AThleTics
Masters Swimmers Continue
Post-Season Activity
A
utumn is a slower time for Masters Gaffney replied, “that just means I will
swimmers, after the long-course and have to go back and do it again.”
open-water seasons end. Two MAC swim- Preparing for this event took lots of
mers continued swimming in events in time and energy. Gaffney exercises seven
October: an open-water charity swim and a days a week for 1 1/2 hours each day,
short-course swim meet. swimming three miles in each workout,
plus weight training on some of the days.
Boston Harbor Swim
Karen Gaffney, a 31-year-old MAC
Lincoln City meet
Masters swimmer, took part in a special Brent Washburne participated in
event in Boston Oct. 8. She helped Lincoln City’s Swim Into Fall meet with
to raise money and awareness for the other Oregon Masters swimmers on
Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress Oct. 11. Instead of the usual individual
by swimming in the Boston Harbor, an events, he only took part in relay events
eight-mile swim in choppy ocean water. that day. After participating in four relays,
October is National Down Syndrome Washburne set five records.
Awareness month, and groups hold “buddy How does someone set five records in
walks” all over the country, but this group only four events? If the lead swimmer in a
decided to do something extra. The relay requests an individual time for their
MDSC brought Gaffney in to do a “buddy leg of the relay, it counts as a separate
swim” along the Boston Light Swim route.
J
swim. Washburne was the lead swimmer
im
This event was covered by Boston televi-
GAFFN
on the 400 free relay and requested that
sion and newspaper reporters and was also his 100 free be timed separately, allowing
e
shown on Portland news.
Y
him to break two records in one swim.
The Boston Light Swim is the oldest
In early October, MAC Masters
Along with Wes Edwards, Pat Allender
open-water swim marathon in the United
swimmer Karen Gaffney participated
and David Hathaway, Washburne set two
States of America. Participants begin the
in a special open-water event that
Northwest Zone records in the men’s
race in the water at Boston Light on Little
followed the Boston Light Swim route.
200-239 400 SC meter free and medley
Brewster and continue past George’s Island relays. The free relay record was previ-
and Rainsford Island, under the Long ously set in 1996 and was broken by 6.61
Island Bridge, around Thompson’s Island, on the boat that would be spotting me seconds. The medley relay record was
finishing eight miles later at the L Street during the swim,” Gaffney says. “I noticed previously set in 1994 and was broken by
Bathhouse in South Boston. Many swim- the water was really, really rough and the 15.92 seconds.
mers have used this swim to prepare for an wind was picking up.” Along with Thomas Esser, Briana
English Channel crossing. On the day of the event, Gaffney swam Willia and Christine Somera, Washburne
Gaffney is not a novice at open-water the course with two spotters: one swimmer set a Northwest Zone record in the mixed
swimming. She completed a relay swim and one in a kayak. As a result of high 100-119 400 SC meter medley relay and an
(with other MAC swimmers) across the winds and a small craft advisory, Gaffney Oregon record in the mixed 100-119 200
English Channel in 2001; it took her swam approximately four miles instead of SC meter medley relay. The 400 medley
team 14 1/2 hours to finish. Her longest the full eight. Although she and the pacers relay record was previously set in 1987 and
solo swim was a six-hour, nine-mile swim weren’t bothered much by the wind, the was broken by 18.13 seconds. The 200
across Lake Tahoe in 2007, and she also boats couldn’t be safely manuvered around medley relay record was previously set in
swam four miles around Alcatraz Island in the swimmers. 1987 and was broken by 11.73 seconds.
the San Francisco harbor in 2006. From The best part was the finish. “I saw my Finally, his 100 free (as part of the
2006 to 2009, Gaffney has completed 16 mom and my aunt and the press waiting men’s 400 free relay) broke his own
crossings of the San Francisco Bay from for me when I came in,” Gaffney says. She Oregon record, set last year, in the men’s
Alcatraz to Chrissy Field. gave an interview to the TV camera and 45-49 SC meter 100 free by 0.87 seconds.
Even with her years of experience, she then joined the other swimmers at a recep- For more information on Masters
was concerned when she saw the harbor. tion. When asked about having to miss swimming, call the Aquatics Office at
“The day before the swim, I saw the course part of the swim because of the weather, 503-223-8370 or go to theMAC.com. WM
JANUARY 2010 | The Wınged M | 49
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56