After the half-mile Open Water swim on Friday night, we hoped Lexy wasn't too pooped to swim well on Saturday. She had five events in front of her: 50 Fly, 100 Free, 100 Breast, 50 Back and 200 Free. While the day started with a drizzle, it cleared up quickly and we had a quick home meet. Lexy didn't make any best times on Saturday, which I think can be attributed to the previous night's activity, and also the fact that she's been swimming pretty well this season.
Sunday was a different story. It was cloudy and dark when we got up, and it started to rain when we left the house. We managed to get three or four events in before the thunder and lightning required us to clear the pool and take cover under tents. I think it was a good hour before the storm had passed and we could start again!
Then, Lexy had a great day. She got three new best times, in the 100 Fly, the 50 Breast and the 100 Back. For her other two events, the 200 Free and 50 Free, she already had state qualifying times, but came in very close to those times.
Now, we're taking a bit of a break since our next meet isn't for two weeks. This will be a good time for Lexy to work on her technique and start getting ready for States at the end of the month. She's already qualified to swim six events at States: 50 Free, 200 Free, 400 Free, 50 Breast, 100 Breast and 200 IM. Lexy really seems to enjoy the distance events as opposed to the sprints. When she ages up in August, we'll see what other longer events we can start adding to her repertoire!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
CUDA Open Water June 25, 2010
On Friday, June 25
, about 20 swimmers from our team and a few other competitors joined us at Sanford Lake in Sanford, Michigan for our first ever Open Water swim meet. Open Water is basically any swim competition that does not take place in a pool. There were several events in which swimmers could participate: 2 mile, 1.5 mile, 1 mile and .5 mile. Swimmers in Lexy's age group could only do the half mile. I think this was a great way to get her feet wet (if you'll pardon the pun) with open water events.
Before the event, Lexy put in some quality sandcastle time.
, about 20 swimmers from our team and a few other competitors joined us at Sanford Lake in Sanford, Michigan for our first ever Open Water swim meet. Open Water is basically any swim competition that does not take place in a pool. There were several events in which swimmers could participate: 2 mile, 1.5 mile, 1 mile and .5 mile. Swimmers in Lexy's age group could only do the half mile. I think this was a great way to get her feet wet (if you'll pardon the pun) with open water events.Before the event, Lexy put in some quality sandcastle time.
Swimmers in each event were easily distinguishable by the different color caps they wore. Green denoted half mile; red denoted the one mile swimmers. Both groups started at the same and then as they came in their times were recorded.
The kids (and some adults!) waded out for the start. On their way back , they had to swim through two specific buoys and run to the finish gate. If the kids swam through the seaweed patch, it made the running less pleasant.
The kids (and some adults!) waded out for the start. On their way back , they had to swim through two specific buoys and run to the finish gate. If the kids swam through the seaweed patch, it made the running less pleasant.Lexy finished first for the girls in her age group. We are still waiting to find out her time, but were thrilled with her finish. Great job Lexy!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Freeze or Fry, June 20, 2010
It's Father's Day, so Happy Father's Day to you dads, and especially to swim dads who willingly spend such a huge part of their lives watching, volunteering, coaching, officiating and just being supportive of their swimmers. You make a huge difference. Thank you!
This is the third day of an outdoor meet where the heat has had an incredible effect on the spectators, if not the swimmers. We were all moving just a little more slowly today than on Friday or Saturday. The umbrellas were more prevalent and the sweet scent of sunblock is in the air. I took refuge under the team tent, but there are still many parents who are braving the sun, sitting right by the pool where the sun's rays reflecting off the pool can be blinding. A hearty "thank you" goes out to the DRD parent who took pity on me and gave me some ibuprofen from his personal stash. The headache did go away, but I'm sure was from a lethal combination of dehydration, restaurant food and overexposure to the sun. Sometimes being a spectator is just as hard as being a participant.
Lexy did well today -- no best times to speak of, but a very solid performance in her four events: 200 free, 50 breast, 100 back and 50 fly. For the most part she was right on her best times, give or take a second or so. She'll go to practice in the morning and get lots of ribbons or medals, especially for her Q1 in the 200 IM which she took on Friday night. Great weekend Lexy! Now it's on to the Summer Sizzler, and Lexy's first open water event on Friday afternoon.
