While summer is typically a time to relax and unwind, two Sedona residents were cranking up the intensity. Local swimmers Kegn Moorcroft and Lauren Robinson competed in the 2019 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championship on Saturday, May 4.

“This is my fifth time participating at nationals and I was extremely excited to be there,” Robinson said.

The event took place in Mesa, and nearly 2,000 athletes, volunteers and boisterous spectators came out to see some of the best swimmers in the country.

“My mentality heading into Masters was to obtain a top 10 ranking in all six of my events,” Moorcroft said. “I finished top 10 in five out of my six events, so I would call that a good day.”

Moorcroft and Robinson trained for over a year as part of the Arizona Masters Swim Club and their hard work did not disappoint.

“We trained intensely at the Hilton twice a day, so we were ready for this opportunity,” Moorcroft said.

Competing in the 30-34 age group, Moorcroft finished third in the 100-yard backstroke [1:02.68] and fourth in the 50-yard backstroke [28.63].

Moorcroft also placed fifth in the 200-yard backstroke [2:19.57] and tenth in both the 50-yard fly [28.06] and 100-yard fly [1:02.44].

Robinson competed in the 65-69 age group and did not disappoint, racking up four top-five finishes in the relay events.

“I did not have the best season health-wise, so my training was not as intense as it typically is,” Robinson said. “I was not sure how I [would] perform but I was quite surprised and pleased with the outcome.”

At the ripe age of 66, Robinson placed third in both the 200-yard freestyle relay [2:18.11] and the 200-yard medley relay.

“My individual medal was in the 200-yard free, and I did not expect a medal in that race,” Robinson said. “I was very relaxed heading in and had remembered some things about myself in terms of distance to help motivate me.”

“I was fortunate enough being one of the top women in my age group in Arizona, so they put me on the A-relay teams,” Robinson said. “All four of the A-relays I was on earned a medal, so it was very exciting to participate on one of those teams.”

Robinson ended up recording one of her top-three scores as a Master’s swimmer.

“I would have to attribute some of my success to USA Swimming and attending a few Masters camps,” Robinson said. “I also have to thank Sedona Race Pace coach Sean Emery for emphasizing the most modern swimming techniques in our training.”

Compared to the 1970s, when she started, Robinson’s training is extremely different.

“We did a lot of yards in the 70s and we typically practiced twice a day back then,” Robinson said. “It was a lot of distance and pounding yardage, while today there is more of an emphasis on your quality of swimming.”

“We swim at the pace that we race and always train at that level,” she added.

For Robinson, the stroke technique has also changed over the years.

“With physiology and all of the new information that has been researched, there is a whole different principle to strokes,” Robinson said.

Up next for Moorcroft, the 2020 European Aquatics Championships which will take place in Budapest, Hungary.

“We looked at the qualification times and saw I could qualify in a couple events, so I am very excited about this possibility,” Moorcroft said.

To Moorcroft, being in the water is her favorite aspect of competitive swimming.

“I can barely walk on my own two feet. I am constantly tripping and running into things while in my office,” Moorcroft said. “I feel like I thrive in the water, as it is my natural element.”

Moorcroft also loves the time she spends with Sedona Race Pace.

“We have the coolest team culture at Sedona Race Pace,” Moorcroft said. “It is a bunch of kids who I can compete with that also allows me to flashback to when I was a kid in the pool.”