Competition

Hosted by: George Mason University Swimming & Diving
George Mason University Aquatic and Fitness Center,
4520 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, Virginia
Sanctioned by Potomac Valley LMSC for USMS, INC. #109-S001

Welcome to the 2019 Colonies Zone Short Course Yards Championship meet.  The swimming facility will be configured as two separate 8-lane competition courses, women in one course and men in the other, with both courses displayed on the scoreboard.  The all deep-water lanes, overflow gutters and non-turbulent lane lines should allow for some very fast swimming!   A separate 6-lane 25-yard pool will be available for continuous warm-up/cool-down throughout the meet.

ENTRIES:               
Online entry deadline has been extended to Saturday March 30. Competitors may enter up to 5 individual events per day, plus relays.  The meet is open to all Masters Swimmers holding a valid 2019 USMS registration card.  Your membership to USMS will be verified in online meet entry. Age is determined by a swimmer’s age on April 7, 2019. 2019 USMS rules and regulations apply.

FEES:
Meet surcharge (required) $25. Individual event fee $5 each. Online entries are paid by credit card to "ClubAssistant.com Events".

SEEDING:               
Saturday and Sunday events will be seeded slowest to fastest. Women will swim in the shallow end on Saturday and the deep end on Sunday. Men will swim in the deep end on Saturday and the shallow end on Sunday. Friday night events will be seeded fastest to slowest, men and women combined.  

RELAYS:                 
Relay Deck Entries will be accepted BEFORE 10am Saturday and Sunday, or Friday night, or they may be mailed in with your meet entry.  Relay Entry Forms are available at http://www.patriotmasters.org/2019ZoneRelay.pdf

DISTANCE EVENTS:     
You must check in Friday BEFORE 3:30pm for the 1000/1650 or you will be scratched.            
Choose either the 1000 free or the 1650, not both.  The 1000 is limited to the first 112 entries received and will be swum in the deep end. The 1650 is limited to the first 72 entries received and will be swum in the shallow end. Please ask a friend to count for you in the distance freestyle races. Swimmers entering the 1000 free and 1650 free must enter using a provable time. It can be done in practice and signed off by a coach or come from the USMS meet results database.

PSYCH SHEETS:   
Psych sheets and rosters will be available on our meet website http://www.patriotmasters.org/ColoniesZone2019.htm before the meet.
                                                                                 
AWARDS:               
Medals will be awarded for first place in each age group, and to each member of a winning relay. Special Championship awards to the highest scoring team in three divisions: Large, Medium and Small Team. Individual events are scored 9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, relays 18-14-12-10-8-6-4-2.

RESULTS:         
Available on-line at http://www.patriotmasters.org/ColoniesZone2019/results/index.htm and www.colonieszone.org. The length of the competition course is in compliance and on file with USMS in accordance with articles 105.1.7 and 107.2.1, but as a bulkhead course, is subject to length confirmation. Eligibility of times for USMS Top 10 and Records will be contingent on verification of bulkhead placement. In the deep end, the length of the competition course without a bulkhead is in compliance and on file with USMS in accordance with articles 105.1.7 and 107.2.1.

DIRECTIONS:
If you are using Google Maps, Nottoway River Ln, Fairfax VA will get you to the correct parking lot.

• From the West: Take I-66 east to Route 123 (exit 60), south on Route 123 for 2.7 miles to Braddock Rd, left on Braddock, left on Sideburn, park in Lot C.
• From the South: Take I-95 north to exit 160, north on Route 123 for 14.5 miles to Braddock Rd, right on Braddock, left on Sideburn, park in Lot C.
• From the North: Take I-95 south to the Capitol Beltway (495), 495 west to Braddock Rd (exit 54), Braddock Rd west 6 miles to Sideburn, right on Sideburn, park in Lot C.

POOL ENTRANCE:  The GMU Aquatic & Fitness Center has requested that all swimmers enter thru the side door (closest to Parking Lot C). This door will open at 2:30pm on Friday and 8:30am on Saturday and Sunday. If you get dropped off at the front entrance, walk down the outside stairs to the side door. Leave your folding chairs at home as the pool has a "No deck chair" policy.  You may drink water on the pool deck but please adhere to the pool's no food on deck rule.

HOTELS:

• Courtyard Fairfax Fair Oaks - 703-273-6161 (3 miles from the pool).
• Holiday Inn Express - 703-359-2888 (2 miles from the pool)
• Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks - 703-352-2525 (4 miles from the pool).
• Springhill Suites Fairfax Fair Oaks - 703-691-7880 (3 miles from the pool).

QUESTIONS:         
Meet Director:  Cheryl Ward   (571) 214-5394   e-mail cherylaward@yahoo.com