Jeff Farrell is still going strong in the swimming pool.
The double gold medalist from the 1960 Olympics, International Swimming Hall of Famer, long-time Montecito resident and a member of the Santa Barbara Masters Swim Team, won five gold medals in the 85-89 age group at the recent U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships at the Woollett Aquatic Center in Irvine.
His performance helped the Santa Barbara Masters finish sixth in the team competition, its best showing in the past 20 years at a national level meet, said coach Mark Stori.
The 62-member Santa Barbara team, which also included Olympians David Sims (1980) and Gabrielle Rose (1996 for Brazil and 2000 for the U.S.), captured a total of 11 golds and posted several top 10 finishes at the national championships.
The meet drew more than 250 teams and 2,400 swimmers from all over the country.
Farrell won titles in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle and 100 individual medley and 50 backstroke.
In addition to Farrell, Arlene Godges (women’s 55-59 50 butterfly), Ben Cable (men’s 18-24 50 breaststroke) and Heather Meckelborg (women’s 50-54 200 freestyle) captured individual national titles.
Santa Barbara claimed gold in three relays: the mixed 400 Free (Sims, Rose, Godges and Mike Power), women’s 200 medley (Rose, Godges, Meckelborg and Sharon Otsuki) and men’s 200 Free Relay (Sims, Power, John Monich and Stori).
“Being one of the top teams in the country is a testament to the depth of swimming talent in the Santa Barbara area,” said Stori. “Having athletes from the ages of 18-86 participate at the meet was fantastic. The team atmosphere was great, and it was a privilege to share a tent with 101-year-old masters world-record holder and inspiration Maurine Kornfeld from Pasadena.”
Kornfeld broke the Masters World Record in the 50 freestyle for the 100-104 age group and won the 100 backstroke.
The following swimmers all came home with top 10 finishes in their swim races:
Jeff Farrell (85-89) – 5 First Place Finishes
David Johannsen (65-69) – 1 top 10 finish
Liz Boscacci (65-69) – 5 top 10 Finishes
Lynn Rutherford (65-69) – 4 top 10 Finishes
Marion Schoneberger (65-69) – 3 top 10 Finishes
David Sims (60-65) – 5 top 10 Finishes
Donald Smith (60-65) – 3 top 10 Finishes
Arlette Godges (55-59) – 1 Championship and 4 Top 10 Finishes
Dawn Schroeder (55-59) – 2 top 5 Finishes
Mike Power (55-59) – 5 top 10 Finishes
Heather Meckelborg (50-54) – 1 First Place and 4 top 10 finishes
Stephanie Hladyniuk (50-54) – 1 top 10 finish
Gabrielle Rose (45-49) – 5 First Place Finishes
Sharon Otsuki (45-49) – 2 top 10 finishes
Javier Saldena (45-49) – 2 top 5 finishes
Gabriel Zahony (45-49) – 1 top 10 finish
Brooke Green (40-44) – 4 top 10 finishes
Kristof Igloi (35-39) – 1 top 5 finish
Jill Lin (30-34) – 4 top 10 finishes
Curtis Lin (30-34) – 2 top 10 finishes
Daniel Castro (30-34) – 1 top 10 finish
Evan Simoni (30-34) – 1 top 10 finish
Joanna Tang (25-29) – 2 top 10 finishes
Kevin Mendoza (25-29) – 3 top 10 finishes
Lexi Alford (18-24) – 1 top 10 finish
Maija Ninness (18-24) – 3 top 10 finishes
Ashley Scharber (18-24) – 2 top 10 finishes
Isabelle Steel (18-24) – 1 top 10 finish
Ben Cable (18-24) – 1 First Place and 4 top 10 Finishes
Peyton Bursin (18-24) – 1 top 10 finish
Michael Camacho (18-24) – 1 top 10 finish
Dylan Cassayre (18-24) – 2 top 10 finishes
Sean Hopkins (18-24) – 1 top 10 finish
Anthony Krieter (18-24) – 1 top 10 finish
Yuki Matsudaira (18-24) – 1 top 10 finish
Kevin Sapozhkov (18-24) – 1 top 10 finish