Pacific Masters SCM Champion-ships! Walnut Creek CA

by Holly Lickwala and Brent Barnes

Kerry O’Brien is a legend in the Pacific Masters swimming community. He helped Walnut Creek Masters, a Gold Club, grow from around 70 members to more than 450, and his club has perennially been among the best at USMS’s pool national championships. His efforts were recognized when the Grassroots Coaching Award was renamed the USMS Kerry O’Brien Coaches Award in 2008. The award is given annually to coaches who display passion, dedication, and heart on the pool deck and help build membership in their communities.  Each year, Mr. O’Brien is celebrated at the same pool where he grew this amazing legacy.

The 2023 Pacific Masters Swimming Kerry O’Brien Short Course Meters Championships were held over three beautiful days starting October 6^th in the always lovely Walnut Creek, CA. The Northwest contingent was four strong consisting of our own Holly Lickwala and Brent Barnes and Oregon’s Christine McClafferty and David Hathaway.  As short course meters events go, this was large at 579 participants, making the pool deck a lively place! Yet, it never felt crowded due to the spacious shaded and grassy areas. It was sunny and warm all three days, while the pools were the perfect temperature for some fast racing.

Day 1 schedule brought out the swimmers who love torture with the 400 IM and 1500 free being the line up. Holly, who had forgotten the recent pain of the last 400 IM, swam a best time of 6:14.92, winning her age group. After a sense of relief, she continued the next two days with the 200 fly (2:57.30), 100 free (1:07.08), 100 fly (1:17.09) and the 100 IM (1:18.06).  She enjoyed great competition swimming along with some of the best ladies in the area. Holly stated that she may just do 50’s at the next competition!

Brent was smart with skipping the 1500 free on the first day and saving everything for the weekend events.  He swam the 50 breast (39.56), 100 free (1:20.53), 100 breast (1:30.52), 200 free (3:03.76), 200 breast (3:21.38) and the 50 free (37.31) to round out the meet.  His 50 breast time was a best time since starting this wonderful thing called swimming.

If you have not been to this meet before, we would encourage you to consider it a great California meet in the beautiful California sun.  If not Walnut Creek, start thinking about Nationals at Mission Viejo 2024 and let’s have a great TWIM presence.  Don’t forget your dark tinted goggles, skip backstroke at all costs unless you have a strong internal compass like Carl. Be ready to reapply your favorite sunscreen multiple times per day and to have a memorable time!