VACA Masters Score in Top 5 at Championships

A prolific-scoring group of Vacaville Swim Team Masters competed last weekend at the Pacific Masters Championships in Moraga, CA and came away with a Top 5 finish out of 54 teams in the Small-Team Division. Personal bests, points and pride prevailed throughout the 3-day weekend event under mostly sunny skies at Campolindo High School.

In the 25-29 age group, Jared Rondoni took 2^ndin the 50 and 100 fly, 3^rdin the 500 free,  4^thin the 100 IM and 5^thin the 50 back. Jared wears many hats for our team, as he is also coach of the Senior 2 and Varsity Groups within the age group part of the team.

In the 30-34 age group, Nick Hanley scored 2^ndin the 100 free, 3^rdin the 500 and 1650 free, 4^thin the 200 fly, 5^thin the 50 back, and 6^thin the 200IM. Nick was an excellent swimmer during his high school and college years and has rekindled that excitement and enthusiasm for the sport and is particularly looking forward to the upcoming open water season.

In the 30-39 age division, Ryan Bates garnered 2^ndplace in the 1650 free. This is his first pool meet after coming off of an outstanding Ironman finish last fall at Arizona.

In the 40-44 age group, Jennifer Parker took 6^thin the 500 free and 10^thin the 50 back. She has just recently returned to swimming after a stint of high school swimming competition and challenged herself by entering the meet and knocking 2 minutes off her entry time in the 500!

Also in the 40-44 age group, Luis Acedo placed 2^ndin the 100 breast, 3^rdin the 50 breast, 200 breast and 100 free, 6^thin the 100 IM, 9^thin the 50 free, and 12^thin the 100 free. Luis is an Ironman finisher also and had 7 out of 7 personal bests at the swim meet.

Karen Jensen performed in the 45-49 age group, swimming in 7 events and scoring no lower than 3^rdplace. She place 1^stin the 1650 free, 2^ndin the 100 and 200 free, 3^rdin the 500 free, 1000 free, 200 back and 50 fly. It was a great effort she gave for the team given she had her foot in a boot due to a stress fracture only one month prior to the competition. Karen is also an Ironman finisher and last year earned Top10 honors in the country in the 800 meter free at the end of the year based on her performance at last year’s Masters Nationals.

Dave Stewart (50-54 age group) scored points for the team in all six of his races including 3^rdin the 200 back and 200 fly, 5^thin the 100 breast, 6^thin the 100 fly, and 7^thin the 100 and 200 IM. Dave loves to train for many sporting events, which last year included the Trans Tahoe Relay (open water swimming) and the Death Ride (cycling up and down 5 mountain passes in one day!).

Bunny Callahan competed in the 65-69 age group and took 2^ndin the 1000 free and 4^thin the 500 free. She is a very accomplished runner who has recently had her interest rekindled in swimming. She recently stepped way outside her comfort zone and entered two pool meets! Now she is inspired to find ways to improve to reach new personal bests.

It was inspirational and exciting to see our Masters swimmers doing such a great job at Pac Masters Championships. Coming up over the next few months we can look forward to more challenges, fun and fitness as a group as we take on the open water season, long course pool meets, triathlons, cycling and running events (to name a few).

Congratulations VACA Masters!