Bedford
Accumulates
More N.E.
Masters Records
Etna's Fritz Bedford added two more national age-group
records to his swim resume at the New England Masters
Short Course Championship at Harvard University.
Staff Reports
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Boston — He’s doing it again.
Etna’s Fritz Bedford added to his already impressive swimming resume by adding two more
national age-group records as part of a five-win performance at the New England Masters ShortCourse Championships last weekend at Harvard University’s Blodgett Pool.
A member of the UVRays masters program, based at White River Junction’s Upper Valley Aquatic
Center, Bedford set his new marks in the men’s 50-54 age division. His winning time of 52.72
seconds in the 100-yard backstroke took more than a half-second off the previous national standard.
Bedford also broke his own record in the 50 back with a clocking of 24.49 seconds, posting the time
as the leadoff leg in the 200 medley relay.
In winning three other events, Bedford also produced two more regional records. He rang up a time
of 23.59 seconds to take the 50 butterfly, and his 22.26 was good enough to win the 50 freestyle.
UVRays teammates Arnold Meardon, Dan Moran and Barbara Hummel joined Bedford at Harvard.
Swimming in the men’s 85-89 division, Meardon won all six of his races and set regional records in
five: the 200 free (3:32.10), 100 individual medley (1:51.63), 100 free (1:30.26), 50 fly (53.94) and
50 free (37.36).
Moran, of Springfield, Mass., won eight of his 10 races in the men’s 30-34 age group. Hummel, the
Rays’ coach, won the women’s 100 breaststroke in the 60-64 age group with a time of 1:22.90.
The Rays are next scheduled to host a mini-meet at UVAC on May 3, an event open to all
swimmers registered with U.S. Masters Swimming.