CANBY — Eight members of the Columbia Gorge Masters Swim Team competed at the Oregon Masters Swimming Association Championships March 26-27 in Canby.
A total of 164 swimmers from Oregon and Washington participated in the two-day event. Coached by Shelley Rawding, the local team was the smallest in the “Medium” division, finishing fourth out of eight teams and winning the Team Spirit Award.
Five of the eight local swimmers earned at least one event victory in their respective divisions, with Sandi Rousseau (57) and Nikki Weeks (32) each running the table. Rousseau, the team coordinator, won the 50 free, 100 free, 50 fly, 50 back and 100 back.
Meanwhile, Weeks won the 50 free, 50 breast, 100 breast, 50 fly and 100 IM.
Former Hood River Valley High School swimmer Elsie Denton (19) picked up three first places, while Sandra Haynie (60) and Ann Goodman (45) each earned one.
Denton won the 500 free, 100 breast and 200 breast, and also finished second in the 100 fly and 200 IM.
Haynie won the 200 free, and earned second in the 50 free and third in the 50 back, while Goodman took first in the 200 back. She also picked up two second places (100 back, 400 IM), a third (50 back) and a fourth (100 IM).
Another local highlight was turned in by the team’s senior member, Bill Mellow (63), who finished second in each of his five events (100 free, 500 free, 50 breast, 100 breast and 200 breast).
The Columbia Gorge Masters’ two newcomers, Jaime Mack (38) of Hood River and Reggie Sherwood (53) of Underwood, Wash., also performed well. Mack earned four second places (500 free, 50 back, 50 breast, 200 breast) and a fourth (100 free), while Sherwood took two fourth places (50 breast, 200 breast) and a fifth (100 free).
Rousseau said that the local contingent has grown to 24 members, and new swimmers are always welcome. Workouts are held Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7:30 a.m. For more information, e-mail: swim@gorge.net.
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