The 1950 Crop

All winter a big, young crop of women swimmers had been practicing diligently for the National A.A.U. senior indoor championships. Last week, in a field of 471, the youngsters swarmed around Palm Beach's Biltmore pool waiting their turns to try to dislodge the defending champions. Before the four-day aquaparade was over, some of the established queens ended up as ladies in waiting.

Chunky Maureen O'Brien, 18, competing for Chicago's Town Club, defeated Champion Barbara Jensen in the 200-yd. backstroke, missing the meet record by one-tenth of a second. Next day, Maureen pared down Eleanor Holm Rose's 1936 record of 1:07.5 m the 100-yd. backstroke by swimming the distance in 1:07.4.

Three other youngsters who came through in style:

P: Purdue Junior Carol Pence, 20, who cut 1.7 seconds off the U.S. record in the 220-yd. breast stroke.

P: Judy Cornell, 16, of Portland, Ore., a swimmer for only two years, who lowered the 100-yd. breaststroke mark by a second.

P: Chicago's Jackie Lavine, 20, who took the 220-and 440-yd. free-style events, placed second in the 100-yd.

Between now and the 1952 Olympics, the U.S. would have to find a strong new women's swimming squad. The young 1950 crop looked promising.

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