Masters of South Texas

USA Swimming will air a free webcast of the finals each night from the ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships, July 31-Aug. 4, in Indianapolis. Finals begin each night at 6 p.m. ET. Tune in at usaswimming.org.

Last day for the Blossom Masters, for either the morning or noon group, will be Thursday, August 2.

Lake swim set for next Saturday, Aug 4, we’re leaving the Boerne Lake boat ramp at 8:00 a.m.

All the LCM pools in SA are either being drained as we speak, or will not convert the pool back over to long course again this summer. There are a few of you who still had hoped to get your 5 K swim in. The Dallas Masters group is hosting 5 and 10 K swims over 2 days. Check this out for an option to swim to complete your 2007 postal challenge. Click here: http://www.damswim.com/docs/2007_2k5k10k_entry.pdf

Women’s water polo will be starting up again. It is open to any ladies, of any age/ability, to join us on Sunday mornings. The next 4 weeks will be at the 1604 pool, just East of Bandera. Practice is from 8:30-10:30 a.m. We plan to have 2 groups in the water: a developmental group and a more advanced group. Come on out and give it a try!

Incarnate Word evening workouts will continue through the month of August, until Thursday the 30th.

I assume that everyone is now set with rides and hotels for Nationals. I do have a request for one guy to crash on someone’s sofa for a night. His family will not be coming out the entire time. Ronda is looking for a ride back on Sunday. Please bring a chair to sit on and a small cooler for drinks/snacks. We will grab a section of the pool that has shade, plus some pop up canopies but it is very hot and humid, so some people may opt to hide in the shade of the indoor warm-up pool.

There are 3 relays set for Sunday at the end of the individual events. If you have to start off and get on the road and will not be able to stay, let me know. I will be putting close to 36 relays together for the meet, so need to plan ahead of time. It will be hard to sub for swimmers at the last minute because LCM relays are done by adding up each teammate’s age. (Ex: a 45 yr old cannot sub for a 63 yr old.)

I never had a chance to finish with the older age group’s National Senior Games swim report. Kay Boone 100 Free-2nd, 50 Free-2nd, 100 Back-3rd, 500 Free-1st, Sara Seivert 100 Free-11th, 50 Free 11th, 100 Back-7th, 50 Breast-10th, Georgia Goggin 200 Breast-3rd, 100 Free-4th, 50 Free-3rd, 50 Breast-3rd, Betty Kight 100 IM-2nd, 200 Breast-2nd, 50 Fly-3rd, 50 Breast-2nd, Gynt Clifford 100 IM-1st (SG Record), 100 Free-1st (SG Record), 50 Fly-1st, 50 Free-1st, Dee Sauer 100 IM-6th, 200 Back-6th, 50 Fly-5th, Shelly Whitlock 100 IM-13th, 50 Fly-6th, 50 Free-12th, 50 Breast-4th, Chuck Baldwin 100 IM-2nd, 50 Fly-1st, 50 Free-2nd, 50 Breast-1st, Frank Kolbaba 100 IM-15th, 100 Free-18th, 50 Free-20th, 500 Free-14th, Graham Johnston 100 IM-1st, 100 Free-1st, 500 Free-1st (SG Record), Jerry Marchbanks 100 IM-3rd, 50 Fly-4th, 50 Breast-1st.

Catch ya’ in the water,
Susan

Weekly Inspiration: Change your thoughts, and you change your world.

Weekly Family Tip: If you don’t want your parents to know what you did in the house while they were gone for a weekend, you might want to put the mop away and take out the trash .

2007 SCY Top Ten Lists are now posted, but not finalized.
If you feel that there is an error, let me know and I will try to run it down.

