the February Flurry swim meet had a huge turnout.
“We set The Kroc Pool up so the competition was in ‘short course meters,’” said Masters Swimmer Samantha Whiting. “Indoor meets are typically set up in yards in America, the rest of the world competes in meters.”
Because of the unique set-up for this meet, there were several world class athletes in attendance. Many of these athletes lay it all on the line with only a dream of breaking a world record.
“Any time there’s a meet set up in meters, there is a good chance some serious competitors will travel to compete,” said The Kroc Masters Swim Board of Directors, Glenn Mabile. “Breaking world records doesn’t happen every day, so this is a big deal.”
The Kroc Masters Swim Team is a nationally recognized club team of adult swimmers that train and compete year-round under the direction of coach Mike Hamm, a past winner of the prestigious Kerry O’Brien coaching award. The Kroc Masters train three mornings a week between 5-6:30 a.m. in The Kroc Competition pool. All ages (over 18) and abilities are welcome in this diverse and fun group!
More local swimming events coming:
There are several outstanding opportunities for lake swimming competitions this summer.
Sat. July 22 – The Kroc Masters One- and Two-mile swims at Sanders Beach on Lake Coeur d’Alene
Sat. August 5 –The Long Bridge swim, 1.76 miles in Sandpoint, Lake Pend Oreille
Sun August 13 – The CDA Lake Crossing, a 2.4-mile swim from Arrow Point to the CDA Resort golf course.
Info on all three swims can be found online: https://inlandnwmastersnew.org
In addition, the U.S. Masters Swim Team will be sponsoring Adult Learn to Swim lessons in May. These are free swim lessons for any adult wanting to either learn to swim or feel more competent in the water! Stay tuned...