Blackwell is SES Champion in 1,000 Free

Luke Blackwell Wins 1,000 Yard Freestyle at Southeastern Swimming Championships

February 21, 2008…. During the first day of competition at the Southeastern Swimming Short Course Championships, Mount Juliet Resident Luke Blackwell won the 13&14 Year Old Boy’s 1,000 Yard Freestyle in a time of ten minutes, twelve seconds, and 26 hundredths (10:12.26). Blackwell pulled away from the field by going out in the first 500 in 5:00.66, and held on to win by over 12 seconds to the 2^nd place finisher.

“Luke likes to set the pace and wear down those who try to stay with him early on, ” Excel Assistant Coach John Barnes commented. “This was Luke’s first Senior Sectional Qualifying Time Cut, and he will be joining Lebanon’s Bradley Gillilan in the 1,000 at that meet in two weeks.”

955 swimmers from 52 clubs in Tennessee, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle are participating in the Southeastern Swimming Short Course Championships. Qualifying Times are necessary in order to participate in the meet. From Wilson County, Luke Blackwell, Madison Blackwell, Bradley Gillilan, Taylor Wallace, and Alek Nochowicz are swimming, all members of Excel Aquatics.

For more information about competitive swimming for Wilson County residents, visit www.SwimWilsonCounty.com