On Saturday evening, following the final session of the 1981 United States Indoor Swimming Championships, the Mission Viejo Nadadores waltzed out of Harvard's Blodgett Pool with matching first place trophies, symbolic of the team's dominance of both the men's and women's events.
Over the course of the four day meet the Nadadore swimmers scored a combined total of 1518 points, more than triple that of Florida Aquatic Swim Team (FAST) which posted 458.5 for second place. The 1980 Outdoor Champion Cincinnati Pepsi Marlins finished third with 406.5.
The host team and local favorite. Bernal's Gators, racked up 117 points for sixth in the men's division. The Gators were paced by a solid performance from the Harvard contingent, including senior Bobby Hackett who placed fifth in the individual standings with an impressive 59 points. Mission Viejo's Bill Barrett with 69 won the Kiphuth High Point trophy for the men.
Sharing the Kiphuth Trophy for the women were Longhorn Aquatic's Jill Sterkel and Nashville sensation Tracy Caulkins. At the same time, Caulkins, who earlier in the evening set a new American record with a 1:01.13 for the 100-yd. breaststroke. on her way to an unprecedented 31st national swimming title. accepted the Phillips Petroleum Outstanding Performance award for her showing Tursday evening in the 400-yd. individual medley.
In the championship final for the men's 100 breast, Dallas Dr. Pepper's Steve Lundquist outdueled Barrett with a 53.83 to the Nadadore's 54.17. Finishing eight in that race was Dave Lundberg. On leave from Harvard this year. Lundberg represented the Walnut Creek Aquabears.
Freshman Dean Putterman, the Eastern Collegiate Champion in the event, contributed to the Dad's Club effort with a strong 56.84 and second place in the Consolation Final.
Hackett, a long time veteran of national and international competition, churned out a 15:07.88 to nail down the silver in the 1650 free.
This was his final competitive swimming race and he gave the highly partisan crowd its money's worth. With Stanford freshman Dave Sims opening up an early lead and gaining the victory with a strong 15:01.31, Hackett provided the excitement with a mid-race battle with Edmonton Keyano's Peter Szmidt. At the 500 mark. Szmidt, the world record-holder or the 400-meter freestyle, had the edge, but Hackett proved tougher, inching up and then moving out when Szmidt began to fade at the 800.
Brian Goodell, who from 1975 until now stood opposite Hackett in one of the competitive swimmings greatest rivalries, bowed out with a fifth place in the consolation 100 back.
Rick Carey of Badger Swim Club propelled himself to another triumph, matching his opening night win in the 200 back with a victorious 49.79 for the 100. The absent American Recordholder. Clay Britt, who won the 1980 NCAAs at Blodgett, still holds the pool record with a 49.79.
The women's 100-yd. fly brought the final record smashing performance of the meet. With Lakeside Swim Club's Mary T. Meagher chasing her. Sterkel came on even stronger at the end and her 52.99 set a new American standard. Meagher. in 53.00 was also under the old mark, but had to settle for second.
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