This is the third day of an outdoor meet where the heat has had an incredible effect on the spectators, if not the swimmers. We were all moving just a little more slowly today than on Friday or Saturday. The umbrellas were more prevalent and the sweet scent of sunblock is in the air. I took refuge under the team tent, but there are still many parents who are braving the sun, sitting right by the pool where the sun's rays reflecting off the pool can be blinding. A hearty "thank you" goes out to the DRD parent who took pity on me and gave me some ibuprofen from his personal stash. The headache did go away, but I'm sure was from a lethal combination of dehydration, restaurant food and overexposure to the sun. Sometimes being a spectator is just as hard as being a participant.
Lexy did well today -- no best times to speak of, but a very solid performance in her four events: 200 free, 50 breast, 100 back and 50 fly. For the most part she was right on her best times, give or take a second or so. She'll go to practice in the morning and get lots of ribbons or medals, especially for her Q1 in the 200 IM which she took on Friday night. Great weekend Lexy! Now it's on to the Summer Sizzler, and Lexy's first open water event on Friday afternoon.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Dearborn Freeze or Fry, June 19, 2010
Up and at'em early today, for Lexy to swim four events: 50 Back, 100 Breast, 50 Free and 100 Fly. It rained overnight and the day is clear but still a little muggy. I'm glad the rain was over with last night -- in some areas the power is out and there were tornado warnings. Some of our teammates were camping a little north of where the meet is being held, and they had a pretty rough night. Hope they have a good day of swimming.
The backstroke isn't Lexy's best, but today she managed to cut about 2.5 seconds off her best time, finishing at 46.89. She's getting better at this, but a better breaststroke time is what we were after today. She came through, finishing 10th overall in her age group and shaving about 2 seconds off her best time to finish at 1:46.88. Way to go!
In the 50 Free, Lexy had qualified for states last weekend with a 37.22, and she was able to better her time today by about .25 seconds, finishing at 36.97. Her time in the 100 Fly, her last event, was about the same as her seed time, so there was no major change up or down on that one. Surprisingly, she finished 5th overall in that event. Once again, we had a great day. It easy to see that all the practice is paying off.
The backstroke isn't Lexy's best, but today she managed to cut about 2.5 seconds off her best time, finishing at 46.89. She's getting better at this, but a better breaststroke time is what we were after today. She came through, finishing 10th overall in her age group and shaving about 2 seconds off her best time to finish at 1:46.88. Way to go!
In the 50 Free, Lexy had qualified for states last weekend with a 37.22, and she was able to better her time today by about .25 seconds, finishing at 36.97. Her time in the 100 Fly, her last event, was about the same as her seed time, so there was no major change up or down on that one. Surprisingly, she finished 5th overall in that event. Once again, we had a great day. It easy to see that all the practice is paying off.
Just for fun, in the afternoon, Lexy and Jenny and I went to see Toy Story 3 in IMAX 3D at the Henry Ford. What a great way to end the series. Granted, it was a bittersweet ending. This movie is such a huge part of my life, I even based a presentation at work on it. I bought my own Woody and Buzz figures and couldn't ever think of parting with them. This was also a fun thing to do with the girls, since Jenny will be moving soon and swimming with a new team. Lexy will miss her, but she will remember seeing Toy Story 3 with her.
Dearborn Freeze or Fry, June 18, 2010
Freeze or Fry? I'd like to suggest a third option -- how about Melt? It was in the 90's today when we arrived, and we are thankful to have a couple of E-Z-up tents to help shield us from the afternoon sun. There's a little breeze, but the humidity must be up in the 90's too, because not one of us wants to move! As each of Lexy's events comes up, I take my wide-brimmed hat and get myself over to the bleachers to cheer her on, and then I get myself right back into the shade.
She had a great afternoon, finishing her 100 Free 2.2 seconds faster than her seed time and just a half second off the state qualifying time.
The big surprise of the evening, however, was watching Lexy swim the 200 IM. Last weekend, she had finished at 3:26.44, but today she finished at 3:20.14, 4 seconds below the qualifying time! She managed to shave more than 10 seconds in the last two meets. Way to go Lex!
She had a great afternoon, finishing her 100 Free 2.2 seconds faster than her seed time and just a half second off the state qualifying time.
The big surprise of the evening, however, was watching Lexy swim the 200 IM. Last weekend, she had finished at 3:26.44, but today she finished at 3:20.14, 4 seconds below the qualifying time! She managed to shave more than 10 seconds in the last two meets. Way to go Lex!
Monday, June 14, 2010
JAWS, Day 3 -- June 13, 2010
Lexy continued her great swimming performance on Sunday even though the day started with the 100 Butterfly and continued with the 200 IM, two of the toughest events of the weekend. Once she finished the 200 I.M., however, we found out that four kids on our team -- Arthur Manwell, Lydia Hillbrand, Bridget Bruneau and, of course, Lexy, had all qualified for trophies for completing the requirements of the IMX Challenge.
