The last two days have been super for WSY

Actually at present I am not really sure what day it is any more. I look at my watch and I see it is July 4th, but I feel like it is July 31st. The Summer seems to be in over drive. This marathon meet we term USA Olympic Team trials is really beginning to unfold. As many of you are seeing on TV (schedule is here......now we move to NBC 8-9pm East Coast Time LIVE), there are so many turns in this meet. How many of you saw PA native Brendan Hansen get 4th last night in the 200 Breastroke. Of course he was very happy for his two teammates that made the team, but less than 2 months ago, this guy held the world record. There have been so many other surprises. In the men's 100 free, 19 year old Nathan Adrian tied for 9th in the semi's, and had to have a swim-off 9with Sam Goldsmith's college teammate Alek Riggi). Nathan won the swim off, and then went into last nights finals and got 4th, which means he made the Olympic Team. The guy went from not making an evening swim to actually being selected for the team. This is what I call "taking advantage of an opportunity"

Leah swam very well last night in the final. One of the goals coming into this meet was a Top 8 swim. Leah accomplished that. I could tell last night when she walked out on deck that she was a bit nervous. As one Olympic coach told me "Everyone at this meet is nervous, the key is to learn how to contain that nervousness". Leah was very happy with her swim. We had a great warm up today, and then it was time for Leah's 800 free. Joe and I were sitting in the stands and I thought it was going to take about 8:35 for an evening swim (Leah's lifetime best was 8:36). Going into Leah's heat, the 8th place time was 8:40, so I knew if she was going to advance she was going to have to hit a great swim. The rest was up to her. Feeling good she took it out at 2:06, was 4:17 at the 400, and then almost even split going 4:18 on the final 400. Her last 50 split was 30. (the fastest of anyone in the field), so I knew she has it in the tank for tomorrow evenings final for a great swim!! Her final time was 8:35.86 (tied for 5th and 31st fastest time in the world as of today)

Tricia swam the 200 back, which was a very fast event. Tricia's time going into the event was 2:17, and she swam a great race, improving her time going 2:16.61.

Tonight is an off night for WSY swimmers, however we are excited about watching some very fast swimming. On Saturday morning prelims, big Joe will swim his mile. Joe has been here supporting everyone (both WSY, his college team mates, and basically everyone he knows). The swimmers can always hear Joe when he is showing his support, and at a meet like this you need that support. Joe's big day will be Saturday AM, and Joe looks really good in the water. The men's 1500 is a stacked event, and Joe knows he will have to have the performance of his lifetime