is a fitting double entendre to describe the 2014 Santa Clara National Championships. The pool, it seems, is a popular stopping spot for migrating ducks and the meet had its share of winged visitors. Just Ducky is also a way of exclaiming that the meet was just fine. With over 2200 participants the event was a four day celebration of swimming. Pacific Masters hospitality, volunteers, organizational skills and swimming prowess were hallmarks of a great event. Pacific teams dominated, securing 8 of the top 10 places. The meet was ground breaking in its inclusion of some of swimming's all-time greatest talents, past and present. While Masters Swimming is welcoming to every ability level, seeing Nathan Adrian and Anthony Ervin's dazzling sprints electrified the crowed and signals another milestone for USMS. By all measures the meet was a great success.
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Early morning traffic jam
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 USMS President Nadine Day with announcer Dave Wierdsma. Without exception, everyone acknowledged Dave's energy, knowledge and intensity as a key ingredient in the success of the meet. "Dave was on top of every heat. His ability to call both 10 lane courses, maintain his enthusiasm through 10 hour days and keep the crowd informed and abreast is remarkable," said Pacific Master's chairman, Peter Guadagni. "Pacific is lucky to have him."
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Ransom J. Arthur M.D. Award
The highest honor in United States Masters Swimming is the Ransom J. Arthur Award. It's presented each year at the short course nationals in honor of the founder of Masters Swimming and recognizes a member who is deemed to have done the most to further the objectives of Masters swimming. Shown are previous winners as Hill Carrow is announced this year's recipient (in absentia).
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 Competitors became awe inspired fans as they watched Nathan Adrian, three-time Olympic gold medalist, swim a brilliant 100 freestyle. His 41.08 jaw dropping time equaled his own American record. A timing glitch caused his final time to be slightly adjusted to 41.13. Along with an impressive group of the world's greatest swimmers, Nathan certified Masters as a legitimate stage for their talents. |
Despite being the second largest Masters National championship meet, the efficiency of Pacific's stellar officials volunteers, Santa Clara's facilities and meet management, and over 2200 diligent competitors, the event was run with maximum efficiency and adhered to each day's timeline. A highlight of the meet were the 739 relay teams.
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 Referred to as the 'homeless encampment", the tent city and Santa Clara Swim Center, had plenty of room to accommodate the 258 teams in attendance.
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