2020 Albatross Open
- February 29, 2020
- North Bethesda, Maryland
- SCM (25m)
- Results (PDF)
- Full List of Records Broken
- Club Scores
55-year-old Jerry Frentsos broke his 20th Masters world record competing at the SCM Albatross Open on the final day of February, knocking off the men’s 55-59 mark in the 200 IM.
Frentsos, who represents District of Columbia Aquatics, put up a time of 2:14.60, lowering the previous mark of 2:15.99 established by Italian Carlo Travaini in January of 2019.
This performance came just a week after Frentsos broke the long course record in the event at the IGLA Championships in Melbourne, Australia. At that meet, his brother Paul (59) finished second in the same age group, and in North Bethesda, his brother Matt (58) placed second.
Frentsos also lowered the American Record when he won the men’s 100 IM, clocking 1:01.65 to knock off Steve Wood‘s 1:01.76 from 2015.
The other swimmer at the competition who broke an individual world record was 70-year-old Cecilia McCloskey, who broke four marks in the women’s 70-74 100 back (1:17.36), 100 fly (1:20.34), 100 IM (1:21.09) and 200 IM (2:55.56). McCloskey competes for Swim Fort Lauderdale.
In the women’s 200 free relay, Club Tribe Alumni broke the world record in the women’s 200-239 age group of 1:55.60 in 1:54.26. Masters world records use combined age groups for relays.
The Virginia Masters Swim Team also took down the American Record in the women’s 280-319 400 medley relay in 6:28.18.
These swimmers are revolutionizing thinking and stereotypes about what people can accomplish physically as they age! Clearly, if one gets in excellent condition and has solid technique, they potentially can achieve times much closer to what they did as youths 15-21 than physiologists previouslynhad thought.