Beat Watch 2009!

I am happy to report that I only got bumped down one spot in the 200 free in the 35-39 age group. I am the seventh fastest 200 freestyler in my age group? What's up with that?

Dropped two spots in the 200 free in the 55-59 age group. I can console (deceive) myself with the notion they are all assuredly racing in B-70's as compared to my horribly dated FS II. Is anyone actually performing any work today or is everyone glued to realtime results and streaming video?

Gosh, at least I am not the only one worrying about what other people in my age group are doing at Nationals. After the 1650, I am still in the running for a Top Ten but it is cutting it close. With the 400 IM, I wasn't in the Top Ten with my Zones time. I am hoping that next year, will be my year to shine(make SCY TT) in the 400 IM and 200 fly. Since there are ten people in my age group seeded with better times, I will have to wait til next year on the 200 fly. I feel that getting a Yards Top Ten means that you made it in US Masters swimming. Plus, I talked to alot of guys who are always struggling to get the SCY TT. Yet, I rarely hear women struggling to get SCY TT times.

1 Dodson, Phil 56 IM 1:52.14 1:51.89 26.08 55.09 (29.01) 1:23.68 (28.59) 1:51.89 (28.21) 2 Krauser, Larry 55 HMS 1:55.29 1:53.10 26.86 56.10 (29.24) 1:24.87 (28.77) 1:53.10 (28.23) 3 Wood, Larry 55 TXLA 1:52.90 1:53.16 26.65 55.03 (28.38) 1:24.13 (29.10) 1:53.16 (29.03) 4 Gilchrist, Donald 55 NCMS 1:56.00 1:55.02 26.82 55.53 (28.71) 1:25.01 (29.48) 1:55.02 (30.01) 5 Townsend, R Scott 55 LVM 1:59.99 1:55.67 27.30 56.21 (28.91) 1:25.96 (29.75) 1:55.67 (29.71) Dodson, Wood, and Jim Clemmons were ahead of me before nationals, now three new guys have jumped ahead. I may still squeak in this year, but next year...yikes! Check out just a couple of the speed demons about the age up: 3 Groselle, Jack 54 O*H* 1:51.04 1:47.64 24.50 50.83 (26.33) 1:18.33 (27.50) 1:47.64 (29.31) 4 Mann, Michael 54 CMS 1:50.00 1:48.15 24.67 51.34 (26.67) 1:19.35 (28.01) 1:48.15 (28.80) 14 Gandee, Brad 54 GMUP 1:52.53 1:55.94 26.11 53.67 (27.56) 1:22.77 (29.10) 1:55.94 (33.17)

Plus, I talked to alot of guys who are always struggling to get the SCY TT. Yet, I rarely hear women struggling to get SCY TT times. Huh? Tom, you must be talking to all guys! I assure you women have the same concerns. I got bumped a spot in the 100 back by Lisa Ward, but she's very speedy!

Jim, You are probably still OK in the 400IM, my VCM teammate Hubie Kerns went a 4:57.07 at regionals 2 weeks ago. Looks like that puts you 6th. Very good in a very grueling race!

Huh? Tom, you must be talking to all guys! I assure you women have the same concerns. I got bumped a spot in the 100 back by Lisa Ward, but she's very speedy! Then again, I am always around people like Vikye and Laurie Hug at meets who can make SCY TT in their worst events!! I guess that the women in my area who are concerned, aren't as vocal as the guys are. Leslie, that is good to know that even you have the same concerns!!!

Glenn--it looks like you are reasonably close to moving up an age group to terrorize the next set of your elders! Good luck. Tom--in terms of women, I think that for those who are around 50-ish + now, most did not get the benefit of Title iX, and I do think that it is probably relatively easier to make the top 10 for them. However, Rob Butcher told me that 62 percent of the USMS swimmers now registered in the 20-29 age groups are women. The competition in years to come will be increasingly brutal for the distaff gender. Our Leslie is one of the most competitive people I know! She's in a brutal age group, the vanguard of things to come. It would be interesting to see where the No. 1 woman in each age group would place in the men's Top Times listings. I would bet that the younger you go, the closer to the top the women will rise.

Then again, I am always around people like Vikye and Laurie Hug at meets who can make SCY TT in their worst events!! I guess that the women in my area who are concerned, aren't as vocal as the guys are. Leslie, that is good to know that even you have the same concerns!!! Perhaps not always though! It's just flat out tough in SCY. I know plenty of women trying/hoping/aspiring to make it into the top ten. What, me competitive, Jim? :angel: Actually, some of the women in the 40-44 & 45-49 age groups are faster than their youngins. And check out Traci Granger's time of 26.77 in the 50 fly at age 50!

Glenn--it looks like you are reasonably close to moving up an age group to terrorize the next set of your elders! Good luck. However, Rob Butcher told me that 62 percent of the USMS swimmers now registered in the 20-29 age groups are women. Jim, I am fully aware of the fast younger women. There are maybe 5 to 6 women(age 25 to 34) vying to be the next Vikye/Laurie Hug in the Delaware Valley with Michelina as part of that crowd. Some of these women can get a Number 1 ranking without even resting for a meet. When I compete against some of them at local meets, they school me.