Gillilan Breaks Team Record

Gillilan Shatters Excel Aquatics Team Record in 800 Meter Swim

May 29, 2005……Bradley Gillilan, a rising 8^th Grader at West Wilson Middle School, and a member of Excel Aquatics set a new Team Record for 11&12 Year Old Boy’s in the 800 Meter Freestyle. The old record, set in 2002, was 10:15.74, Bradley swam to a 9:54.83 at this past weekend’s Stars and Stripes Meet hosted by Excel Aquatics, a 20.91 second drop. Gillilan also had Personal Best Times in all 9 of his events this past weekend. Only 12 years old, Gillilan has firmly established himself as the top Distance Swimmer among Wilson County residents. “Swimming in distance events takes a lot of heart and guts.” Lebanon Resident and Excel Assistant Coach John Barnes stated. “It is difficult to train for, and something we emphasize to our kids to help make them great all around swimmers, and not one event wonders. To really excel in Distance Training, it takes a strong aerobic conditioning base and great technique to correctly maximize your energy efficiency. Think hydrodynamics combined with a powerful fuel efficient engine.”

“Coach Andreea Ianoli-Mitrofan is the coach in charge of Bradley’s training group, she is the former Romanian National Champion in the 800 Meter Freestyle.” Barnes commented. “Her technique work with the kids is the best I’ve seen in this area, she doesn’t neglect any facet of their development, and she knows how to get them to have fun as well. I’ve learned a lot from just being on deck with her.”

Also competing from Wilson County at the Stars and Stripes Meet were Stephen Claycomb (7 Personal Best Times), Conrad Claycomb (7 Personal Best Times), Meagan Maxwell (4 Personal Best Times), Hannah Morgan (3 Personal Best Times), and Austin Barnes. The Stars and Stripes Meet featured 520 swimmers, from 28 teams and 4 States.

Wilson County Swimmers who placed in the Top 16 of the Meet were:

Stephen Claycomb: 50 Free - 4^th Place; 100 Fly - 9^th Place; 100 Free - 13^th Place; 200 Back - 14^th Place; and 100 Back - 15^th Place.

Bradley Gillilan: 200 Free – 2^nd Place; 100 Breaststroke – 2^nd Place; 50 Breaststroke – 3^rd Place; 100 Free – 5^th Place; 50 Backstroke – 5^th Place; 50 Free - 6^th Place; 100 Backstroke – 6^th Place; 50 Fly – 9^th Place.

Conrad Claycomb: 100 Fly – 12^th Place.

For more information visit www.SwimWilsonCounty.com.