Madison Blackwell Qualifies for Southeastern Swimming Long Course Championship Meet!
July 9, 2006……Lebanon’s Madison Blackwell, a 10 year old Excel Aquatics swimmer has qualified for her first Southeastern Swimming Championship Meet. Blackwell qualified in the 50 Meter Backstroke this past weekend during a swim meet in Chattanooga. Madison will be participating in the SES Long Course Championship Meet in Knoxville, July 27-30.
“Madison came over to Excel this past Fall, and has been training with Coach Andreea Ianoli-Mitrofan, a former Romanian National Champion.” Excel Assistant Coach John Barnes commented. “Madison will be joining her older brother Luke at the meet, who has also qualified for the SES Long Course Meet.”
Going into the meet, Madison was 2.30 seconds away from a qualifying time in the 50 Meter Backstroke, and finished her race in 10th place with a time of 0:43.20, well under the qualifying time by more than a second. Madison also participated in the 50 Meter Butterfly, 50 Meter Freestyle, 50 Meter Breaststroke, 100 Meter Backstroke and the 100 Meter Breaststroke, dropping time in all of them.
“I was ecstatic to see Madison’s 50 Meter Butterfly time, it was amazing.” Coach Barnes stated. “Her Butterfly stroke has improved quite a bit, and she just barely missed the SES cut time in the event, and this was the first time she had swum Butterfly in the Long Course format. She has the rhythm down, now she needs to work on conditioning in that event.”
Two other Wilson County swimmers representing Excel Aquatics participated in the meet. Luke Blackwell and Bradley Gillilan. Luke continued with his time drops in preparation for the SES Long Course Meet, and Bradley Gillilan made a qualifying time in the 400 Meter Individual Medley.
“Gillilan is a distance swimmer, and has his SES Long Course cuts in the distance events.” Coach Barnes noted. “Getting this cut in the 400 IM was significant because many believe it to be the hardest event to participate in for the Long Course format, and Bradley has been training hard this summer. His achievements are well deserved. He should easily break the 500 Yard Freestyle record at Mount Juliet High School this coming fall when he enrolls there as a Freshman.”
For more information on swimming opportunities at all levels, visit www.SwimWilsonCounty.com.
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