News Summary
Mary T. Meagher, competing under her married name Mary Plant, has achieved a new Masters World Record in the women’s 60-64 age group for the 200 meter butterfly in Augusta. Meagher also excelled in the 50 fly and 100 fly events, showcasing remarkable times and dominant victories. Jen Mihalik broke the Masters World Record in the 100 meter backstroke for her age group, while the Spartans of La Canada made their mark by breaking five USMS National Records at the recent championships, highlighting the exceptional talent in the Masters swimming community.
Augusta, Georgia
In an impressive display of swimming prowess, Mary T. Meagher, racing under her married name Mary Plant, has set a new Masters World Record in the women’s 60-64 age group for the 200 meter butterfly. During a Masters meet held in Augusta, Meagher not only claimed victory in this event but also triumphed in two others: the 50 fly and the 100 fly.
Meagher clocked remarkable times of 31.27 seconds in the 50 fly, 1:09.59 in the 100 fly, and 2:45.99 in the 200 fly, marking her as the top swimmer in her age category. Her victories were dominant, coming in well ahead of her competitors with 2.5 seconds in the 50 fly, 12.7 seconds in the 100 fly, and 25.5 seconds in the 200 fly. This event was particularly significant for Meagher, as it marked her first long course meter meet in 37 years, recalling races she last participated in 35 years ago.
Additionally, Jen Mihalik made headlines by breaking the Masters World Record in the 100 meter backstroke for the 45-49 age group, finishing in a time of 1:06.97. Mihalik’s achievement was exceptional, as her time would have surpassed the competition by nearly three seconds at both the USMS Nationals and the Masters World Championships.
The success of these athletes came on top of a strong showing by the Spartans of La Canada during the SPMS Southwest Zone Long Course Meters Championships in Mission Viejo, where they set a total of five USMS National Records. The women’s 200 freestyle relay team, comprising Faith Marshall, Daria Chebotareva, Amy Okada, and Madison Kennedy, achieved an impressive time of 1:47.59. Although their time exceeded the existing world record, it could not be recognized due to age restrictions.
The women’s 200 medley relay team from the Spartans also made history, breaking the previous national record with a new time of 2:00.93. Their mixed relay teams contributed to the record-spree with times of 1:39.41 in the 200 freestyle relay—again, faster than the previous record but not eligible for recognition—and 1:51.82 in the mixed 200 medley relay. The mixed 400 medley relay team, featuring Chebotareva, Stanislavenko, Tibazi, and Okada, set a record with a time of 4:15.99, smashing the former record of 4:32.00.
Further accomplishments were noted at the Federal Way meet, where Charlotte Davis established her ninth and tenth records, including her eighth record for the women’s 75-79 age group. In addition, 1976 Olympian Rick Colella set his sixth record during the same week.
In a different vein, athlete Sohtz, who has recently participated in two of the three open water Triple Crown swims, is now focusing her efforts on giving back to her local aquatics community, demonstrating a commitment to the sport beyond competition.
This wave of record-setting performances serves as a testament to the dedication and skill of the athletes involved, showcasing the remarkable achievements possible within the Masters swimming community.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Mary Plant Breaks World Record in Masters Swimming
Additional Resources
- SwimSwam: Mary T. Wins 3, Jen Mihalik Breaks a World Record at Georgia Masters Meet
- Wikipedia: Masters Swimming
- SwimSwam: Olympic Gold Medalist Melanie Margalis Fink Returns to Georgia Tech as an Assistant Swim Coach
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Swimming
- SwimSwam: Georgia Tech Adds Miles Simon to Coaching Staff as Assistant Coach
- Google News: Masters Swimming
- SwimSwam: U.S. Masters Swimming Announces Board Electees, Award Winners at Annual Meeting
- Google Search: Competitive Swimming Records
- SwimSwam: Georgia’s Callie Dickinson Named SEC McWhorter Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year
- Google Scholar: Swimming Athlete Recognition
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