Laura Kownslar (26) 500 Free, 50 Back, 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 50 Fly, 100 IM
Taryn Walker (31) 200 Free
Elaine Fincham (51) 1000 Free, 1650 Free
Ronda Nisman (52) 400 IM
Jan Miller (56) 50 Back, 100 Back, 50 Fly
Jane Birkhead (66) 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free, 500 Free, 1650 Free, 50 Fly, 100 IM
Kay Boone (66) 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Back
Betty Kight (65) 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 100 IM
Georgia Goggin (77) 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 Breast
Chase Ingraham (24) 50 Breast, 100 Breast
Carl Owens (55) 50 Free
Dan Thompson (60) 50 Back, 50 Fly, 100 IM
Jerry Marchbanks (71) 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 IM, 400 IM
Graham Johnston (76) 50/100/200/500/1000/1650 Free, 200 Back, 200 Breast, 100 Fly, 100/200/400 IM

Relay Swimmers.

200 Free (W 65+) Boone, Kight, Whitlock, Birkhead
200 Medley (W 65+) Boone, Whitlock, Birkhead, Goggin
200 Free (Mx 55+) Birkhead, Miller, Thompson, Nisman
200 Free (Mx 65+) Marchbanks, Kight, Whitlock, Johnston

To see the complete (although tentative) list Click here: USMS Top Ten

World Top Ten lists for 2006 have been posted.  Click on the links below to check out a few of our teammates in both individual races and relays.  Listed are SCM and LCM.  (SCY is only tracked at the National level.)

Click here: http://www.fina.org/masters/pdf/tabs_SC_06.pdf

Click here: http://www.fina.org/masters/pdf/tabs_LC_06.pdf

I attended the LCM Senior Circuit Championships the previous weekend at UT.  Great racing!  Two standout swims amongst the possible future Olympians that were in attendance.  Men’s 50 Back, winner with a 24 second swim, beating the heat by about 1.5 seconds.  He dolphined on his back, underwater the entire length of the pool.  Oops!  He also was DQ’d for it.  Can’t do that……….  Brendon Hanson swam the 100 Back (yeah that’s right the Back!) and swam 59.98.  That makes him the first guy to go sub minute in all four strokes in a LCM pool!  (More top swimming happens at Palo Alto College this Wed-Sat.)

Great job by all our 5 K and 10 K swimmers thus far.  Swims can be conducted until Sept 15, but it will be very difficult to find LCM water after July 31.  Let me know if you still wish to do this challenge swim.  Off the team we have had 20 people swim the 5 K and 21 swim the 10 K.

National entries are now closed.  Next week, I will be compiling names for rooms and car pools.  Let me know if you need either one of those and I will hook you up with other swimmers.  I am looking for 2 more canopy covers to provide shade.  Let me know if you can bring one along.  Everyone should plan on a deck chair of some kind.  There is limited stadium type seating.  I plan for everyone to be on at least 2 relays each.  I will try to plan to get you on teams that will be swimming on days that you are competing, in case someone may have plans to head home early.  Let me know if you would prefer not to be listed on a relay on any particular day.

Check out the psych sheets at  Click here: 2007 USMS Long Course Nationals Pscyh Sheets  Also note, that we are tied for the 2nd largest team entered at Nationals.  Woodlands has 3 times as many swimmers, but of course, we have the best!  Matt Hooper has brought with him, back to Texas from Florida, 44 swimmers!  I’ve never heard of Southern Masters, perhaps a combined group of swimmers, are bringing 34.  Wouldn’t it be great for everyone to step up their game and we could finish in the top three at Nationals!!!!!!!

I’m back from a quick break and will be in the water or on deck on Wednesday……….

Catch ya’ in the water,
Susan

Weekly Inspiration: There is nothing in all creation so like God as stillness.

Weekly Health Tip: Central obesity, meaning a paunch, gut, or pot belly, is a serious warning of unhealthy blood chemistry and cardiac trouble ahead.

Senior Games Report:  Shelly Whitlock won the pole vault!  Georgia Goggin finished 10th in the long jump.

If you are planning on attending the SMU meet on July 21, can you give me a heads up that you’re going?  Several people are either looking for rides or just want to know a few friendly faces when they get up there.  Entries are due July 18th.

Nationals (at The Woodlands) has extended their entry due date through this Friday!   Don’t miss out.  The team is staying at the Woodlands Residence Inn One at 281-292-3252.  Rooms are set aside for Masters of South Texas for only $99 per nite or $90 per nite for AAAA card holders.  These are One Bedroom suites with full kitchens.

