Spectators at the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool witnessed a rare sight Sunday, Nov. 22 — a world record.

Lincoln Djang of Richland broke the 50-54 age-group record in the 400 meter short course (25-meter) individual medley at the Whidbey Island masters swim meet with a 4:55.5 clocking. The previous record was 4:57.52.

The meet was hosted by the North Whidbey Masters swim club, and local member and meet director Jim McCleery joined Djang in the spotlight with a strong showing of his own.

In Djang’s only race of the day, the crowd was aware of his assault on the record and cried “go” in unison when his head bobbed to the surface during the breast stroke, then rose to its feet and cheered him home as he swam to the finish line in the free style.

Djang said the crowd helped: “They kept me focused on achieving the record, not letting the fatigue take control to force me to slow down. At 300 meters my arms were dead and my legs were on fire, but the crowd’s cheering kept me going. While I have seen several world record swims in other locations, this was the most supportive group anyone could ever have experienced.”

He said his coach (wife Amanda) chose this meet to attack the record because she knew the pool was fast and “the competition would be solid.” He credited his wife for changes in his stroke that made the record possible.

Djang swam for Columbia University and was graduated in 1981. He was aiming for a spot on the 1980 Olympic team, but that dream died when the U.S. withdrew from the Moscow games in protest of the USSR’s involvement in Afghanistan.

This was Djang’s fourth world record. He currently holds the men’s 50-54 age group 200 meter breaststroke mark, and he previously had the records in the 45-49 long course individual medley and 400 meter short course medley.

McCleery, who holds three national records and a world record in the 1,500, won three races in impressive times.

His time of 4:48.76 in the 400 meter freestyle is first in the nation for 2009 and in the top five for the world (would have been second in the world in 2008). It is also a Zone (Washington, Oregon, Idaho) record and Pacific Northwest Association record.

In the 1,500 free he recorded a 19:12.92, good for first in the nation and among the top five of the world this year; it would have been first in the world last year.

His 1:04.8 in the 100 free is sixth in the U.S. for 2009.

The meet hosted 146 swimmers, ranging from 19 years old to Oak Harbor’s Harvey Prosser and Ilse Walters at 81. North Whidbey Park and Recreation Director Craig Carlson said similar meets in the past generally drew 80 competitors.

Results for McCleery’s fellow North Whidbey Masters swim club members are as follows:

Jason Hunter: first, 18-24 400 free, 4:51.47; first, 50 butterfly, 28.14; first, 100 IM, 1:06.97.

Ron Rhinehart: second, 50-54 400 free, 5:15.89; fourth, 100 free, 1:06.57; second, 200 free, 2:28.96.

Prosser: first, 80-84 400 free, 7:44.93; first, 1,500 free, 30:43.22.

Allan McDougall: first, 65-69 200 back, 3:11.38; first, 200 breast, 3:36.76; first, 100 breast, 1:37.94; first, 100 IM, 1:31.26.

Kristina Gaston: second, 30-34 50 breast, 43.24; first, 50 butterfly, 36.12; second, 50 free, 34.68.

Ann Conto: sixth, 25-29 100 free, 1:18.39; fourth, 50 butterfly, 40.06; second, 100 back, 1:26.75; fifth, 50 free, 35.49; first, 50 back, 39.82.

Becky Klieman: second, 45-49 100 free, 1:17.39; first, 50 butterfly, 38.68; first, 100 IM, 1:29.49.

Robert Baumgartner: fifth, 30-34 100 free, 1:25.43; sixth, 50 free, 37.11.

Lisa Gerardi: first, 50-54 50 butterfly, 51.36; third, 50 free, 41.4.

The mixed 200 freestyle relay team of Hunter, Klieman, Conto and Rhinehart finished third in 2:05.