Entries Open for 2016 NE-LMSC & Colonies Zone SCM Championships at WPI

Contributed by Alford Green, Meet Director

Entries are now open! Worcester Area Masters are pleased to again host the NE-LMSC & Colonies Zone SCM Championships at the WPI Sports and Recreation Center on December 9-11, 2016. Last year was our first time hosting the meet at this location, and with that came a few teething problems. We took note of which new additions were a hit, and worked on ways to improve the aspects that were not up to standard. I am pleased to report that these overhauled championships should be an even greater experience for New England swimming!

Exciting features of these championships include:

• A revamped order of events.
• Online and deck individual event check-in, which open at noon on the prior day and close at 9:30 am on the day of the event.
• On-site screen printing of meet t-shirts. You will be able to choose your t-shirt color and have the names of your team members printed on the back.
• Coaches’ hospitality room
• Free meet collector’s pin for each meet entrant
• Warmer competition course
• Free parking
• Photo area and a special Snapchat filter
• Complimentary photography
• An incentivized 4x100m I.M. relay at the end of the meet.

I urge you to visit the updated meet website www.scmchamps.blogspot.com to learn more about the meet, and to find directions and partner hotels. The final entry deadline is November 28, and late entries will not be accepted. Also, please note that spaces in the 800m Free are limited, so register early.

I look forward to seeing you all in December for what will be a truly great experience!

Sincerely,

Alford Green, Meet Director

Paralympic Sport Club Boston Swimming Open - Jan 31, 2016

Adaptive Sports New England will host the 2016 PSC Boston Swimming Open on Sunday, January 31 at UMass/Boston's Clark Athletic Center pool. The meet is open to swimmers who have physical disabilities or visual impairments ages 6 and up. This is a great first-ever swim meet for novices, though we also expect several local swimmers contending for spots on the USA's team to Rio. Full meet information is available here.

Registration for the PSC Boston Swimming Open will be available on January 1 and Early Bird registration runs through January 15. Questions about the meet or about the PSC Boston Sunday swim practices should be directed to Michael Prout, Jr. 

Worcester Area Masters Hosts Successful NE-LMSC SCM Championships

Results

Swimmers shattered four world records during the New England LMSC SCM Championships, held at Worcester Polytechnic Institute December 11-13.

Hosted by Worcester Area Masters (WAM), 478 swimmers, some from as far away as Texas and Florida, participated in the meet. It was a highly competitive meet during which 208 New England LMSC SCM Championship meet records and 63 New England records were recorded.

The four world records were set by:

• Cecilia McCloskeyin the Women's 65-69 200 back with a time of 2:53.36
• NEM Women's 800 free 24-27 Relay team [C. Brynn, C. Hayes, K Slifer, T. Grilli] with a time of 10:58.88
• Leslie Livingston in the Women's 50-54 50 back with a time of 30.58
• Fritz Bedford in the Men's 50-54 50 back with a time of 27.28

Additionally, five national records were set, which include the above world records plus Kathy Silver's 6:14.34 in the women's 70-74 400 freestyle.

The top individual point scorers were:

Men:

1. Brendan Wright (GSP) - 171 points
2. Spencer Coffin (CMSC) - 170 points
3. George Coupe (GSP) - 170 points

Women:

1. Mindy Williams (GSP) - 175 points
2. Sue Jensen (CSMC) - 170 points
3. Lori Hindle (WCMS) - 164 points

Thanks to all of the volunteers who worked so hard to plan and run another spectacular meet! 

For anyone who would like to review the meet results, you can find them at http://scmchamps.blogspot.com/.

NE-LMSC SCM Championship at WPI - Registration Open!

More than 500 swimmers are expected to converge on Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester Dec. 11-13 for U.S. Masters Swimming's New England LMSC Short Course Meters Championship.

This is the first year that Worcester Area Masters (WAM) will host this highly anticipated annual meet. Worcester, New England's second largest city, is truly the heart of the Commonwealth. Centrally located to all of New England, the city is just one hour from Boston, Springfield, Hartford, Providence and Nashua, and easily accessible via mass transit.

Worcester is "A City on the Move" with attractions far beyond the sparkling new pool and free parking at WPI's Sports and Recreation Center. Great restaurants and bars will be offering special deals to swimmers, Cirque du Soleil's TORUK will be flying high in the DCU Center all weekend, and the Worcester Art Museum's world famous collection - including "Knights!" from the Higgins Armory collection - is on exhibit just down the street. The Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra performs its holiday pops concert Saturday at Mechanics Hall, metal lovers can hear the Acadia Strain at the Palladium, and other nearby museums include the Ecotarium science museum, the Worcester Historical Museum, and the historic Salisbury Mansion. 

Several of the city's hotels are offering reduced rates for swimmers who book before November 7. 

The meet has been designated as the Colonies Zone SCM championship meet with swimmers from Virginia to Maine competing. For the first time in several years, the 1500 meter freestyle is being offered as one of the meet's 24 events.

Entries are now open. They close Monday, November 30. No late entries will be accepted. To register, visit the meet website.

Another Fantastic NE SCM Championships at BU!

Results

Congrats to everyone who swam at this weekend’s New England SCM Championships hosted at the Boston University pool. As usual, there was a large turnout of swimmers from all across New England.

Cambridge Masters Swim Club took top honors with 4,299 points; Great Bay Masters was second with 3,105 and Worcester Area Masters was third with 2,651. 

David Russel of CMSC took home swimmer of the meet honors.

The weekend saw numerous New England records fall, and three Masters Age Group World Records!
Men 25-29 100-meter back set by David Russell from CMSC (53.88).
Women 100-119 400-meter free relay set by NEM-BUMS (4:04.38)
Men 50-54 50-meter back set by Frit Bedford of the UV Rays. Frit lowered his own world record from 2013 to 27.28.

Thanks to all of the volunteers who worked so hard to plan and run another spectacular meet! Special shout-outs to the BU Fit Rec Center staff; Doug Sayles, NEM Registrar; the officials, led by Bob and Priscilla; Simmons Swim & Crew for the back-up timing; Joe Fraier from Swimwear in Motion; Bart, Jacqui and other Great Bay Masters volunteers for running the concessions and finally the NE-LMSC and NEM for the support.

Happy Holidays to all!