5 K swimmers are going this Friday and Saturday at the Blossom pool.  Both swim days start at 8:00 a.m.  We have plenty of lanes, so you can still get in on it.  Please let me know that you are coming or bring your own timer.  I will have the watches, clip boards and paperwork.  HELP! I still need 2 more timers each day.  Any volunteers from the team?  How about some volunteer service hours for any high school kids?  We will be done between 1:30-2:00 hours.

I will not be at the lake because of the 5 K swimmers, but please go ahead and hook up without me at 8:00 at the boat ramp.

Blossom is now avaliable to us at noon each day.  Public swim has closed and lessons are over.  I encourage anyone going off to Nationals, or training for open water, to join us any day.  There will be days that we need to go back to the Davis pool, as construction continues in and around the Walker pool.  Please be flexibale and look for us in either pool.  You may only use the Davis pool locker rooms.

For those that will be going on our Grand Canyon trip the first weekend of Ocotober.  You should be walking stadiums 2 x week for 30 minutes, plus adding in some other days of just general walks or runs.  If any one is interested in joining us walk Rim to Rim that weekend, we have enough hotel rooms set aside, but I will need committed numbers by August 1.  As of now, Buz (plus 5), Chris (plus 2), Susan (plus 1), Don, Lynn, Geoff, Israel, Tania (plus 1), Zetta and Shirley are all considering it.  Let me know to put you on the tentative list to keep you updated on training news and trip information details.

The team was featured last week on KABB News.  If this link doesn’t work.  Go to their website(kabb.com) - click on “sports” - video on demand - scroll to Masters of South Texas.   Click here: KABB News Video on Demand

Catch ya’ in the water,
Susan

Weekly Inspiration: Why can’t life’s problems hit us when we’re seventeen and know everything?

Weekly Health Tip: When ordering at a restaurant, skip the rice or potato side dish and double up on the veggies instead.

Get a sneak peak of the all-new AOL.com.

Nationals online entries can still be taken until July 6th. After that date, there is a late fee applied. Since the meet will be held in Houston, I am encouraging everyone to enter. You may swim up to 3 events without qualifying. It will be a great opportunity to experience a meet at this level.
Click here: 2007 USMS Long Course Nationals

Senior Games Report: Linda Callaway competed in 20K & 40K Cycling, as well as competed in Triathlon. She had the fastest swim time (400M in LCM pool) in her age group coming out of the swim portion. Our 50 + ladies were nothing less than consistent. Kat Boyer swam 6 events, finishing 4th in 4 of them and top ten in all 6. Colleen Holloway swam 5 events and finished 5th in 4 of them, and 6th in the other. Jan Miller placed 1st in 4 of her 6 events, plus a 2nd and 3rd. She also set 4 new National Senior Games Records along the way. Great job ladies!

I will be up at Boerne Lake this Saturday. Anyone is welcome to joinn us. Weaker swimmers may use fins. We leave the boat ramp at 8:00 a.m. Sean and David are swimming at 6:30 a.m. and you may join them if you wish.

5 and 10 K swims will be offered July 13 and 14. I need your name to reserve a lane for you and to line up timers. If these dates don’t work for you, let me know which weekday will and I will try to locate a pool for you.

Blossom Pool - Friday, July 13 10:00 a.m. Start
Ingraham - 5
Mayhew - 5
Francis - 5
Roberts - 10 (timer 2nd 1/2 - Ingraham)
Gershenhorn - 5
Rulon - 5
Gude - 5

Blossom Pool - Saturday, July 14 8:00 a.m. Start
Dowling - 5
Mayhew - 5
Anderson - 5
Guirl - 5
Garcia - 5

Dallas (SMU) is hosting a LCM meet on July 20-21.
Click here: http://www.damswim.com/docs/2007_summermeet_entry.pdf

The Davis pool will be open for workouts until August 3 this year. But Walker pool will be closed beginning July 16.

For those that even considering going to Worlds next year, you should apply for your passport now. Worlds are in April and it is taking sometimes up to 6 months to get you passport sent to you. Don’t get caught up with the new year applications.

This is a long-course meet at the SMU outdoor pool in Dallas. Info and entry form here.