On your mark, get set, swim

CINTHIA RITCHIE

April 18, 2008 at 10:26AM AKST

The Bartlett High School pool room was warm and humid.

Kids in blue, black and red swimsuits scurried around, goggles hanging from their hands.

Towels were thrown across the floor, and abandoned flip flops were everywhere.

It was the 2008 Speedo/Alaska Swimming Junior Olympics, and hundreds of kids were competing in everything from the mile to the 100-meter backstroke April 10-13.

And the Seward Tsunami Swim Club was there, tucked in the corner by the judging table, 17 swimmers competing in 64 events.

In order to qualify for the swim Olympics, the kids had to meet qualifying times during regular-season meets. According to coach Matt Hershock, this year saw the most qualifiers. Last year, 11 made it in. The year before, four.

"We have a really good group of kids this year," he said. "They’ve been working hard."

The team had been practicing five times a day since September. And it paid off, too.

"We had over 20 top eight finishes," Hershock said. "And maybe 30 top 16 placers."

Coming from such a small district, that’s a big deal. According to Hershock, larger clubs host year-round practices, with twice daily sessions leading up to the Olympics. They also have better facilities and access to supplies.

"That these kids are in the top eight heats is really an example of how great they are," he said.

Meghan O’Leary, who placed highest among the Tsunami girls, said she’s been swimming since first grade.

"I love it," she said. "I get that rush."

She favors long-distance events, especially the mile, 66 lengths across the pool.

"Swimming is an individual sport," she said. "It’s really you against yourself. Every time, you get to see how your training pays off."

Hershock said that it’s his team’s enthusiasm that keeps them going.

"They feed off of each other," he said. "They encourage and keep each other excited. They put in a lot of hours and look how it’s paying off."

Cinthia Ritchie can be reached at (907) 342-2428 or toll free at (800) 770-9830, ext. 428