Richard Baughman, 72, Shatters 1500 Masters Record on Day 1 of USMS Nationals- Day 1 Recap

2025 U.S. Masters Summer National Championships

• Wednesday, August 6 – Sunday, August 10,  2025
• Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, Federal Way, WA
• Start Times
  • 8:00 AM Pacific (12 PM Eastern)
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Stream

Only one event was on the schedule for Wednesday at the 2025 USMS Nationals—the men’s and women’s 1500 freestyle—but it didn’t take long for history to be made.

In the men’s 70-74 1500 freestyle, 72-year-old Richard Baughman (20:17.22) took down Dan Kirkland‘s Masters National Record and AQUA Masters World Record for 70-74 men of 20:26.12, set back in 2018. That mark previously stood as the oldest 70-74 national record on the books.

Baughman finished over 17 seconds ahead of runner-up Dick Worrell in the 70-74 group, setting the tone early with an opening 1:16.13. Baughman quickly found his rhythm, hovering around the 1:21-mid to 1:22-mid range from the 200 until his 1400 mark, charging home in 1:18.33 to take the age group victory.

The New England Masters Swim Team athlete has earned individual All-American Honors in the pool over the last two years, as well as a relay All-American honor last season. This swim marks Baughman’s first individual USMS record.

Eighty-five-year-old Frank Wiliams was the oldest competitor in the men’s 1500 free by 10 years. Williams stopped the clock at 29:24.72, over seven seconds faster than his entry time.

The top men’s time overall came from the 30-34 age group by way of Aleksei Averchenko, 32, who finished in 16:55.36, more than 30 seconds ahead of fellow 32-year-old Alan Peterson, clocking a 17:27.99. The two of them put in the fastest times of all competitors in the event.

On the women’s side, the top overall time in the event came at the hands of Heidi George, 49, who touched in 17:38.46, just under 12 seconds off of her 45-49 record of 17:26.47. George finished nearly four and a half minutes ahead of the rest of the 45-49 field.

Ilka Lowensteyn, 60, turned in a sub-20-minute performance of her own in 19:42.58, taking over 57 seconds off of her entered time of 20:40.10, taking the win in the 60-64 age group.