The Barbara Stevens Memorial Swim Meet in Bowling Green, KY was an excellent January event. The venue was not quite as nice as Western Kentucky University, where I first swam this meet. Bowling Green High School was hosting a volleyball tournament at the same time which made parking a small challenge. But once inside, the water, seating and facilities were more than adequate. The Green Gators were excellent hosts providing a well-stocked hospitality table for all swimmers.

Well-Run Event

Heat sheets, race results, and finisher ribbons were well-organized and readily available. Officials kept the meet moving at a nice pace without rushing. Plenty of volunteers and experienced timers also contributed to the pace and level of comfort. Fifty-five masters swimmers competed in individual events and relays to accumulate individual and team points.

Two Bowling Greens

Masters’ teams from Louisville, Nashville, Bowling Green, KY and even Bowling Green, OH competed in individual and relay events. Even though Kentucky and Ohio share a border, it’s nearly 400 miles between the two Bowling Greens. The Western Kentucky Green Gators placed second in the large team category behind the Nashville Aquatic Club. Nashville Aquatic brought a strong team of fast swimmers in several age and gender divisions.

The team from Ohio came with plans of taking home the small team award. The team of four came up a little short even after a blazing 2:01:48 finish in the Men’s 55+ 200 yard freestyle relay to end the day. Swim Louisville placed first in the small team division, followed by Bowling Green State University Masters and Clear Creek Masters from Shelbyville, KY.

Meet Records Fall

New meet records were set fifteen different events by eight individuals and one relay team. John Trainer of the Middle TN Masters set meet records in each of the three individual backstroke events. Representing Nashville Aquatic, Ashley Whitney set three meet records and Elizabeth Trinkler set two breaststroke records. Cork Haberek of the Wildcat Masters set records in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke events as well.

Others setting meet records included; Jeff Ockerman-Nashville Aquatic, Penny Noyes-Western KY Green Gators, Theresa Goodman-Cardinal Masters, Lynn Olson-Green Gators and the women’s 25+ 200-yard medley relay team from Nashville Aquatic.

National Senior Games Prep

For me, this meet was the start of preparing for the National Senior Games in Albuquerque, NM. I qualified for several events and now I need to select and train to perform well in June. I swam the 500 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle. In the breaststroke and butterfly, I dropped almost a half second off my Senior Games qualifying times. In the three freestyle races I have some work to do to get my times down before June.