Gateway grad enjoys Masters swimming success

A connection she made at a meet two years ago has Gateway alum Janet (Bieno) McDonough sitting on top of the Masters swimming world.

McDonough, 61, of Cranberry, is first in the FINA Short Course Meters 2019 rankings in the 240-279 combined age group in the women’s 200 medley relay (2 minutes, 21.99 seconds) and 400 medley relay (5:17.97).

She helped achieve both times with New England Masters at May’s Canadian Masters championship in Montreal.

“I connected with two swim friends from the New England Masters team at the Pan Am (championships) in Orlando, Fla., in July 2018,” McDonough said. “Each of us (was) top ranked in our 50-meter events: backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle, in the 60-64 age group.

“My friends had another teammate (who) was a few years younger and was a strong butterflyer. With a lofty goal of attempting world records for both relays, which we did not hit, we still landed No. 1 in world ranking and had a lot of fun.”

Individually, McDonough ranks third in the 60-64 50 backstroke (36.13), fifth in the 100 backstroke (1:19.34) and third in the 100 individual medley (1:19.37). She is second in all three in the U.S. Masters Swimming top 10.

McDonough, a former West Virginia University swimmer, does not plan to retire.

“Competitive swimming is still fun for me,” she said. “I enjoy team practices and getting up on the block to compete.

“When getting up on the block to compete is no longer fun, I’ll probably stop. Practicing with my (Cranberry Wave) Master team with ages ranging from 25 to 70 will always be fun, even at 5:30 a.m.”

McDonough said being healthy and fit is the real prize.

She recently added strength training to her routine.

“Keeping my strength keeps me from injury and keeps me in the water,” she said.

McDonough trains two times a week at Total Pursuit Athletics in Zelienople, plus three days a week in the pool at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA in Cranberry.

Total Pursuit Athletics co-owner Alex Valadja, 30, said it is an honor to work with McDonough.

“I hope people use her as a source of inspiration,” he said.