2023 USMS SPRING NATIONALS
- April 27 – May 1, 2023
- William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center, Irvine, CA
- SCY (25 yards)
- Meet Website
- Psych Sheets + Results
- Live results also available 0n MeetMobile – “2023 USMS Spring Nationals”
The second day of the 2023 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring Nationals in Irvine saw the Masters National Record book get rewritten. In total, 21 records were broken on the day, 19 of which came in individual events.
One of the day two record breakers was none other than Jenny Thompson, one of the most decorated Olympians of all-time. Thompson, now 50, won the women’s 50-54 50 fly and 100 free, breaking the Masters National Records for the age group in both races. In the 50 fly, Thompson posted a 25.70, touching first in her age group by nearly two seconds. She went on to win the women’s 50-54 100 free in 52.00, which not only broke the Masters National Record for the age group, the time was also so fast that it would have been enough to win the women’s 35-39, 40-44, and 45-49 age groups. In fact, only seven swimmers of any age were faster than Thompson in the event yesterday.
Thompson represented the US at the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics, winning eight gold, 3 silver, and one bronze medal. She is also a former World Record holder in the women’s LCM 100 fly.
Gabrielle Rose, a dual citizen of Brazil and the United States who represented Brazil at the 1996 Olympics and the US at the 2000 Olympics, had an exceptional day as well. Rose, 45, managed to break four records in her age group, despite only racing in three events. That’s because when she won the women’s 45-49 100 breast in 1:01.63, a new Masters National Record for the 45-49 age group, she also took the race out in 28.92 on the first 50, which marks a new record for the women’s 45-49 50 breast as well.
Rose then went on to win the women’s 45-49 200 IM in 2:03.62, setting a third record on the day. She then capped off her incredible day by leading off the Santa Barabra Masters Swimming 45+ mixed 200 free relay in 23.75, which marks a new national record for the 45-49 women’s age group in the 50 freestyle. The relay went on to finish second in the age group.
Another Olympian, Markus Rogan, who represented Austria in the 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympics, cracked a national record on the day. 40-year-old Rogan, who won two silver medals through his trips to the Olympics, threw down a 1:50.17 to win the men’s 40-44 200 IM decisively yesterday, breaking the national record in the age group. He was great all-around in the race, splitting 24.30 on fly, 26.65 on back, 31.86 on breast, and 27.36 on free.
Similar to Rose in the women’s event, Carlo Travaini, 60, managed to break two Masters Records in the 100 breast. Travaini won the men’s 60-64 100 breast in a stunning 58.98, breaking the national record in the age group. That wasn’t the end of the story, however, as Travaini was out in 27.76 on the first 50, which marks a new record the men’s 60-64 50 breast as well.
27-year-old Ally Howe, who won the women’s 100 back at the 2018 NCAAs as a member of the Stanford Cardinal, took the women’s 25-29 200 back yesterday in 1:56.74. She won the race by 11 seconds, setting a new record for the 25-29 age group in the process.
OTHER RECORDS ON DAY TWO
- Benjamin Cono, The Olympic Club: Men’s 25-29 100 breaststroke (51.51)
- Erika Braun, North Carolina Masters Swimming: Women’s 50-54 100 breaststroke (1:07.97)
- Kristin Jaffe, Tamalpais Aquatic Masters: Women’s 85-89 100 breaststroke (1:59.35)
- Laura Val, Tamalpais Aquatic Masters: Women’s 70-74 200 backstroke (2:26.12)
- Mario Marshall, Golden Road Aquatics: Men’s 40-44 50 butterfly (22.35)
- Caroline Gmelich, New York Athletic Club: Women’s 18-24 50 butterfly (24.51)
- Traci Granger, Tamalpais Aquatic Masters: Women’s 65-69 50 butterfly (28.79)
- Margaret Toppel, Oregon Masters: Women’s 75-79 50 butterfly (33.93)
- Maurine Kornfeld, Rose Bowl Masters: Women’s 100-104 50 freestyle (1:29.42)
- Arizona Masters: Mixed 75+ 200 freestyle relay (2:23.90)
- New York Athletic Club: Mixed 25+ 200 freestyle relay (1:27.54)
Would be cool for swimswam to profile Bejamin Cono, masters swimmer who has dropped 1 second in the 100 breast since college, now down to 51.5.
Other noteworthy stats from Nationals: Rick Collela (71), Olympic bronze medalist in 200 breast, now owns every single 70-74 national record except the 50 free (held by Jeff Farrell, also in attendance), including the 200 breast, a record he dropped from 2:35 – 2:21 (14 seconds)
Well, Thompson was less than a second ahead of Erica Baugh in the 100 yard freestyle and Baugh also did a record on the 100 fly and 100 yard IM. The two Carolina gals since Thompson now lives in South Carolina and Erica Baugh in North Carolina
Fun.
Probably the best meet of 2023 (outside of NCAA’s)
Sorry but gotta give my mom credit when due! Jenny Thompson TIED the 50 fly 50-54 record as opposed to broke it. Leslie Livingston’s prior record of 25.70 is now shared with Jenny Thompson.
We all miss The Fortress and want her to come back to Masters Swimming!
That’s Dr. Jenny Thompson, put some respect on that name. Also, she not only broke Mary Ts 100 fly WR, she also held the 100 free WR for two years.
Go Caroline Gmelich!! #hoos✌🏼