Excel Swimmers Once Again Rule Wilson County

Luke Blackwell Wins Gold in 1,500 Meter Freestyle at Southeastern Swimming Championships

July 21, 2008…. The Southeastern Swimming (SES) Long Course Championships were held this past weekend, utilizing the long course pools in Brentwood and Nashville. 865 swimmers from 40 swim clubs in Tennessee, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle competed.

From Wilson County, Luke and Madison Blackwell of Mt Juliet, and Bradley Gillilan of Lebanon, participated in the meet, all three swimming for Excel Aquatics. Qualifying times are required to participate in the meet.

Luke Blackwell, competing in his last meet in the 13&14 Year Old Boy’s Category, went out in left his name in the history books of SES Champions. Blackwell won the 13&14 Boy’s 1,500 Meter Freestyle in 17:07.24 (seventeen minutes, seven seconds and 24 one-hundredths). The time was 31 seconds ahead of the 2^nd place finisher in the age category, and would have been good enough for 6^th place in the Senior Boy’s category.

“Luke’s 1,500 time was also a Summer Senior Sectional Time Qualifying Standard,” Excel coach and Lebanon resident John Barnes noted. “Earlier in the meet Luke achieved a Summer Sectional Time cut in the 800 Meter Freestyle, so this makes two qualifying times he has now for Summer Sectionals. That meet will be held next summer in Knoxville TN at the new UT Aquatics Complex.”

Blackwell also placed 2^nd in the 800 Meter Free, 3^rd in the 400 Meter Free, 5^th in both the 200 Meter and 400 Meter Individual Medley races, and 6^th in both the 100 Meter and 200 Meter Backstroke races.

“Out of seven events Luke entered in the meet, he placed in the Top 6 in all seven events, with one gold, one silver, and one bronze.”

Madison Blackwell, participating in the 11&12 Year Old Girl’s category, placed 6^th in the 50 Meter Freestyle, with the fastest time ever recorded 50 Fly for a girl of that age in the County. Madison had a time of 0:32.39 seconds in the event, moving up from an 8^th place seed after the prelim heats, to 6^th place in the Finals heat.

“Madison had a great meet, dropping times in 6 of her 7 events, and placing in the Top 8 in her two relays she was on”, Coach Barnes commented. “Starting on Monday she will be moving up to Excel’s Gold training squad to prepare for competing in the 13&14 Year Old category.”

“Based on some times in the 200 Meter events from the Baylor meet a few weeks ago, I expect to see her back in this SES Championship Meet next summer.”

Lebanon High’s Bradley Gillilan also participated in the Championship Meet. Gillilan dropped times in 6 of his 7 events as well.

”Bradley had just returned from the Summer Senior Sectional Meet at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, and as such we held him out of the events he swam at Sectionals”, Coach Barnes explained. “Summer Sectionals is two steps higher than the SES meet in terms of quality and progression, and he swam the 800 Meter and 1500 Meter Freestyle there.”

“We held him out of those two events even though he would have been seeded in the Top 8 in both of them at the SES meet. Instead we put him in some of the shorter events to give his body a much needed break after this summer. He has traveled to a lot of meets since school let out in May, and has started training for Open Water Nationals with former Olympian Ashley Whitney.”

“Bradley will be entering 11^th Grade at LHS this August, and we are looking forward to seeing him dominate in dual meets again this year for LHS, while continuing to train with Excel Aquatics.”

For more information on Excel Aquatics and other swimming information, visit www.SwimWilsonCounty.com.