The former national champion swimmer from UNC already had plenty of titles to her credit, and now she has some more, including an age-group world record. Walsh returned from last weekend's U.S. Masters Short Course Nationals in Austin, Texas, with first-place finishes in the 45-49 women's 50 Freestyle (24.0 seconds) and 100 Backstroke (1:00.9). The 24-flat was a world record.

"It felt like a really good swim," Walsh said. "But I'm always surprised by a good time. I've found that when I just focus on the swimming, the good time seems to follow."

Joe Klein of Chapel Hill, who has a medical practice in Hillsborough, also set an age-group record with his 56.75 to win the 50-54 men's 100 Backstroke. Klein also took thirds in his age group's 200 Backstroke and 50 Butterfly.

Almost 2,000 swimmers from across the country descended on the University of Texas pool for the short course (25-meter lap) nationals, run by the U.S. Masters Swimming. Walsh and Klein represented N.C. Masters Swimming.

"It's very, very competitive, with many former Olympians," said Charles van der Horst, a friend of Klein's. "Jon has had this as a target for about 15 years now and has steadily improved to now being the national champion. All the more impressive, he's not an Olympian, and he has a very busy medical practice."

Walsh qualified for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, but never got to swim there for the USA because of a boycott following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The other of three children, she gave up competitive swimming for about 10 years before returning the to water in 2004.

"My motivation has changed a bit over the years," she said. "At first I went back to get into shape and stay in shape, just to stay fit. Then I got interested in competing again, and now it's more of balance between fitness and competition."

Her oldest daughter, Sarah, is a Jordan High alum who now is a rising junior on the UNC swim team. Daughter Shelby is a junior at Jordan and son Shawn is a sixth-grader at St. Thomas Moore in Chapel Hill.

"Being a mother takes precedence," Walsh said. "I always check in with the kids before committing to an event, but they usually just say 'Go for it, Mom.' "

Walsh said the Masters nationals was one of the best meets she's attended.

"It was one of the most fun masters' meets I've ever attended," she said. "I saw several national teammates I haven't seen in 25 years. That made it special."

NCMS teammates had several top finishers at the Nationals. Walsh took part in two relays with younger NCMS teammates, winning the 35-plus Women's 200 Freestyle Relay with Heather Hageman, Tanya Lane and Elizabeth Nowak. The team of Lane, Nowak, Pamela Lindroos and Walsh on the anchor leg, took second in the 35-plus 200 Medley Relay.