Tom Landis sets new record in Washington

Camp Sherman Master swimmer Tom Landis set a new Central Oregon Masters Aquatics (COMA) individual zone record of 5 minutes, 30.23 seconds in the 400-yard individual medley held in Federal Way, Washington.

The medley race consists of four strokes: breaststroke, back, butterfly and freestyle. Some 350 swimmers from around the Northwest took part in the various swim events.

Landis competes in the 60 to 64-year-old age category for Master swimmers. At the Federal Way 2005 Northwest Zone Short Course (25-yard) Championships, he also took first place in four other freestyle events: 100-yard (56:77), 200-yard (2:04:50), 500-yard (5:45:42), and 1,650-yard (19:58:99).

Landis already holds the national record in the 500-yard event and holds state and zone records in all the other freestyle events

“Bob Bruce, COMA coach, told me before the ‘mile’ race (1,650 yards) that I could break 20 minutes. I didn’t think I could, but sure enough, my time came in under 20 minutes (19:58:99) and I won in my age group. The 66 laps makes for a long race,” said Landis.

“The pool at Federal Way is the best pool in the Northwest,” he said. “I have always done my best swimming there.”

Landis primarily works out at the local Sisters Athletic Club’s 25-yard pool.

“I usually train 3-4 days a week in the pool and swim about 4,000 yards during each workout. Chris Calvin is my training partner and we enjoy working together,” said Landis.

“It sure has been nice being able to primarily use the pool in Sisters and avoid the long round trip as often to Bend,” Landis noted. “I’m much more relaxed during my training workouts.”

Since the COMA team is located in Bend, Landis generally spends one day a week training at the Juniper Aquatic Center pool in Bend.

Forty-two COMA swimmers took part in the Championships at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center pool in Federal Way.