Northern Area Aquatics Committee News

From the Distance Meet, December 16, 2000
by: Scott Lemley, Head Coach Midnight Sun Swim Team

On Saturday swimmers from Fairbanks and North Pole met at Wescott Pool in North Pole to swim the least common events - the ultra distance freestyles. Eight and unders competed in the 500 yard freestyle; 9/10 year olds swam the 1000; 11/12 year olds swam the 2000; and swimmers 13 years and older competed in the 3000.

Alaska Swimming keeps records in these events for each age (swimmers 8 years old; 9 years old; 10 years old; 11 years old; etc) as well as "senior" records for both boys and girls. Four of those records were broken.

Felina Rosadiuk of the Midnight Sun Swim Team smashed the 3000 yard freestyle record for 13 year olds with a time of 33:36.00. The previous record was 36:26.98 and was held by Fairbanks Arctic Swim Team member, Sarah Rabinowitz, set in 1983. Felina's time not only eclipsed the record for 13 year olds, it was also well under the state Senior record of 35:55.82 set by Carrie Caskey of the Stingray Swim Team in 1987. Felina also holds the state records in the 2000 yard freestyle for 11 year old girls with a time of 23:33.73 set two years ago and the state record in the 2000 yard freestyle for 12 year olds with a time of 22:56.93, set last year.

Mara Matheke of the Midnight Sun Swim Team broke the 3000 yard freestyle state record by almost a minute with a time of 36:49.00. The previous record was held by Greta Seitz of the Alaska Pacific Swim Club of 37:46.97, set earlier this year. Scott Woster of the North Pole Aquatic Club broke the 2000 yard freestyle record for 12 year old boys with a time of 22:22.20. The previous record was held by his teammate, Brandon Mahrt, of 24:06.43, set last year.