wift Swimming Masters Swimming Program will once again be attending the US Short Course National Swimming Championships . Seven swimmers from Swift namely, Percy Knowles, Andy Knowles, Nancy Knowles, Jeremy Knowles, April Savage, Elliott Knowles, and Andrew Higgs will compete in the fastest Masters meet in the US at the famous Indianapolis Natatorium in Indiana.
May 2013 will start with a splash and end with the roar of engines in Indianapolis, with Spring Nationals happening May 9–12 and the Indy 500 on May 26. The USMS national championship event re- turns for a sixth time to the renowned IU Natatorium on the Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis campus. The competition pool is 50 meters long and 25 yards wide. Two moveable bulkheads will al- low simultaneous competition in two eight-lane, 25-yard courses. The pool is 9 feet deep at the ends and 10 feet deep in the center. Water temperature is maintained at 79 degrees F. Seven lanes of warm-up space will be available in the diving well, with six more lanes in the 50-meter instructional pool. At least one lane for swimmers over age 65 will be available at all times. With a seating capacity of 4,700, the natatorium provides more spectator space than any other permanent pool in the nation. Additional swimmer seating will be provided on the pool deck. More than 100 American records and 15 world records have been set in this pool. “It’s a world-record-setting kind of pool—people usually swim very well here,” says meet director Kris Houchens. She’s heard that dozens of former participants plan to return. Many top-caliber swimming competitions have been hosted at IUPUI, including the 1984, 1992, and 1996 Olympic Trials, the 1987 Pan American Games, the 2009 ConocoPhillips National Championship, and World Championship Trials.
The pool is conveniently located downtown, less than a half-mile walk from many meet hotels and close to restaurants and cultural sites. Circle Center Mall and Victory Field, the site of the meet social, are a short stroll away. Eight miles of bike and pedestrian trails, connecting downtown hotels, cultural districts, restaurants, and attractions, will be completed before Spring Nationals. Festivities surrounding the 97th Indianapolis 500 car race will be in full swing in May. The 500 events associated with the 500 Festival will kick off with the best-attended half marathon in the country on May 4.
At the meet Percy Knowles will compete in the 80-84 age group in the 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke, 50 free and 100 IM. Andy Knowles will compete in the 55-59 age group in the 100, 200, 500, and 1650, free and the 200 and 400 IM. Nancy Knowles will compete in the 55- 59 age group in the 50 fly, and 300 and 500 free. Andrew Higgs will compete in the 46-49 age group in the 50 and 100 breaststroke and the 50 free. Jeremy Knowles will compete in the 30-34 age group on the 50, 100 and 200 butterfly, 50 breast, and 100 and 200 IM. April Savage will compete in the 25-29 age group in the 50 breast, 50 fly and 100 IM. Elliott Knowles will compete in the 25-29 age group in the 50 and 100 Free. All swimmers will also compete in several relays. Our goal is to improve on our entered times and win more medals than last year and to visit more restaurants and eat more ice cream in celebration of our swims.