Sisters swimmers score in competition

Last updated May 07, 2013 12:0pm0

Three Sisters-area swimmers, Scott Miller, Kris Calvin, and Tom Landis scored valuable points in helping their team, Central Oregon Masters Aquatics (COMA) win the championship at the Oregon Masters Swimming Association championship meet in Bend last weekend.

The Oregon Reign Masters team from Portland came loaded for bear, committed to unseating the locals on their own turf. The meet championship came down in exciting fashion to the final few events, with COMA eventually prevailing in the closest result ever, 2,309 points to 2,210 for Oregon Reign.

The Sisters trio, who can regularly be found training at Sisters Athletic Club, scored a total of 119 points in individual events, as well as contributing to numerous COMA relay teams.

Miller, a resident of Tollgate, competing in the 45-49 year age group placed third in the 400 individual medley (6:14.86), third in the 200 backstroke (2:46.94), fourth in the 200 IM (2:48.00), fifth in the 50 back (33.74) and sixth in both the 100 IM (1:13.37) and 1,500 freestyle (23:16.48). Scott swam on three COMA relays.

Calvin, also of Tollgate, competing in the 50-54 age category placed second in both the 1,500 freestyle (19:53.31) and 800 free (10:22.06). He garnered four third-place finishes in 400 IM (5:39.48), 100 butterfly (1:10.44), 200 free (2:21.55) and 200 IM (2:39.70). Kris swam on four COMA relays.

Landis, of Camp Sherman, competing in the 70-74 age category won all six of his events, 100 Free (1:06.28), 200 Free (2:26.61), 400 Free (5:16.95), 100 IM (1:19.98), 200 IM (2:55.18) and 400 IM (6:17.67). His time in the 400 IM was a new national record for his age group, breaking the previous record by almost four seconds. Tom swam on four COMA relays as well.

Septuagenarian swimmer honored

Tom Landis, of Camp Sherman, was honored last weekend as Oregon's outstanding male masters swimmer for 2012.

He and various other swimmers received honors for their performances over the previous year at the annual awards banquet, held at McMenamin's in Bend, as an adjunct to the Oregon Masters Swimming Association championship swim meet (see related story, page 22).

In addition to this specifically Oregon honor, Landis received accolades on the national level by being named all-star performer in both pool meets and long-distance swimming.

All-star designation is bestowed upon the top performer in the country in each age group. Competing in the 70-74 age group, Tom earned 24 All-American rankings in pool meets over the course of the year. All-American refers to the top time for an individual event in a particular age group. Tom's All-American rankings covered freestyle events in courses both yards and meters from 50 to 1,650 and individual medley events from 100 through 400. It is on the strength of being top performer nationally in so many events that all-star status is earned.

Landis' all-star status in long distance swimming came as a result of being the top performer in four long-distance national championships and second in another.

This week Tom travels to Indianapolis, Indiana to compete in the national masters championships. He hopes to duplicate his performance in last year's nationals, where he won six national championship races. Landis' swims will include the 1,000-yard freestyle on Thursday, the 400 IM and 200 free on Friday, the 500 free and 100 free on Saturday, and he finishes on Sunday with the 200 IM. Results can be found at http://www.usms.org/comp/scnats13.