Swimmers of the Year Rankings
Pacific Masters tracks the competitive performances of its members throughout the year, compiling a running total in each age group of points scored in the pool, open water and some virtual competitions.
2024 Age Group Standings
2023 Age Group Standings
2022 Age Group Standings
2021 Age Group Standings
2020 Age Group Standings
2019 Age Group Standings
2018 Age Group Standings
2017 Age Group Standings
2016 Age Group Standings
How points are scored
Points are awarded for performances in a number of categories including:
Pacific Masters Pool Events
Points are awarded to the top 20 places in each event within Pacific Masters for SCY, LCM, and SCM courses during their seasons. A swimmer receives points for their pool placings in up to 8 events in each course. Points are scored, descending from 1st through 20th from 21 points as follows. (See SCY Rankings, SCM Rankings, LCM Rankings)
1st -21 pts, 2nd-19 pts, 3rd-18 pts, 4th-17 pts, 5th -16 pts, 6th -15 pts, 7th -14 pts, 8th -13 pts, 9th -12 pts, 10th -11 pts, 11th -10 pts, 12th - 9 pts,1 3th - 8 pts, 14th - 7 pts, 15th - 6 pts, 16th - 5 pts, 17th - 4 pts, 18th - 3 pts, 19th - 2 pts, 20th -1pt
USMS Pool Events
Points are awarded to the top 10 places in each event based on USMS’s Top Ten Rankings for SCY, LCM, and SCM courses during their seasons. A swimmer receives points for their rankings in up to 8 events in each course. Points are scored, descending from 1st through 10th from 22 points as follows.
1 st -22 pts, 2 nd -18 pts, 3 rd -16 pts, 4 th -14 pts, 5 th -12 pts, 6 th -10 pts, 7 th - 8 pts, 8 th - 6 pts, 9 th - 4 pts, 10 th - 2pts
(See SCY Rankings, SCM Rankings, LCM Rankings)
Virtual Swims
Points are awarded to the top 10 places in the five Virtual National Championships which include the: 1 hour, 5k, 10k, 3000 and 6000 yards swims. Points are scored as follows:
1 st -22 pts, 2 nd -18 pts, 3 rd -16 pts, 4 th -14 pts, 5 th -12 pts, 6 th -10 pts, 7 th - 8 pts, 8 th - 6 pts, 9 th - 4 pts, 10 th - 2pts
Pacific Masters Records
A swimmer receives 25 points for each Pacific Masters Age Group record set in each pool course.
USMS Records
A swimmer receives 50 points for each United States Masters Swimming record.
USMS records
Records
Note that in an event, if multiple records are set during a season, only the last record holder will receive AGSOTY points.
Open Water Competition
Open Water swim placements are calculated throughout season and accrued to each swimmer based on their placing in their individual swims. Their total accumulated open water points are added to their AGSOTY points. A swimmer receives points for their finishes. The number of open water swims can vary from year to year.
Points are scored, descending from 1st through 10th from 22 points as follows:
1 st -22 pts, 2 nd -18 pts, 3 rd -16 pts, 4 th -14 pts, 5 th -12 pts, 6 th -10 pts, 7 th - 8 pts, 8 th - 6 pts, 9 th - 4 pts, 10 th - 2pts (See this year's Open Water standings)
Note: AGSOTY open water points are taken from the category 1 accumulated points for the season.
Open Water Competition Rules
Only Open Water Points scored with Category One suits may count toward Swimmer of the Year. For more details on the rules governing open water points see here.
Crediting of Points
Pacific Masters rankings will be updated as results are added to the USMS database.
Points for placements in Pacific Masters open water events will be updated as the Open Water Points page is updated.
Points for USMS Top Ten rankings will appear:
• Short Course Yards: July or August
• SCY season: June 1 through May 31 of the following year.
• Long Course Meters: November or December
• LCM season: October 1 through September 30 of the following year.
• SCM season: January 1 through December 31
• USMS record points will be updated as record swims appear on the USMS National Records pages.
Changing Age Groups
A swimmer will earn points in two different age groups if he or she ages up during the covered seasons. Swimmers who age up during the seasons will have their point from the younger age group merged with their older age group.
If points are earned for an event in both age groups, the higher-ranking points will be used. For example, if a swimmer ends the SCY season ranked 5th in 45-49 50 Free and 3rd in 50-54 Free, they’ll receive points from the 50-54 age group.
If a swimmer sets a Pacific record in their younger age group and subsequently ages up and sets the same record in their new age group, they will only receive points for one records in the older age group.
Eligibility
To be eligible for end-of-year age group awards, you must have participated in three Pacific Masters sanctioned competitions during the seasons covered by these standings.
Pacific Masters Sanctioned Meets
Each swimmer must have swum in at least three Pacific Masters sanctioned meets or open water events to be considered for SOTY, unless waived by a majority vote of the Laura Val Swimmer of the Year Committee.
Laura Val Swimmer of the Year (LVSOTY)
Age Group Swimmers of the Year are eligible to receive the Laura Val Swimmer of the Year award (LVSOTY). The LVSOTY award will be determined by point rankings with affirmation by the LVSOTY Committee comprised of Laura Val (if not available, then the Committee will choose a replacement), the VP of Pools, the VP of Open Water, 1 past recipient, and 1 volunteer. The winner will be decided by a majority vote of the Committee. The LVSOTY is presented at the Pacific Masters Short Course Yards Championship Meet.
Awards
The LVSOTY Female and Male winners each receive a $200.00 Gift Card. Age Group Swimmers of the Year receive a $100.00 Gift Card for 1st, $50.00 Gift Card for 2nd and a $25.00 Gift Card for 3rd place finishes. All winners also receive a frame-ready certificate of achievement from Pacific Masters Swimming. Awards denominations may be adjusted by a majority vote of the LVSOTY Committee.
