Eight MidCoast swimmers, five from PenBay YMCA and three from Waldo County YMCA, trekked to snowy Harvard for the biggest masters' meet this side of the national championships. They were part of the 56-swimmer Maine delegation among the 799 competitors from New England, the rest of the U.S. and Canada. The MidCoast righty garnered 14 championships, seven of which were New England records, 8 seconds, 13 thirds, 6 fourths & 4 fifths. They were part of a winning relay team, 4 second and 2 fourth place relay teams.

Four MidCoast swimmers were able to compete in all four days of the meet.

Bill Jones, of Hope, recently turned 80, outlived most of his competition. Among the five 80-84 men, he won his 13 individual events, setting New England records in the 6 butterfly & individual medley events, and Maine records in 9, and won the meet high-points trophy.

Susan Rardin, of Camden, competing against twelve 65-69 women, garnered 2 seconds, 6 thirds, and 2 fourths and swam two relays.

Ellen O'Donnell, of Warren, competing against seventeen 60-64 women, took 4 seconds, a third, a fourth, and 2 fifths among her 9 events and joined Rardin on two relays.

Doug Roth, of Warren, competing against forty-six 55-59 men, swam all 13 allowed individuals, placing 3rd, two 7ths, 8th, two 9ths, two 11ths, 13th & 15th, among others and was 9th in points in his age group.

The squad's younger members were limited, by work or family obligations, to fewer days and events. Pieter deHart had to leave for work in the Amazon jungle.

Mara Crans, Rockport, competing against thirty-six 50-54 women, was 5th in the 1650 free.

Pieter deHart, of Thorndike, competing against twenty-eight 35-39 men, won 4 fourths and swam a relay.

Jennie deHart, Thorndike, competing against twenty-nine 35-39 women, won the 200 yard breaststroke, setting a New England record in the process. She also took 2 seconds & a sixth and swam two relays.

Brittany Harrington, of Searsport, competed against forty-eight 30-34 women, took a second & 3 fourths.

Maine's team was third of the eight "large" teams at the meet, losing to home-team Charles River with its 100-plus swimmers but also suffering the humiliation of losing to Rhode Island. But for the impressive performance of the MidCoast 8, Maine would have fallen to the New York City Bear Cats and others as well.

Detailed results follow.

50 yards free

35-39 men Pieter deHart 23.35 3rd

55-59 men Doug Roth 29.49 23rd

65-69 women Susan Rardin 34.14 4th

80-84 men Bill Jones 35.93 1st

100 yards free

35-39 men P. deHart 50.84 3rd

55-59 men Roth 1:04.24 13th

60-64 women Ellen O'Donnell 1:25.64 2nd

65-69 women Rardin 1:21.04 2nd

200 yards free

60-64 women O'Donnell 3:13.10 5th

65-69 women Rardin 3:03.99 3rd

80-84 men Jones 3:10.22 1st

500 yards free

30-34 women Brittany Harrington 5:51.00 4th

35-39 women Jennie deHart 5:52.69 6th

35-39 men P. deHart 5:24.97 3rd

55-59 men Roth 6:35.56 8th

80-84 men Jones 9:17.49 1st

1,000 yards free

55-59 men Roth 13:10.49 3rd

60-64 women O'Donnell 17:14.43 3rd

65-69 women Rardin 16:17.67 2nd

1,650 yards free

50-54 women Mara Crans 24:09.00 5th

80-84 men Jones 32:56.00 1st

50 yards back

60-64 women O'Donnell 42.13 2nd

80-84 men Jones 44.52 1st

100 yards back

55-59 men Roth 1:18.29 9th

60-64 women O'Donnell 1:32.88 2nd

80-84 men Jones 1:42.28 1st

200 yards back

35-39 men P. deHart 2:10.97 3rd

55-59 men Roth 2:49.93 7th

60-65 women O'Donell 3:19.85 2nd

80-84 men Jones 4:47.81 1st

50 yards breast

35-39 women J. deHart 32.95 2nd

60-64 women O'Donnell 51.11 7th

65-69 women Rardin 48.59 3rd

100 yards breast

55-59 men Roth 1:34.98 15th

60-64 women O'Donnell 1:51.13 5th

65-69women Rardin 1:49.17 4th

200 yards breast

30-34 women Harrington 2:47.83 4th

35-39 women J. deHart 2:33.54 1st (NE record)

55-59 men Roth 3:25.12 11th

60-64 women O'Donnell 3:56.17 4th

65-69 Rardin 3:56.28 3rd

50 yards fly

55-59 men Roth 34.92 21st

65-69 Rardin 41.75 3rd

80-84 Jones 45.05 1st (NE record)

100 yards fly

55-59 men Roth 1:35.38 7th

65-69 women Rardin 1:43.12 3rd

80-84 men Jones 1:49.16 1st (NE record)

200 yards fly

30-35 women Harington 2:33.87 2nd

80-84 men Jones 4:18.25 1st (NErecord)

100 yards IM

35-39 women J. deHart 1:05.63 3rd

35-39 men P. deHart 59.31 4th

55-59 men Roth 1:19.14 20th

60-64 women O'Donnell 1:39.01 5th

65-69 women Rardin 1:35.90 3rd

80-84 men Jones 1:39.01 1st (NE record)

200 yards IM

50-59 men Roth 3:02.13 11th

65-69 women Rardin 3:30.52 3rd

80-84 men Jones 3:38.21 1st (NE record)

400 yards IM

30-34 women Harrington 5:17.32 4th

35-39 women J. deHart 5:09.82 2nd

55-59 men Roth 6:22.65 9th

80-84 men Jones 8:38.47 1st (NE record)

200 yards free relay

35+ men P. deHart, Gillis, Morse, Lecrone

1:42.15 2nd

45+ women O'Donnell, Rardin, Thomas, Uecker

2:19. 78 2nd

65+ men Jones, Pride SR., Rupert, Redmon

2:22.74 1st

400 yards medley relay

19+ women Stanilova, J. deHart, Harrington, Smrcina

4:31.21 2nd

35+ men P. deHart, Trainor, Lecrone, Gillis

4:26.84 4th

45+ women O'Donnell, Thomas, Uecker, Rardin

5:55.85 4th

65+ men Rupert, Hagmann, Jones, Redmon 7:07.90 2nd