Hanover Stingrays swimmer Adam Barlow set a new 50 meter breaststroke record in the Suburban Swim League of the Lehigh Valley on July 7 when the rising sophomore took first place with a time of 29.53 during the Stingrays’ meet against the Bethlehem Tides.

July 7 was Barlow’s last chance to break the record this summer because of weather-related venue changes, meaning, the Stingrays’ next two meets would likely be indoors in a different size pool.

“This was his only shot to break the record because Liberty is a yard pool,” explained Hanover coach Evan Kocon. “He’ll do it again, but he wanted to have that this year.”

The previous record was set in 1994 by Northampton’s Steve Medei with a time of 29.79.

“I looked at it, and that’s why I had a tech suit on for this meet, so that I could get that time,” Barlow said. “The official had told me my time. I was just surprised. And I asked my coach what I could have done better next time. I still want to improve on it.”

Earlier this year, Barlow swam the 100-yard breaststroke at Nationals where he tied former Liberty teammate Malcolm Collins’ record of 56.78.

“Probably some of the coaches who started me off, Coach Reed Rossi, Coach Dan Rummer, and Coach Reik Foust are the coaches who got me through that,” said Barlow. “I’ve been [swimming] for so long, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t doing it. It’s almost therapeutic for me. It gets my head out of whatever’s going on. I can put what I’m feeling into the water and my events. (Summer swimming) is much more relaxed, and I have fun with it. It’s a break from the seriousness of winter.”