To complete the IMX Challenge, 9 & 10 year olds had to swim five events: the 200 Free, 200 IM, 100 Fly, 100 Back and 100 Breaststroke.
In addition to that honor, Lexy had another great day, finishing all four events today within a second or two of her best time.
We have swim meets for the next few weekends leading up to the 4th of July weekend, so Lexy has a lot of opportunity to better her times even further.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
JAWS, Day 2 - June 12, 2010
After Friday night's performance, we were excited to get up and return to the pool to see what Saturday would hold. Lexy was scheduled to swim four events today: the 200 Free, the 100 Breast, the 50 Free and the 100 Backstroke.
Lexy was seeded third in the 200 Free and was already qualified for the State meet with a 2:50. 57, but succeeded in dropping 4 seconds to finish second overall with a 2:46.73. It was a great start to the day!
When Lexy swam the 100 Breaststroke, we mistakenly thought she already had a 1:44.44, but that is her backstroke time. She actually had a 1:48.18, and managed to shave off 0.14 to finish at 1:48.04. At first we thought she had added time, but we realized the error and congratulated her for the improvement! I'm pretty sure she placed in the top 5 or 6, but will need to check the results.
The next event, the 50 Free, was a real surprise. Lexy went into this event with a 37.43 and needed to drop 0.04 to get a state qualifying time. She dropped 0.21! Her finish time was a 37.22, and I had to look twice to realize she had just qualified for states. This earned her a meet T-shirt from mom!
Finally, Lexy geared up to swim the 100 backstroke, definitely not one of her favorite events. She again surprised us by dropping 2.21 seconds, to finish at 1:42.23. So far, she's finished five events finished and has come away with five best times! All I can say is -- way to go kiddo!
Lexy was seeded third in the 200 Free and was already qualified for the State meet with a 2:50. 57, but succeeded in dropping 4 seconds to finish second overall with a 2:46.73. It was a great start to the day!
When Lexy swam the 100 Breaststroke, we mistakenly thought she already had a 1:44.44, but that is her backstroke time. She actually had a 1:48.18, and managed to shave off 0.14 to finish at 1:48.04. At first we thought she had added time, but we realized the error and congratulated her for the improvement! I'm pretty sure she placed in the top 5 or 6, but will need to check the results.
The next event, the 50 Free, was a real surprise. Lexy went into this event with a 37.43 and needed to drop 0.04 to get a state qualifying time. She dropped 0.21! Her finish time was a 37.22, and I had to look twice to realize she had just qualified for states. This earned her a meet T-shirt from mom!
Finally, Lexy geared up to swim the 100 backstroke, definitely not one of her favorite events. She again surprised us by dropping 2.21 seconds, to finish at 1:42.23. So far, she's finished five events finished and has come away with five best times! All I can say is -- way to go kiddo!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Jenison Area Wildcats Swimming, June 11
Hey, who turned on the heat? Wow, is it ever HOT and MUGGY here in Southwestern Michigan! The weather on the web says it is 82 and feels like 88. That, my friends, makes the air a little thick.
But that's nothing to the sizzle our CUDA swimmers are leaving in the Jenison High School pool. Tonight, Lexy swam her first of 9 events. the 400 freestyle. She was seeded first at 6:02, and the entire event she was, literally, neck and neck with two other girls. She really swam her heart out and I was so proud when she finished at 5:52.60, just three-tenths behind the first place finisher. She dropped 10 seconds from her best time!
What made this finish even more special was that this is the first meet where we have guests attending! Lexy's grama and grampa came all the way from New Jersey to attend Lexy's older sister's high school graduation, and they decided to stick around and see what a real swim meet is like. It's a great start to the weekend.
But that's nothing to the sizzle our CUDA swimmers are leaving in the Jenison High School pool. Tonight, Lexy swam her first of 9 events. the 400 freestyle. She was seeded first at 6:02, and the entire event she was, literally, neck and neck with two other girls. She really swam her heart out and I was so proud when she finished at 5:52.60, just three-tenths behind the first place finisher. She dropped 10 seconds from her best time!
What made this finish even more special was that this is the first meet where we have guests attending! Lexy's grama and grampa came all the way from New Jersey to attend Lexy's older sister's high school graduation, and they decided to stick around and see what a real swim meet is like. It's a great start to the weekend.
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