The Lake Orion Natatorium played host to 77 swimmers on Sunday for a Michigan Masters meet, one that saw several records broken.
Swimmers from across the state, as well as some participants from Ohio and Canada, came to Lake Orion for the meet, which was co-hosted by Lake Orion High School and the Liquid Lightning program.
‘The idea behind it was to give back to the swimming community,? said organizer Paul Brent, the diving coach at LOHS.
Brent said the event served as a good example to the younger Liquid Lightning swimmers that the sport is a life-long one.
‘I think a lot of them enjoyed it,? he said. ‘And seeing the national record broken was pretty sweet for the younger swimmers to see.?
The broken United States Masters Swimming national record Brent speaks of was set by Kevin Doak in the 25-29 age group. Doak’s time of 23.06 seconds in the 50-yard backstroke was .03 faster than the previous record set in 2000.
It was the sixth national record set by Doak in the past three months. He also set a pool record in the 100-yard backstroke and a state record in the 50-yard fly.
Other state record setters in the meet included Scott Tyler in the 45-49 200-yard freestyle, Gary Bice, 50, in the 100-yard backstroke, Paul Nicholls, 55, in the 200-yard breaststroke and the Doughboy Aquatics men’s relay team, which set five state records (two in the 400-medley, two in the 800-free and one in the 400-free).