"The Relay":

Morgan, Rannazzisi, Codding, and Drummond;

Rannazzisi, Drummond, Codding, and Morgan

by Mike Morgan

(you may choose to scroll down to skip the "Glory Days" and see the record board before the UPDATE)

Well, our Fairfax Frogs 13-14 boys 200-meter freestyle and 200-meter medley relay records were broken on Wednesday, July 20, 2005.  "The NEW & IMPROVED Relay" placed 4th and 5th @ the 2005 Northern Virginia Swim League (NVSL) All-Star Relay Carnival.  One of their dad's e-mailed Hayden immediately afterward with the good news (for them) / bad news (for us).  In 1984, "The Relay" got 2nd in both @ All-Stars.  We wore tiny Speedos - not Speedo Jammers.  As always, Mrs. Codding had our relay splits - they were not electronic.  Afterward, we went to Mr. Gatti's at University Mall; a break from our usual Courthouse McDonald's team outing or picnic @ the pool after Saturday meets.  We used pay phones - not cell phones, Black Berries, e-mail, and/or the Internet/WWW - to communicate with the world we needed to tell.  And no, we did NOT wear our medals around our necks at Mr. Gatti's!  C'mon, we were 14, not 12...  Today, Mr. Gatti's is a McDonald's.  Glory days!

"2nd in the NVSL is a disgrace?!!", replied Joe Drummond - respectfully - to the Head Coach of Donaldson Run.  We thought all of our relay records would outlast Fairfax Pool.  We thought they would last forever.  These two lasted twenty-one (21) years.  Broken.  In this, the 50th year of the NVSL.  Whoever said "records were made to be broken" never set any records.  Hayden remarked, "Now I know how Kevin Henry and Diana Brown must have felt".  The new(er) backstroke turn might explain the medley relay record going down; but the dismantling of the free relay record does not have an easy explanation (ok, excuse).

Hayden and I met @ Fairfax Pool on July 21st to take pictures (below) of the record board before the major update.  I normally wouldn't recommend taking pictures at a funeral...  Hayden was joined by his wife Ellie and sons, Kent (3 3/4) and George (5 months).  I was joined by my sons, Ned (3 1/2) and Eric (1).  Zach Patteson is a member of "The NEW & IMPROVED Relay".  I asked him to be our photographer for some of the photos below.  He is a very impressive swimmer, diver, cross-country runner, and triathlete.  Cool kid.  We would have hung out with him.  Definitely.  Nonetheless, I WANT TO SEE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE!  MAKE THAT FOUR (4) BIRTH CERTIFICATES!!!!  Or how 'bout, I DEMAND A (RE-)MEASUREMENT!  The pool must have been < 25 meters...  Was the meet held @ Cardinal Hill???  OK, OK, it's official.  BUT WATCH OUT, BOYS!!!!  11 years from now, Kent Codding and Ned Morgan may own those records; and 2 years after that, George Codding and Eric Morgan may own them!!  In the meantime, we still own the:

And some fast individual records too.

Well, for now anyway...

After the photo shoot, we went for a swim.  We = 1/2 of "The Relay" + 1/4 of "The NEW & IMPROVED Relay" + 1/2 of "The Future Relay" + 1/2 of "The Other Future Relay" (the one that will settle this once and for all) + Ellie.  Hey, the newest Mrs. Codding can take splits!  There are many great memories (and stories!) at every turn in and around that pool.  Fairfax Pool will always be one of my favorite places.  And Hayden Codding, Joe Drummond, and Mike Rannazzisi will always be 3 of my favorite people.  High five anyone?  Anyone???  C'mon, my hand is still up...  RIBBIT! and GLORY DAYS!!!!

NOTE:  In many of the photos below, Zach Patteson appears as a reflection on the record board - as if a ghost, haunting us almost-36-year-olds and scaring our children with his long 70s/80s-like hair!  ;-)

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