Lowcountry Masters swimmers take 2nd at state Short Course meet

Lowcountry Masters swimmers Barbara Eisele established six new state age-group records and Pete Palmer broke four as the squad took second place at last weekend’s South Carolina Short Course Meters Championships in Columbia.

Susan Korsedal, Bonnie Downs and Bob Colyer also broke multiple records and Lowcountry Masters produced eight high-point winners in different divisions to finish with 1,787 points. That left them just 162 points behind Charleston’s Palmetto Masters — the closest Lowcountry has come in several years.

“At least (the club) had the pleasure of giving Palmetto a scare,” Palmer said.

The Sun City Swim Club finished a distant third, with Joanne Stewart setting the pace by finishing first in 11 races and Ann Tullie adding eight wins. Both came away as high-point winners in their divisions.

Eisele continued to rewrite the record book in the women’s 85-89 division, setting new marks in the 50-meter backstroke, 50 breaststroke, 50 butterfly and the 50, 200 and 400 freestyle.

Palmer lowered men’s 80-84 records in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, 800 freestyle and 100 individual medley. Korsedal tallied new women’s 65-69 marks in the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke.

Eisele, Palmer, Colyer and Korsedal were high-point winners in their divisions, along with Lowcountry teammates Mackenzie Penale, Meredith Anderson, Laura Richardson and Clayton Drew Harris.

For Sun City, Jim Bedient scored a quartet of victories in the 50 freestyle and 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke. Cynthia Smith spread four wins around in the 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke, 100 individual medley and 400 freestyle.

This story was originally published December 10, 2016 at 9:51 PM with the headline "Lowcountry Masters swimmers take 2nd at state Short Course meet."