Monday, August 3, 2009

States -- Day 3 August 2, 2009

Sunday, Day 3 for Lexy, and her last day to improve her performance at her first appearance at a State meet. Lexy was scheduled to swim two events: the 50 breaststroke and the 400 freestyle relay.

In the 50 Breast, Lexy dropped almost an entire second, to finish 29th in the state.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpjCZlACXBU

The girls got ready for their 400 freestyle relay and were really pumped up. They had perfect exchanges and swam a great event, breaking the existing CUDA record and coming in fifth, but eventually finishing fourth in the state, after another team DQ'd. Coach Hall timed each of the girls and Lexy swam a 1:22.00 for her 100 Free, about 2.5 seconds faster than her fastest time this season. This would mean she was only a fraction of a second short of the qualifying time. She'll get it for next year's state finals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5YsAi__wBc

We were so excited about their win and their moment on the medal stand!

Later, after the events were over, I was on the team that was in charge of sorting and handing out the medals. We had to award medals to kids and relay teams who placed 1st through 8th, for the 22 events that had just taken place. So you do the math -- 8 times 18 (for the individual events) and 4 times 4 for the relays. OK, I'm no math genius, but I think that's about 176 kids in a space the size of my kitchen, jostling and milling about trying to line up for their respective medal awards ceremonies. I missed Lexy getting her medal, but Coach Hall assured me she got photos of the team and of Lexy. I got a shot of Lexy in her medal afterward.

Overall, it was great to be qualified to swim at the State meet this year, and it was a great experience with both high and low points. We enjoyed our weekend away. Now it's time for a short break and time to get ready to go back to school.

States -- Day 2 August 1, 2009

Today was what we affectionately call a "learning experience." It's too bad we have to have a learning experience at States, but it won't be easily forgotten.

But before we get to the bad news, see if you can guess what my favorite time is? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmxHnrGVD6o This is a triple whammy video, because not only do you get to see my favorite time, but you also get to see what a warm up looks like at States -- steer clear of all those flailing elbows! And, hanging from the diving platforms, you'll see a CUDA banner prominently displayed, as CUDA and Plymouth-Canton Cruisers are the co-hosts of the 2009 State Meet. Go CUDA!

Lexy's first event today was the 400 Meter Medley relay, with each team member swimming a different stroke for 100 Meters. Lexy's leg was the breaststroke. Since I was on deck timing, I couldn't see how they finished, but I looked over to their lane and saw Coach Hall explaining something. Next thing I knew, Lexy was walking past me without saying anything. The red tint under her eyebrows gave it away--they had been disqualified. With only eight teams competing, they were guaranteed a medal as long as they swam a legal event. Later, we learned the reasons for the DQ -- Lexy false started and, when she did, she dove too deep. To get back up to the surface, she took an extra -- and illegal -- stroke under water. What a heartbreaker.

When you watch this video, Jenny Yu is the first swimmer - backstroke. Lexy is second -- you can see here adjusting her goggles, and then after she dives in you can see the first and second stroke clearly, and then the Marshall's arm FLIES up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaIK303mHxE

We hoped that the effect of the DQ would wear off by the time she swam her individual 100 breaststroke event, but no such luck. Lexy swam about 2 seconds slower than her qualifying time, and finished last. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWgGEoF0zoA

We had dinner reservations at a great restaurant in Ann Arbor -- the Gandy Dancer. The restaurant is in a restored historic train depot (on Depot Street, how original). A Gandy Dancer is a type of train car. We had a wonderful table overlooking the rails, and an Amtrak passenger train went by when we were enjoying our dinner. And dinner itself was a wonderful experience: from the Sicilian Calamari to the Martha's Vineyard salads to the seafood entrees and dessert, we didn't have one complaint. The service was great, too. This is one restaurant we know we will visit again. And, it took Lexy's mind off her less-than-stellar day in the pool.

When we got back to our hotel, some of the other CUDA parents invited us out to the patio to enjoy some conversation and a few beers. The mosquitos were biting so I turned in early, but Ed got to get to know some of the other parents, and it was overall a good end to a disappointing day.