Nationals
Count our Nationals blessings …
Counting Up the National Records
Congratulations to Josh (age 35) for an incredible record setting meet. Josh set National Records in every swim he had, including the 200 Back (1:47.72), 50 Free (20.14), 100 IM (50.06), 100 Back (49.12), 200 Free (1:36.56) and 50 Back (22.76). [Want to swim like Josh? Check out the video of his interview on-line for training tips.]
Count Up Your Laps
Kat swam 2 laps short in the 1650 and De Ette swam 2 laps too many of Fly in the 400 IM.
Counting Down Your Laps
Patricia used the letters in her name to count down the laps of the 200 Fly. Congratulations to all our 200 Fly swimmers: Alonso, Linda, Tiitta, Elaine Henry, Cyril, Connie, Jo, Chris, Jan, Scott, Millie, and De Ette.
Count Your Strokes
Even though we will chalk it up to going faster than anyone should be traveling on their back, Josh crammed his body into a space of about 6 inches on the Back-Breast turn of the 100 IM.
Count on Knowing that You are in the Right Lane
Chase had to take a guy off the blocks in his race because Chase was correct when the guy had missed his swim of the previous heat and tried to swim anyway.
Count the Heats in Front of You
The events seemed to run quite quickly because they ran even and odd heats in different pools, so you had 1/2 as many heats running in front of you. Millie missed her 50 Fly because of that.
Count on Being Confused
Some swimmers understood the odd-even deal, but took it to mean odd and even events and were running end to end to get to their correct odd-even heat locations.
Counting on the Officials
Bill was DQ’d from his 500 Free because the official had told him just before the race that they had to hold things up to fix the board and she would let him know they were ready to go. She never came back. He jumped up off the blocks late and still swam the event.
Counting on Your Relay Members
We had a few no shows on the relays and made a couple of last minute switches and/or changes to the relays. Thank you to everyone who that affected and doing the team thing, by taking it all in stride! Kat was even the biggest trouper when, after she had just showered, sat down, and taken one bite out of her sandwich, then had five minutes to run across the deck throw her suit on and swim on a relay!
Volunteers Count Too!
Many thanks to Jane, Kat, Linda, Susan, Betty, Jan, Steve and Shelly who volunteered during the meet weaved in and out of their swims. Big applause goes to Don, Tania, Veronica and Veronica’s son who drove up from San Antonio to time or volunteer on the deck!
Every Point Counts
The Total Team Points were so very close. In the combined team scores, we finished tied for 11th and only 8 points ahead of 13th. With only the slimmest of margins ahead of us were 10th (23 points), 9th (24 points), 8th (28 points) and 7th (32 ponts)! [The meet’s web page has links to all of the results, to video interviews, and to other stuff.]
Every Swimmer Counts
Even though not everyone walked away with a medal, our strongest swimmers agreed that it was important the that all the swimmers should receive a award medal for their efforts and support both at the meet and training at practice in preparing for the meet. They have donated their medals into a team pool of which we will be giving out a medal to everyone who swam an event at Nationals. We want the “team” to have something to remember Nationals by because everyone certainly earned one.
Count on Getting Some Sleep
The webmaster would like to call your attention to the timestamp on Susan’s post.
Catch ya’ in the water,
Susan
Weekly Inspiration: Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t.
2008 USMS National Championships: Congratulations to all our National Team members!