Submitted by Bellingham Bay Swim Team
Brad Jones of Bellingham placed in the top 10 of four individual events and the top two of two relays in his age group at the U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championship, conducted April 27-30 in Irvine, California.
Jones, 57, competed in the men’s 55-59 age group at the meet, which set a record by attracting nearly 2,600 participants, including former Olympians and NCAA Champions. Representing Puget Sound Masters, Jones placed fifth in the 1000 Freestyle (11:12.09), ninth in the 500 freestyle (5:19.77), 7th in the 50-yard butterfly (26.23), and 8th in the 100-yard butterfly (58.39).
Jones also swam on relay teams for Puget Sound Masters. His team in the men’s 55+ age group placed 2nd in the 200 medley relay (1:49.36). Jones swam the butterfly leg (Carl Haynie, Rick Colella, and David McCarty were also on the relay.). The team of Jones, Lionel Chalendar, Mats Nygren, and Bruno Souviraa-Labastie, finished second in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:37.83).
The meet was conducted at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center.
Jones, the practitioner/owner at Rolfing Bellingham, is head strength coach and assistant swim coach for the Bellingham Bay Swim Team. Jones swam on a scholarship at Penn State University. After a long break from swimming and recovering from a brain tumor, Jones started swimming with the Bellingham Masters group at age 50 at Arne Hanna Aquatic Center. Now that Jones has navigated the balance issues from the brain tumor, he is able to swim 5 days every week at 6 a.m. with the uncoached Masters group.
