Excel Swimmers get Time Cuts at Knoxville Meet

Excel Swimmers Travel to Knoxville

May 12, 2007……Three Wilson County residents with Excel Aquatics recently traveled to Knoxville to swim at the Pilot Invitational held at the University of Tennessee Aquatics Center, May 4-6. All three returned with new Southeastern Swimming (SES) Long Course Championship Meet Qualifying Times.

Bradley Gillilan of Lebanon led the way with new 13&14 Boys Qualifying Times in the 100 Meter Breaststroke, 100 Meter Freestyle, 100 Meter Backstroke, 1500 Meter Freestyle and 200 Meter Freestyle. Gillilan also attained a 15&16 Boys Qualifying Time in the 400 Meter Freestyle, having already qualified in that event at the 13&14 age group level. “Bradley did well this meet.” Coach John Barnes of Lebanon noted. “At Excel we constantly focus on both technique and aerobic conditioning, and Bradley is making some technique changes in the Freestyle events, and they seem to be taking hold early. He was focused on what he wanted to do, and went out there and did it. It was great seeing those time drops at the Long Course format.”

Luke Blackwell of Mount Juliet attained six new Qualifying Times in the 13&14 Boys category. As a result, Luke is eligible for the SES Long Course Championships in the 800 Meter Freestyle, 200 Meter Individual Medley, 100 Meter Backstroke, 400 Meter Freestyle, 200 Meter Freestyle, and 200 Meter Backstroke. “Luke was only 6-hundreths of a second away from a qualifying time in the 100 Meter Breaststroke, so we are fairly confident that he will add that to his qualifying list when he swims it again.” Barnes predicted. “With his strength in the distance events, we believe that he has a realistic shot at the 200 Meter Breaststroke as well as the 1500 Meter Freestyle. The qualifying time in the 400 Meter Individual Medley is also a real possibility.”

“With Luke moving up to the same training squad Bradley is in, it is a pleasure to watch them train from a coaching perspective. After doing a good 45 minutes or so on drills and kicking, we turn them lose on the main set, and it becomes a battle to see who leads the practice. In an average day at practice they swim 6500+ yards, with Saturday practices between 8000 to 9200 yards. Combine that sort of conditioning with technique work and it is obvious why they are leading Wilson County in performance.”

Madison Blackwell also of Mount Juliet brought home an 11&12 Girls SES Qualifying Time in the 100 Meter Backstroke. “Madison had a great meet in all 9 of her events she swam; there are 3 or 4 more events where she is close to her qualifying times for the Long Course Championship meet in July.” Barnes noted. “The last time a Wilson County girl as young as Madison attended the Long Course Championship meet was in 2002, so Madison is leading the way among her age group.”

For more information on competitive swimming visit www.SwimWilsonCounty.com.