15th Annual Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic Meet
- October 13-15, 2023
- Rosen Aquatic Center
- Orlando, Florida
- SCM (25 meters)
- Results on Meet Mobile: 15th Annual Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic
Courtesy: Mark Palace
After breaking the national record in the 500-yard free last weekend, 62-year-old masters swimmer Kelly Palace broke her second and third national records in the 60-64 age group at the 15th Annual Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic. Friday evening Palace obliterated the 800 free record by over 14 seconds swimming a 10:07.03, formerly the 12-year-old record was held by masters legend Laura Val at 10:21.67. Palace also broke the 1500 record by eight seconds.
After her 800 free individual record, later in the same session, Palace led off the Swim Melbourne Masters women’s 4×200 Free Relay, which crushed the world record in the 240-279 age group by over 10 seconds in a time of 10:09.82. The world record was formerly held by the Tokyo Beans Japanese team at 10:20.47. Palace led off that relay with a 2:22.02 (2nd all-time fastest 200 free in the 60-64 age group), followed by Zena Courtney (2:36.61), Karen Torres (2:39.00) and Joan Wheeler (2:32.19).
On Sunday the 1500 free was contested where Palace swam a new national mark by an eight-second margin in 19:27.09, beating the former record held by Suzanne M. Heim-Bowen at 19:35.32. Palace’s split at the 800 was faster than the former 800 national record at 10:19.26. In the 1500 she split her 500s in 6:24, 6:30, and 6:32, bringing home the last 100 in 1:15.46.
Additionally, Palace swam on 10 Swim Melbourne Relays (five setting zone records), and on Saturday Palace posted the all-time second-fastest 400 free for her age group with a time of 4:56.90.
Swim Melbourne Masters, located in Melbourne, Florida, won the overall team title for the second year in a row in dominant fashion, winning the combined points team total by over 2,000 points. 43 Swim Melbourne Masters team members participated.
“The Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic is a meet our team has targeted the last few years. The supportive team atmosphere is so much fun. We did 58 relays this year. It’s a well-run meet, in a fast pool and we always love seeing Rowdy at the meet!” Palace said.
SCM?
Masters swimming is conducted over three pool courses: SCM [Snort Course Meters], LCM [Long Course Meters], and SCY [Short Course Yards]. There are sets of records for all age-groups over each pool course.
Congratulations Kelly! Great swimming!
Who says Masters swimmers can’t get faster as they get older? Kelly Palace! That’s who! Rockin’ it at the Rowdy Gaines meet! Wow! What an inspiration! I LOVE Masters swimming!
Fantastic job, Kelly! You had a tough lineup and crushed all of your swims!
“240-279” What does this mean? Do they combine ages in master’s relays?
Yes.
Yes, for LCM and SCM. For SCY, it’s by 10 year groups [e.g. 65-74] according to the youngest swimmer on the relay team.
Kelly kicks butt. She also did a good breaststroke time for the age group. N