Nova Masters Swimming (Orange County, CA)

The University of Texas has one of the fastest pools in the USA but has not hosted a Master's nationals since 1988. 

It was an opportunity USMS swimmers took full advantage of and turned out more than 100 National Records.  

The FINA Masters World Championships in Perth Australia seemed hard to top in swimming atmosphere. But The UT 

with its facilities, Olympians strutting around the deck, and Coach Eddie Reese on hand to greet everyone made the 

experience one of America's finest swimming exhibitions.    

On the final day Nova swimmers finished up with 2 big wins for a total of 4 National Titles! 

Gerard Von Hoffman won the 50-54 200 Breast, while Ahelee Sue Osborn won the 50-54 200 IM. 

Final Nova Masters Medal Count: 

Gold Medals – 4 

Gerard Von Hoffman 52,  100 Breast 1:01.56 and 200 Breast 2:18 

Ahelee Sue Osborn 50, 200 Free 2:04.37 and 200 IM 2:25.04 

Silver Medals - 3

Ahelee – 200 Back 2:22.39 and 100 IM 1:06.29

Gerard – 50 Breast 28.58 

Bronze Medals – 2

Ahelee – 100 Back 1:04.92

Gerard – 200 IM 2:08.24 

Full results are here: 

http://www.usms.org/comp/scnats08/ 

Nova Masters Photo Gallery is here: 

http://www.multisportsoc.smugmug.com/gallery/4854582_jYg2P 

Day 2

Nova Masters finished their 2nd day of competition at the Short Course National Championships in Austin, Texas 

today.  

Two National Championship titles were won by: 

Gerard Von Hoffman 52, in the 100 Breast – 1:01.56 

Ahelee Sue Osborn 50 in the 200 Free – 2:04.37  

In addition the team included 50-54 year old John Dauser and Chris Ciborowski in the 35-39 division.  

Ahelee's comments to the team:

John D. dropped his 100 breast time down to his high school best and cracked the top 20 with a 1:11.95!  

Chris, the "young Nova sprinter" improves with each swim and is going into Sunday calmly trying to rip apart 

the 50 second barrier in the 100 free (if that is possible after a weekend at the Austin Four Seasons and Spa 

with his lovely wife). 

Gerard bought a new FS-PRO skin suit and has not looked back. It is a long legged version and he swears it is great

 for breaststroke! Not only did he win the 100 and get 2nd in the 50, but he smoked the 100 IM for 4th place.  

There are at least 25 or so swimmers competing who went to The World's in Perth. 

All are swimming better as the meet goes on and they get on normal sleep schedules. 

The joke around here is "What day is it? Oh its Saturday – IN AUSTRALIA it's Saturday!  

Day 3 Ahelee's comments to the team: 

The final day of competition on Sunday had John Dauser and Gerard Von Hoffman in the 200 Breast and 

Ahelee Sue Osborn in the 200 IM.  

John finished in a best time, but may have been a little conservative as his 2nd half was finally the storming 

speed he had been looking for all meet. Still a solid swim for John and a great reward for months of hard work 

in the pool and out – and real inspiration going into the upcoming summer season.  

Gerard dove in the next heat and also kept things in check with a 1:07 at the 100. 

He built up the speed to finish in first place with a 2:18 winning by 5 seconds! 

Check a video of Gerard's 200 Breast race here: 

http://www.flocasts.org/floswimming/coverage.php?c=258&id=14461  

He was congratulated at the finish by UT's Olympic Breastroker, Brendan Hansen who sponsored the event and 

handed Gerard an autographed copy of his GO Swim Breastroke video! 

It was funny to watch Gerard as he towered over Brendan who is surprisingly small…  

Gerard and Ahelee both finished the meet with the 200 IM.  

Ahelee followed advice by Ray Greene to "get out there" on the fly and not wait around to go on the back. 

In fact with a 50 fly split in a PR of a 29. By the breastroke, lets' just say 3 weeks of travel and lots of races 

started to become a reality. But it must have been all the practice racing the Nova boys at 11 and noon 

because it came down to the final 50 free touch at the finish for a first place and a 2nd National Championship title!  

Sunday night featured a social event at the local brew pub sponsored by some Austin Masters swimming orthopedic 

doctors. The crowd was huge and so was the celebration! It's always good to see the swimmers looking so good out 

of their caps, goggles and swimsuits. 

Thanks to many time national champion Andy MacPherson from Davis, California for seeing the girls home safely 

that night!