Under semi-cloudy skies at Avery Aquatic Center on the Stanford University campus, 46 National Senior Games swimming records have fallen in just three days of competition at the 2009 Summer National Senior Games. Californians have claimed 26 of the records (57%), led by Jurgen Schmidt (Huntington Beach) withfive, Daniela Barnea (Palo Alto) with four, and Frank Piemme (Lompoc) with four. Peter Andersen (Wayne City, IL) and Rick Colella (Kirkland, WA) join Schmidt in a three-way tie for most records with five apiece.

For athletes age 50 and over, the 2009 Summer National Senior Games presented by Humana will draw some 23,000 total visitors with a $35 million economic impact for the region. The first 3,100 of about 10,000 athletes have checked-in for their respective sports.

Running from August 1 – August 15, the biennial event will deliver medal competition in 18 sports, plus tournaments and contests in six (6) demonstration sports. At the heart and center of the Games, Stanford University will showcase 17 sports including swimming, tennis, soccer, track and field, basketball, table tennis, and volleyball.

Attendance at all events and contests are free to the public. With some 730 competitors, swimming goes until Wednesday, August 5. Track and Field starts on Wednesday, August 5 and runs until August 11.

In addition to Humana, official sponsors of the 2009 National Senior Games include AstraZeneca, CHW-Catholic Healthcare West, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Verizon Wireless, City of Palo Alto, Euflexxa, Continental Airlines, CVS Pharmacy, and Menlo Medical Clinic.

 "The oldest competitor in her women's 50+ 500 yard freestyle heat, Susan Munn, 70, won her heat and broke the Summer National Senior Games record for her age group with a time of 7:35.18, in Palo Alto, Calif., at the Avery Aquatic Center on Monday August 03, 2009. Photo Credit: Karie Henderson, Brooks Institute.