2023 Age Group Standings
2022 Age Group Standings
2021 Age Group Standings
2020 Age Group Standings
2019 Age Group Standings
2018 Age Group Standings
2017 Age Group Standings
2016 Age Group Standings
How points are scored
Points are awarded for performances in a number of categories including:
Pacific Masters Pool Events
Points are awarded to the top 20 places in each event within Pacific Masters for SCY, LCM, and SCM courses during their seasons. A swimmer receives points for their pool placings in up to 8 events in each course. Points are scored, descending from 1st through 20th from 21 points as follows. (See SCY Rankings, SCM Rankings, LCM Rankings)
1st -21 pts, 2nd-19 pts, 3rd-18 pts, 4th-17 pts, 5th -16 pts, 6th -15 pts, 7th -14 pts, 8th -13 pts, 9th -12 pts, 10th -11 pts, 11th -10 pts, 12th - 9 pts,1 3th - 8 pts, 14th - 7 pts, 15th - 6 pts, 16th - 5 pts, 17th - 4 pts, 18th - 3 pts, 19th - 2 pts, 20th -1pt
USMS Pool Events
Points are awarded to the top 10 places in each event based on USMS’s Top Ten Rankings for SCY, LCM, and SCM courses during their seasons. A swimmer receives points for their rankings in up to 8 events in each course. Points are scored, descending from 1st through 10th from 22 points as follows.
1 st -22 pts, 2 nd -18 pts, 3 rd -16 pts, 4 th -14 pts, 5 th -12 pts, 6 th -10 pts, 7 th - 8 pts, 8 th - 6 pts, 9 th - 4 pts, 10 th - 2pts
(See SCY Rankings, SCM Rankings, LCM Rankings)
Virtual Swims
Points are awarded to the top 10 places in the five Virtual National Championships which include the: 1 hour, 5k, 10k, 3000 and 6000 yards swims. Points are scored as follows:
1 st -22 pts, 2 nd -18 pts, 3 rd -16 pts, 4 th -14 pts, 5 th -12 pts, 6 th -10 pts, 7 th - 8 pts, 8 th - 6 pts, 9 th - 4 pts, 10 th - 2pts
Pacific Masters Records
A swimmer receives 25 points for each Pacific Masters Age Group record set in each pool course.
USMS Records
A swimmer receives 50 points for each United States Masters Swimming record.
USMS records
Records
Note that in an event, if multiple records are set during a season, only the last record holder will receive AGSOTY points.
Open Water Competition
Open Water swim placements are calculated throughout season and accrued to each swimmer based on their placing in their individual swims. Their total accumulated open water points are added to their AGSOTY points. A swimmer receives points for their finishes. The number of open water swims can vary from year to year.
Points are scored, descending from 1st through 10th from 22 points as follows:
1 st -22 pts, 2 nd -18 pts, 3 rd -16 pts, 4 th -14 pts, 5 th -12 pts, 6 th -10 pts, 7 th - 8 pts, 8 th - 6 pts, 9 th - 4 pts, 10 th - 2pts (See this year's Open Water standings)
Note: AGSOTY open water points are taken from the category 1 accumulated points for the season.
Open Water Competition Rules
Only Open Water Points scored with Category One suits may count toward Swimmer of the Year. For more details on the rules governing open water points see here.
Crediting of Points
Pacific Masters rankings will be updated as results are added to the USMS database.
Points for placements in Pacific Masters open water events will be updated as the Open Water Points page is updated.
Points for USMS Top Ten rankings will appear:
• Short Course Yards: July or August
• SCY season: June 1 through May 31 of the following year.
• Long Course Meters: November or December
• LCM season: October 1 through September 30 of the following year.
• SCM season: January 1 through December 31
• USMS record points will be updated as record swims appear on the USMS National Records pages.
Changing Age Groups
A swimmer will earn points in two different age groups if he or she ages up during the covered seasons. Swimmers who age up during the seasons will have their point from the younger age group merged with their older age group.
If points are earned for an event in both age groups, the higher-ranking points will be used. For example, if a swimmer ends the SCY season ranked 5th in 45-49 50 Free and 3rd in 50-54 Free, they’ll receive points from the 50-54 age group.
If a swimmer sets a Pacific record in their younger age group and subsequently ages up and sets the same record in their new age group, they will only receive points for one records in the older age group.
Eligibility
To be eligible for end-of-year age group awards, you must have participated in three Pacific Masters sanctioned competitions during the seasons covered by these standings.
Pacific Masters Sanctioned Meets
Each swimmer must have swum in at least three Pacific Masters sanctioned meets or open water events to be considered for SOTY, unless waived by a majority vote of the Laura Val Swimmer of the Year Committee.
Laura Val Swimmer of the Year (LVSOTY)
Age Group Swimmers of the Year are eligible to receive the Laura Val Swimmer of the Year award (LVSOTY). The LVSOTY award will be determined by point rankings with affirmation by the LVSOTY Committee comprised of Laura Val (if not available, then the Committee will choose a replacement), the VP of Pools, the VP of Open Water, 1 past recipient, and 1 volunteer. The winner will be decided by a majority vote of the Committee. The LVSOTY is presented at the Pacific Masters Short Course Yards Championship Meet.
Awards
The LVSOTY Female and Male winners each receive a $200.00 Gift Card. Age Group Swimmers of the Year receive a $100.00 Gift Card for 1st, $50.00 Gift Card for 2nd and a $25.00 Gift Card for 3rd place finishes. All winners also receive a frame-ready certificate of achievement from Pacific Masters Swimming. Awards denominations may be adjusted by a majority vote of the LVSOTY Committee.