By Pete Borello

It’s not the racing - or even placing - that swimmer Bobbi Callison will remember most about last week’s Fina World Masters Championships.

Callison and husband Paul Anderson, who also competed in the international meet at Stanford University, got more joy from having swimmers from another country over for dinner.

“Personally, Paul and I had five Norwegians Tuesday night, which was the highlight of our meet experience,” said Callison, who noted that Anderson is of Norwegian descent.

The Los Altos residents were among 15 Masters swimmers from the area to host 125 foreign competitors for dinner. Callison was in charge of the effort.

When they weren’t breaking bread, the participants were out to break records - or at least win a race or two. Callison came close in the 200-meter individual medley, placing third among women 70-74 with a time of 4 minutes, 12.09 seconds. She also placed sixth in the 400 IM (9:15), seventh in the 50 butterfly (50.7), ninth in the 100 fly (2:15) and 13th in the 100 freestyle (1:41.7).

Anderson, competing in the men’s 70-74 division, took 29th in the 50 free (42.45).

This wasn’t Callison’s first world meet - it was her second - “but this one was so well run,” she said, adding that Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center is the largest swim facility in the nation.

Callison said she believes the high quality of the Stanford pools contributed to the approximately 150 records set at the meet, open to Masters swimmers 20 and over.

Los Altos High graduate Laura Val, a former member of Los Altos Masters now swimming for Tamalpais Masters in Marin, set five of these records. In first year in the women’s 55-59 division, Val (nee Benoit) didn’t lose a race. Her record-breaking wins came in the 400 free (4:50.72), 200 free (2:18.04), 100 free (1:02.63), 50 free (29.59) and 100 fly (1:12.13).

Five other swimmers with local roots took part in the meet as well. Heather Euchner and Alicia Koht competed in the women’s 25-29 division, while fellow Los Altans John Ponischil, Dick Thomas and Jim Triolo swam in various men’s brackets.

Triolo had the most success, earning a pair of firsts and seconds among men 90-94. He won the 200 backstroke (5:47.45) and 200 free (5:11.76) and was runner-up in the 100 back (2:39.02) and 50 back (1:16.3).

Ponischil swam on a 320 free relay team that notched third in the men’s 75-79 group. Thomas, swimming against men 55-59, was 21st in the 50 fly (31.01).

On the women’s side, Koht finished sixth in the 400 free (4:57.9), 11th in the 800 free (10:25.6) and 20th in the 200 free (2:23.6). Euchner placed 33rd in the 50 breaststroke (42.1), 38th in the 50 free (31.2) and 42nd in the 100 breast (1:33.4).

For Callison, though, the Fina World Masters meant more than times and places. It was about sharing a meal and shaking hands on the pool deck with swimmers from around the world.

“(What a) great way to improve relations between countries in this time of world tension,” she said.

For complete race results and more information, visit www.2006finamasters.org.