Nationals Update-SOBA Masters

by Coach Steve Hyde

SOBA was well represented by a small but enthusiastic and skilled bunch of athletes at the Mission Viejo Long Course Summer National Championships. 

Day 1 Success for the eight member squad started on the very first day which was devoted just to the 1500.

Lori Kelly Placed eighth 35.51, Dave Sundius placed 7th  21.58, and Bob Eberwine  earned 10th 20.11.  It a measure of the competitiveness of this meet that these times were the 17th, 21st, and 13th, fastest age group times in the nation!

Day 2 featured the 200 Free.  Joanna Choy swimming this "short" event earned a PR and touched out a long time "heat sheet rival on the way to a 22nd place finish.

Day 3 resulted in a  nationally ranked swim and a medal for Alexis Buhler.  In her first meet in 20 years her 50 Breast time of 44.78 was good for an eighth place medal at the meet and was the 18th fastest swim nationally.

Day 4 was a mixed bag of stroke and sprint free events. Iron man Dave Sundius took 10th in the 400 IM 6.55 and Alexis took twelfth in the 50 free with a very respectable 36.3 clocking.  Dave Sundius  also took on the  200 Breast Stroke finishing 12th with a 3.24.5.  Nathan Stalker's 50 time of 26.5 was 13th fastest at the meet and 19th nationally. Our 160+ Men's Free Relay team ( Bob E, Dave S, Dave N,  and Nathan S) placed 13th with a time of 1:57. and our mixed 160+ Medley relay team of Dave N, Alexis, Bob E and Melinda K finished in 22nd place at 2:39.

Day 5 showed that our swimmers aren't one hit wonders.  Dave Sundius led off the day with a 200 butterfly clocking 3.46earning 3rd place at the meet and an 11th place in the nation. In the 100 Free Melinda earned 10th place with a 1.47 and Nathan took 6th place at the meet and 8th place in the nation with a time of 59.9.

A special thanks to SOBA athletes . This is the gold standard of adult swim meets involving 183 local and regional swim teams and over 1300 swimmers. In this largest of arenas it can be seen that our swimmers measured up well.

Thanks Again
Steve