Plaschka Lowers 100 Butterfly Record for Third Time This Season

Justin Plaschka

On Monday, competing in a time trial on the last day of the Phillips 66 nationals, Jamaica’s Justin Plaschka lowered the national record in the 100 metre butterfly to 54.71. He has now set the senior national mark in this event three times this summer. First at CCCAN 2015 in Barbados, when he won gold in the 18 and over age group in 55.25. Then, earlier in the heats of the Phillips 66 nationals when he clocked 54.97, prior to beating his own record again in the time trial. He has also set senior national marks this summer in the 50 metre butterfly, in 24.89, and in the 100 metre backstroke, in 57.06.

When asked about his swim, Plaschka said, “I swam it much more strategically than the first time but it was not as fast as I wanted to go. I really was striving for the Olympic B cut.”

Walter Lowers National Mark in 400 Meter Freestyle

Dominic Walter prepares to race

Jamaica’s distance record holder Dominic Walter was responsible for the 15^th senior national record to fall this year when he lowered his mark in the 400 metre freestyle to 4:08.67 (split time: 2:02.43). His previous best and national record of 4:09.20 was set in April in Puerto Rico. Walter lowered his standard while competing for the Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club at the 2015 Canadian Swimming Championships. The McMaster student athlete also clocked a personal best of 1:55.50 in the 200 metre freestyle. He is now the second fastest Jamaican swimmer in the event this season. He also clocked a relay split of 53.38 in the club’s 4x 100 metre freestyle relay.

Walter had this to say about his performance:

This week was a great step to end off this season, as well as to prepare me for the coming season, as Canadian Nationals was later in the year than normal. Keeping my fitness into the coming season will be very important as this will be my last year of collegiate swimming and I will be going for the school record in the 400 Free. I was very happy with my swims. My coaches and I have made a few adjustments to my stroke this summer, so [I’m] hoping to make more drops in the future.

Masai Wins Bronze at Masters World Champs

Masai Zebe-Chaka

Another swimmer of Jamaican heritage was in action today at the FINA World Masters Swimming Championships 2015 in Kazan, Russia. Masai Zebe-Chaka, competing in the 35-39 age group for the Plymouth Leander Swim Club in Great Britain, powered his way to the bronze medal in the 50 metre butterfly in 26.05. He will compete in the 50 metre freestyle on Aug 13 and conclude his participation in the championships in the 50 metre backstroke on Sunday, Aug 16.

Masai Wins Silver in Sheffield

UK-based Jamaican swimmer Masai Zebe-Chaka continued his build up to the FINA World Masters Championships with a strong performance at the ASA Summer National Swimming Championships 2015 in Ponds Forge, Sheffield, UK. Competing in the 18 and over 50 metre backstroke yesterday, Zebe-Chaka won bronze in 27.42, lowering his personal best of 27.42 he had set earlier in the heats. In today’s race, the 50 metre butterfly, the 35-year-old member of Plymouth Leander Swim Club clocked 25.95 in the heats before returning to place 8^th in the final in 25.64.

When asked about his performances at the meet Zebe-chaka said, “Happy that I swam 4 races in 2days and actually not needing the ER… First time since returning to swimming. PB’d twice in the 50 back and swam reasonably well in the fly. Good prep for next week where I look to go fast!. Also the Facebook support has been incredible… helps to motivate me… especially knowing I’ll be on my own in Russia.”