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Sunday: Day 4 at Spring Nationals in Mesa
Day Four brought more sunshine and fast swimming. Join Olympians Misty Hyman, Rowdy Gaines and USMS Executive Director Rob Butcher as we wrap up the last day of competition here in Mesa, Ariz. We checked in with mother and daughter competitors Laura and Jamie Val, as well as father and son Floyd and Jared Fisk. Fred Klein, at 95 years old, is relatively new to Masters swimming, and enjoying his new experience. We caught up with Jamina Winston, one of the meet volunteers from Mesa who has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this meet successful. And we saw Bill Specht and Paul Carter, who have been swimming against each other for 40 years, swim the 100 fly. And finally, Misty visits with swimmers on deck and finds out what they liked best about the 2011 USMS Spring Nationals.
Saturday: Day 3 at Spring Nationals in Mesa
Today started out with the Women's 500 freestyle, and we spoke with sisters Sara and Mary Holman, who swam side by side in the final heat. In the 100 IM, arguably the most fun you can have in four laps, we saw friendly rivalries that date back many years, including Rich Burns, Rich Abrahams and Robert Strand; as well as Jack Groselle and Michael Mann. Susan von Der Lippe and Fall Willeboordse also contested the 100 IM. As always, we find inspirational stories of swimmers overcoming huge obstacles; Stephanie Yoshimura, Gordon Taylor and Susan Helmrich are all grateful to be here swimming and having fun. And finally, Olympian Misty Hyman takes a tour of Tent City and finds out what the swimmers are doing between events.
Friday: Day 2 at Spring Nationals in Mesa
Day Two here in Mesa brings more sunshine and speed as over 15 national records are broken in this post tech suit national championship. Olympians Josh Davis, Ed Moses and Rowdy Gaines wowed fellow swimmers and cheering fans with fantastic swims. Former USA National team members and USMS national record holders Jeff Commings and Steve West, who have been swimming against each other since high school, met for a showdown in the 100 breaststroke. We also talked with Wyatt Earp, a relative of the famous OK Corral gunfighter, and Garrett McCaffrey from Swimming World TV. Ann Case and Siphiwe Baleka are both traveling with large entourages who are showing their spirit on the pool deck. And Charlotte Sanddal, who didn't start swimming Masters until she was 72, shares her thoughts about competing as an 88-year-old.
Thursday: Day 1 at Spring Nationals in Mesa
Rob Butcher and Misty Hyman, gold medalist in the 200 butterfly in the 2000 Olympic games, find some great stories on deck here in Mesa. We talk with Laura Lastfogel, a Masters swimmer looking back at her college eligibility. Adrian Legaspi, who swims with FLAQ, also happens to be a surgical oncologist specializing in skin cancer. Dr. Legaspi will be sharing information with his fellow Masters swimmers here in the intense Arizona sun. We also catch up with Patty Kast of Kast-A-Way Swimwear, the first USMS sponsor back in the early 80s. And we meet Joel Kriger, who lives in Brazil, but loves to join USMS and compete in every nationals he can squeeze into his busy travel schedule.
Wednesday: On the Eve of Spring Nationals
Join USMS Executive Director Rob Butcher and Olympic Gold Medalist Misty Hyman for a quick tour of the Kino Aquatics Complex, home of the 2011 Spring National Championship. USMS's distance swimmers are starting to arrive today and are getting warmed up for the 1000 and 1650, which take place tomorrow.
After you check in, you can hit the deck, visit our sponsor booths, find the locker rooms and get ready to swim!