Courtesy: Michael Moore
San Francisco, CA — Two standout swimmers, Heidi George and Alison Zaminian, delivered exceptional performances at The City Mile, held at San Francisco City College, on February 22, 2026. Both athletes competed in Heat 1 and shattered records in their respective age groups during one of Pacific Masters Swimming’s premier early-season distance events.
A Rare, Riveting Scene in Heat 1
What made this year’s City Mile unforgettable was the quiet tension building before Heat 1. In Lane 4, Heidi George prepared to chase records that had long stood tall. Just three lanes away, in Lane 7, stood Alison Zaminian, of Walnut Creek Masters, the very swimmer whose marks George was poised to challenge. For both athletes, this was their first year in a new age group.
When the starting horn sounded, the narrative wrote itself in real time. Stroke after stroke, George powered through the water toward Zaminian’s records while Zaminian—racing in a higher age group—mounted her own charge. Spectators quickly realized they were witnessing something extraordinary: a swimmer surpassing records held by the competitor sharing her heat—even as that competitor authored a record of her own. By the final touch, history had been rewritten from two lanes of the same pool: George overtook Zaminian’s former standards, and Zaminian answered by setting new ones, crafting one of the City Mile’s most compelling dual performances since its inception.
Heidi George Sets New 50–54 Mile and 1000 Yard Freestyle Records
Competing in the 50–54 age group, Heidi George (age 50) posted an impressive mile time of 17:29.07, breaking the previous record of 17:44.64 held by Alison Zaminian.
George also established a new 1000-yard freestyle record for her age group, finishing in 10:38.07, surpassing the previous mark of 10:40.47, also formerly held by Zaminian.
Alison Zaminian Breaks 55–59 Records in Both the Mile and 1000 Yard Freestyle
Swimming in the 55–59 age group, Alison Zaminian (age 55) recorded a strong mile time of 18:22.32, crushing the previous record of 18:56.04 set by Laura Val.
She also set a new 1000-yard freestyle record with a time of 11:04.38, breaking the former record of 11:19.85 held by Kelly Parker Palace.
About The City Mile
The City Mile is an annual San Francisco–based Masters swimming event that began in 2013. Hosted at San Francisco City College, it draws swimmers from across the region to compete in one of the sport’s most challenging distance events. The City Mile is a sanctioned Pacific Masters LMSC meet and is one of two early‑season distance pool competitions offered by Pacific Masters Swimming. The other is the TOC 1500, a short course meters (SCM) event.
Pacific Masters Swimming is the regional governing body of U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS), which seeks to foster a nationwide adult swimming community through lifelong fitness, competition, and education.
