Final Swim Meet

Friday, July 20, 2013

 

Last year we spent two glorious weeks in Pinetop - we left right after Elyse's birthday party (literally packed during her party and got her sleepover friends out of the house as quickly as possible so we could leave the next morning) and Carolyn ended up missing the final week of swim team.  Unlike Mom and Dad, neither of the girls were happy with two weeks in the mountains (gasp!), so this year we compromised and we stayed in the Valley's heat a week longer (ugh) and agreed to spend eight days in Show Low.  Elyse had her birthday party and a week to enjoy being 10; Carolyn got to participate in swim finals.

Swim Finals work like this:  on Friday night, all teams participate in one preliminary meet (there are six teams in the 'league' - weekly meets had been between two teams only - and usually lasted 2-3 hours...see where I'm going....). Each swimmer chooses three strokes to swim.  Remember, this meet is ages 11 and up....so we're talking three different age groups - and six teams - in one meet.    Settle in folks, it's going to be a long meet! The top eight swimmers in each event would continue on to the finals, held on Saturday morning. Carolyn chose her three strokes:  the 100 IM, the 50m freestyle and the 50m backstroke.  I thought in my head, "She chose the 'easier' strokes. She'd have less competition in the breast or butterfly, ergo, a better chance of moving on to the finals...but she knows her best strokes...Carolyn knows best."  So the prelims begin at 5:30 p.m. Scooter and I looked at our eight page program for the night and realize there are 17 - yes folks, 17 full heats (eight swimmers/heat) for the 50m free in Carolyn's age group.  Thank heavens the sun was setting and it was cooling off.  There were about 10 heats in the IM and about that in the back as well.  We settled in for a long night of swimming and I was secretly happy that Carolyn had not chosen the butterfly or back:  they were the last events of the night.  Carolyn knows best!

Carolyn started off with her first race:  the 100IM.  This is a tough swim:  25m backstroke, 25m breast, 25m butterfly and 25m free.  I am pretty sure that is not the correct order - so part of the race is just remembering which stroke to do!  Swimming is not for dummies!  So Carolyn swims and gets 1st place in her heat.  We were so proud.

This looks like butterfly....watch the girl at the top in the red cap.
Carolyn is in Lane 3 from the bottom.

This looks like breast stroke - red cap girl is obviously ahead.



This is the final turn going into the free - it was close.
I was cheering and the guy next to me says,
"She'll (Carolyn) get her in the free."
 



He was right:
1st place:  Carolyn.



We were really pleased with Carolyn's first swim - but we knew the competition was tough. There were about 10 heats and she needed to be in the top eight overall to continue into Saturday's finals.  Carolyn placed 16th out over 60 swimmers.  Still something to be very proud of. Even more proud:  she was not disqualified as many swimmers were. Who knew your arms could not go past your waist on one of those turns?!  I always learn something at a swim meet....

 

I have to admit:  I didn't take any more pictures. Two girls that I used to work with had baby girls the same year I had Carolyn and all three of them were swimming in this meet - all for different teams. We no longer work together, but it is still fun to follow the girls.  ANYWAY, my picture taking was interrupted by talking to them during the race and cheering...and let's face it:  I rarely get a good picture of Carolyn swimming. She's under the water most of the time!

 

So next up was the 100 free with 17 heats. You read that:  17 heats. That's 126 girls swimming -well, 126 if every heat is filled...which it probably wasn't...but it was still 17 heats.  By this time I was getting a bit bored, or maybe a bit more interested, but I started timing the other races so I could sort of gauge what times she'd need to beat. Yes. I became 'that mom'.  Carolyn did great - again, placed first in her heat and had a good time....but didn't qualify for the finals. She place 13th over all.  Again:  we were very proud of her - and her of herself.  She was very happy to be getting a medal instead of just a ribbon this meet!

 

Finally we were at the backstroke - and my friend and I realized our girls were not only finally in the same heat, but they were right next to each other -- and keep in mind, Hannah and Carolyn have never met. I admit it:  it really was about us moms.  So again, my picture taking was distracted.  Hannah and Carolyn were pretty neck and neck the whole race and in the end Hannah edged her out - ending up in 1st place and Carolyn in 3rd.  Again, great swims by both girls. We were quite confident that Carolyn would not qualify for finals in that event either and we didn't stay around to see her final placing.  (BTW:  Hannah did not qualify for finals either)

 

Hannah (b. Nov. 2000) and Carolyn (b. Sept. 2000)

 

So our part of the meet was done and as much as I love seeing Carolyn succeed in a sport she truly loves, I was OK that she didn't qualify for finals:  we could leave that much earlier for the White Mountains on Saturday! Carolyn knows best!