AUGUSTA — Three PenBay Y swimmers competed in the Maine Senior Games swimming championship at the Kennebec Valley Y in Augusta Sept. 15 and won all 12 events they swam, thus qualifying them in 23 events at June’s National Senior Games Swimming Championship in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

Most spectacular was what Union’s Donna Edelbaum accomplished.

First, she was the first Maine woman over 85, not just to qualify, but to complete any recognized event in her age group. Last year, Camden’s Gladys McKenney, a graduate of PenBay Y’s Swimming Saves Lives program, completed the 50-yard freestyle at Maine Senior Games, but all meet results were thrown out on a technicality.

Edelbaum’s four races were not easy. They included the two hardest of the 15 events, the 200-yard butterfly and the 400-yard individual medley. Of course, all of Edelbaum’s swims were Maine records. All were New England records as well, three setting those records for the first time and her 2:29.25 in the 100-yard IM shaving 3.63” off the 16-year-old New England record of the late Mardie Brown, who was from Rockland, Palermo and Waterville.

Edelbaum is the only woman in her age group to complete the 200 fly so far this year and nobody in the country did last year. Her 400 IM is the only one in the US so far this year and bests the single one completed last year. Her 100 (“sprint”) IM is, likewise, the only one in the country so far this year and would have been third nationally last year. Another 85/9 woman has done the 50 fly this year, but Donna is faster; she would have been fifth last year.

Warren’s Ellen O’Donnell also entered a new age group shortly before this meet, but a much more highly contested one. All of Ellen’s Augusta times are second in the United States so far this year, but there is a long way to go. Last year, 141 Masters contested the 50 back in the 65/9 age group; O’Donnell’s Augusta time would have placed 34th. Her new times make her an impressive 2nd on the all-time Maine list, but first is occupied by national record holder Diann Uustal.

Results for Hope’s Bill Jones were good enough to qualify, but he didn’t set any records. All times were lifetime personal worsts. He still holds the Maine, New England and Colonies Zone records in the 400 IM, 200 fly and other events, thanks to much better times last year. His Maine record for 200 yard back for 75/9 was broken by 25.31” by retired Bowdoin economics professor Dave Vail, whose time also cut 12.15” off the New England record.

Full Results

400y IM
Donna Edelbaum 85/9 13:14.09 (Maine, New England record)
Bill Jones 80/4 9:20.53

100y back
Ellen O’Donnell 65/9 1:32.07

50y fly
Edelbaum 85/9 1:23.01 (Maine, New England record)

200y back
Jones 80/4 4:03.52
O’Donnell 65/9 3:25.56

100y IM
Edelbaum 85/9 2:49.25 (Maine, New England record)

500y free
Jones 80/4 10:14.41

50y breast
O’Donnell 65/9 51.42

50y back
O’Donnell 65/9 42.42

200y fly
Edelbaum 85/9 9:10.97 (Maine, New England record)
Jones 80/4 5:33.65

Reach the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.