BOSTON — Five Mid-coast region swimmers traveled to the Boston University Fitness and Recreation Center Dec. 13-15 for the New England short course meters championships.
The capstone event attracted over 500 swimmers from across the region. The “Midcoast Five” — Katrin Alcaide, Dave Bright, Bob Nelson, Dale Syphers and David Vail — all won individual events, relays or both. Three swimmers at the youthful end of new age groups — Vail, Bright, and Alcaide — led the way.
Vail captured first place in seven events, winning the 50-, 100- and 400- meter freestyles, the 50, 100 and 200 backstrokes, and the 50 butterfly. In six events (all but the 50 free), Vail’s times broke the all-time New England records for the men’s 70-74 age group.
Bright (60-64) was victorious in five events: the 100 and 200 backstrokes, the 200 and 400 individual medleys, and the 200 fly. Bright cracked the New England record in the 400 IM
Alcaide outsprinted her 30-34 age group competitors in three 50-meter swims (butterfly, breast and free) and added a first place in the 100 IM She posted New England records in the free, breast and IM events.
In the ultra-competitive men’s 55-59 age group, Syphers parlayed excellent swims into a second-place finish in the 50 meter back, thirds in the 100, 400 and 800 freestyles and 100 IM, and a fourth in the 100 backstroke.
Nelson’s top finish was second place in the 100 breaststroke for men 65-69. He added thirds in the 200 breast and 200 IM, plus a fourth in the 50 breast.
In relay action, Vail and Nelson combined with Maine Masters Bill Rupert and Bill Jones to win the 400 medley and 400 freestyle, both in New England record times for their age group.
Vail’s 200 free relay was also victorious. Alcaide and Syphers combined with two other Maine Masters to win the mixed 200 freestyle relay. Alcaide’s foursome also captured second place and Syphers’ team third in the 400 medley relay.
At the end of the three day competition, the Maine Masters Swim Club once again claimed the New England championship for teams in its size class.
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