Leah advances to Thursday evening Finals in 200 fly

Ok.......so I think I have heard 10 times today "See Mike......I told you I liked 200 fly and not distance freestyle". Well, Leah definitely made her point to me. She was in the 2nd heat of the 2-heat semi finals. I had mentioned to a few coaches earlier today that I felt it would take a 2:09 to make the final 8. It was darn close. After the prelim session today, Leah seemed very calm (even after we had some hail storms out here). She had a great warm-up, joked around with Joe, and really stayed relaxed going to the night swims. She told me she was excited, and I mentioned that she needed to "contain the excitement", which she did. When she walked out on the pool deck after being in the ready room, she looked very confident. The first semi heat was very fast, and then I new she would definitely need a 2:10 to make it back, but I did not know how fast Leah's heat would go. She took the 100 out a bit faster than today, and really stayed with her stroke the entire 2nd 100. She was mentally focused, and really contained her excitement, and any nerves that she had going. She hit the wall, and I turned to Parkland Coach Erik Posegay to get confirmation that she was 8th. Although all I really had to do was look 20 feet away and see the smile on Leah's face, and then I knew she had advanced to the Top 8 tomorrow night (Thursday). Leah finished with a 2:10.43, lifetime best by 3 seconds, and now top 35 in the world in that event.

Tomorrow (Thursday), Tricia will swim her 200 back, and most likely Joe will "time trial" a 400 IM, just to keep with some racing before his mile. On Thursday evening Leah will swim in the big 8 of the 200 fly (a first for WSY......a top 8 finisher at Olympic Trials).

Thanks to everyone for your texts and email. I know Leah really appreciates it. I heard the news made its way to the Hot Heats 10 & under Meet as well. Thanks to all of the WSY 10 & unders at that meet for your support. In talking with Coach Derrick, we had some awesome times at the Hot Heats meet. The communication goes both ways out here, and we are very proud of our WSY 10 & Under swimmers

We have our own WSY camera crew out here. I think Kim and Steph Kinsey, Karlee and her mom Michelle have a picture of every Olympian here. Tonight as I was leaving the pool area, I saw they had Brendan Hansen signing every piece of clothing they could find. These guys are really great about that stuff. As soon as I get the pictures I will upload them to the web site.

Thanks again to everyone for following. It is great to continue to get the texts and emails!! We will update again on Thursday