Laura Val Breaks Six Masters World Records in One Race -- January 18, 2011
At the 400-meter mark, Val began crushing the records, this time erasing Barbara Dunbar's world record of 5:22.47 with a 5:02.65.
The margin of record-breaking for the longer distances is huge, but what I find most impressive is that she started so fast but still held on to hit all the records. If she had swum that 1500 for the fastest possible 1500 time, she probably would have been at around the same time for 400 and faster for 800, but she probably would have missed the records in the 50, the 100, and the 200. Certainly if I had taken the first 200 out in 2:24, I would have needed much more than 17:15 to finish the rest!
What's Laura's history in swimming outside Masters? It's just amazing she is this much faster than her competition. Has anything like this ever been done before? It's truly amazing!
Kirk:
I don't know when you started to swim masters and joined the organization, but there have been several stories about Laura in our USMS publication and in Swimming World. I know she swam in the 1968 Olympic Trials in the 100 meter Fly as Laura Bendit and placed 17th. I have linked a story below that explains her history outside Masters. Its a little of out of date but it basically explains swimming before masters.
www.usms.org/.../index.php
