Meeting her goals: Menear qualifies for NCAA Swimming Championships
Ella Menear left Mapletown High School last spring with a three-item checklist of what she wanted to accomplish within her first year as a swimmer at the University of Alabama.
The freshman marked off the last of three boxes a couple weeks ago at the Southeast Conference Championship.
无毛视频淚n my freshman year, I wanted to be on the scoring team, I wanted to get into the Olympic Trials and qualify for the NCAA meet,无毛视频� explained Menear.
Menear qualified for the national championship in the 100 backstroke, and also as a member of the Crimson Tide无毛视频檚 400 medley relay.
Menear will have company in the NCAA Division I Women无毛视频檚 Swimming & Diving Championships to be held on March 20-23 at the Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Georgia. Alabama qualified seven individual swimmers in 18 events, plus the 200 medley, 200 freestyle, 400 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
Menear was unable to hit the 无毛视频淎无毛视频� cut in her events, but managed to make the 无毛视频淏无毛视频� cut for a spot in the 100 backstroke. She is seeded 33rd with her time of 52.15 seconds.
无毛视频淚 wanted to go 51 (seconds) at the SEC (meet) and I无毛视频檇 be guaranteed to go. The cutoff last year was 52.3 seconds. Shoot, I was right at the line (with her time of 52.15 seconds). Am I going to go?无毛视频� wondered Menear.
Menear was invited in the 200 backstroke. Her time of 1:54.84 is 43rd and met the 无毛视频淏无毛视频� cut, but was just outside the top 36 marks. She believes there无毛视频檚 a good chance she无毛视频檒l have an opportunity to participate in the longer distance, as well.
无毛视频淚 was pretty iffy (she无毛视频檇 qualify for the NCAA meet). My coaches were more confident than I was,无毛视频� said Menear.
Menear noted the respect the Southeast Conference Championship has around the country.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 definitely a big deal. A lot of people say the SEC is more nerve-wracking than the NCAAs,无毛视频� explained Menear. 无毛视频淚 did better than I expected.无毛视频�
Menear set a lofty goal for her performance in the national meet.
无毛视频淚 would like to go faster than I did in the SEC (meet). I want to break the 52 (second) barrier,无毛视频� said Menear.
The 100 backstroke trials and finals are Friday, March 22, with the 200 backstroke competitions on March 23.
Accustomed to the 100 backstroke, Menear added the 200 backstroke to her performance list.
无毛视频淚t is different,无毛视频� Menear said of the race. 无毛视频淵ou can think more about the race (while swimming the race).无毛视频�
Menear will take a break from the pool for a week or so after the NCAA meet, and then turn her attention (and training) to the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Indianapolis from June 15-23.
Menear qualified in the 100 backstroke.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 staying (at Alabama) through the trials,无毛视频� said Menear.
Menear was also a standout volleyball player for the Lady Maples, but is a one-sport athlete now.
无毛视频淐oming in not playing volleyball in the fall made a big difference,无毛视频� said Menear.
Menear entered Alabama with an impressive resume, including two WPIAL gold medals, a state gold and a PIAA silver medal in her senior season a year ago.
无毛视频淟ooking back, I couldn无毛视频檛 ask for a better high school swimming experience. I didn无毛视频檛 swim on a team, but I had my parents and community with me,无毛视频� added Menear.