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Sunday, May 21, 2006
YMCA Sharks Memorial Invitational Swim Meet
This weekend, the Sarasota YMCA Sharks Swim Club held the Kent B. Holdren Memorial Invitational Swim Meet, with over 350 swimmers from around the US, including the Kansas City Blazers, Reno Aquatic Club, and Nashville Aquatic Club. Additionally, there were entrants from the Florida Gators Swim Team trying to improve national times for the big meets later this summer. Natalie swam 7 events; the the 50 meter backstroke, 50 meter free, and 100 meter breaststroke on Saturday, and the 100 meter free, 50 meter fly, 50 meter breaststroke, and at the last minute, the anchor leg of the girls 10 and under 200 meter medley relay. This was a 50 meter long course meet.
Natalie swam exceptionally well, with all her times just above BB rank. Additionally, she finished 1st in her heats twice, and placed 10th in the 50 meter breaststroke (out of 4 heats/8 per heat). Her coach was very pleased and remarked that she will probably be moved to the Black Team by the end of summer! Lastly, she snagged an autograph from Ryan Lockte, the 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist in the 800 free and the Silver Medalist in the 200 IM. All the girls were going gaga over him...
Here are some pictures.
"Shark Frenzy" The warm up.
Waiting...
Take your mark!
Nice freestyle form, Noodle!
even better breaststroke!!
Touch N' Go for the anchor leg of the 200 Medley relay. Coach is in the yellow shirt.
All in all, we had a great time! Cindy volunteered (you have to; they dock you $25/session if you don't) as a timer, and I helped out closing up all the timing equipment after the meet ended. Needless to say, we are all totally exhausted. The next meet is in June down in Ft. Myers. Perhaps by then, Karl will want to join too! He won't admit it, but I think he likes the whole concept of individual effort: team camaraderie. We do to.