July 2009
Monthly Archive
Some Thoughts, July 25, 2009
Tina 25 Jul 2009 | : Mom and Dad
I spoke with Lara last night and she sounds great! She’s fine tuning in the pool and she’s healthy. Of course I advised her to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Lara is getting ready for the US Open in Federal Way, Washington August 4 through 8, 2009. She swims the 100 free on Wednesday, August 5th and the 50 free on Saturday, August 8th. She’s planning to do some “damage”. She’ll be competing against the times set at the World Championships in Rome July 26 through August 2.
I have thought about her 50 free race at World Champ Trials in Indianapolis, and how she missed making the team by one one hundreths of a second. I have come to the realization that Lara was not out touched by Amanda Weir nor Dara Torres. Lara swam incredibly fast. But when she looked back at the video of her race, she saw many mistakes with her start, her dive, her underwater, her pull out and her finish. She made a ton of mistakes, people, and she still came in third! How fast can she go if she swims the perfect race? I predict that she could set a new World Record. So when all of the conditions are right, and she puts it all together, watch out! The current World Record is 23.96. It is well in reach for our girl.
July 12, 2009 from Indy
Tina 12 Jul 2009 | : Mom and Dad
Okay, so Lara was not thrilled about making it back to finals last night afterall. Carly Rose and I think that once she missed out on making the World Team, Lara was done with this meet. So the next stop for Lara is the US Open in Federal Way, Washington August 4-8, 2009. She will swim the 100 free on Wednesday and the 50 free on Saturday. Prelims are at 9:00 and finals start at 6:00. Lara heads back to Tucson and will work on the fine tuning she needs to improve her times for a higher world ranking. Her goal: set a new American Record, maybe new World Record in the 50 meter free. She still wants to beat Dara Torres, even if it’s not face to face. And she’s capable of doing it! I predict that she will “own” the 50 meter free race, just like she “owns” the 50 yard free. Just needs a little more tweaking.
I won’t be able to travel to Washington for the meet, but thanks to the travel fund, Carly Rose is available to go to Seattle and support Lara. So Go Lara! And thanks Carly.
Saturday Prelims from Indy
Tina 11 Jul 2009 | : Mom and Dad
Good swim Lara! In heat 4 of 9, Lara moved up from # 48 to # 22 with a 56.17 in the 100 free. So she gets to swim in the “C” final tonight. And she plans to rock that heat and take it all out. She’s feeling good folks. No pressure to make the World Team, so she can have fun, but still aim to do some damage.
Next stop, the US Open in Federal Way, Washington August 4-8, 2009. She would swim the 100 free on Wednesday and the 50 free on Saturday. She will now have time to work on the fine tuning she didn’t have much time to work on before this meet in Indy. And the goal is to improve her world rankings. Our girl is in the groove and ready to roll.
Go Lara! Stayed tuned.
Friday Evening from Indy
Tina 10 Jul 2009 | : site suggestions
Just wanted to keep everyone posted that on Saturday Lara will swim the 100 free. Top seed is Dara Torres with a 53.76. Lara is seeded at #48 with a 56.82. We are hoping for a personal best and a possible swim in finals. The cut time to enter the 100 free is 56.99. So go Lara! And have fun!
July 10, 2009 from Indy
Tina 10 Jul 2009 | : Mom and Dad
In swimming, as with every sport, things sometimes go your way, and sometimes they don’t. Lara had a great swim in the the 50 meter free final, but she did not make the World Team. Lara finished one one hundreth of a second behind Amanda Weir. Dara Torres won the event. Third again! Was this a repeating nightmare! The anticipation of making it to Rome, gone! Gone in just under 25 seconds. Lara wanted to make this team in the worst way. Lara wanted it because of what happened at the Olympic Trials one year ago. Lara wanted it because she is deserving of a place on the World Team. And Lara wanted it because she wanted to do it for her Dad.
I was disappointed for Lara, not with Lara. Despite being sick after NCAA’s, despite losing her Dad just three months ago and despite having a late start in training for the World Champ Trials, Lara kept focused and continued to work hard at practice. Lara was the leader in the race for at least 90% of the way. I thought that she had it! Then she was outtouched and came in third, again. A heart breaker to say the least. But her good friend, Taylor was there to pick her up and take care of her when the nerves were very raw. I am so grateful to Taylor for that. Just what Lara needed after her disappointment.
Then at 9:30 Friday morning I get a text from Lara, “I just woke up and I am starving. Can we go have breakfast?” The three of us, Carly Rose, Lara and I had an enjoyable breakfast and were already discussing what the next step would be. So good to see Lara smiling and looking ahead.
Being a spiritual person, I believe that God has other plans for Lara. Maybe he knows that Lara’s body is not ready to take on Rome for the World Championships. Lara has greatness in her and she will reap the rewards when the time is right. Lara, stay the course and remain patient. Your time will come, and when it does, it will be awesome!
July 8, 2009 from Indy
Tina 08 Jul 2009 | : Mom and Dad
We are all settled into our big swim meet routine, finding our way around Indianapolis and making sure Lara has all that she needs. We’ve watched one finals session and two prelims sessions. Of course we’re cheering for our Tucson-Ford Aquatics Team including: Justine Schluntz, Alyssa Anderson, Annie Chandler, Julie Stupp, Lacey Nymeyer and Whitney Myers on the women’s side. And Adam Ritter, Matt Grevers, Albert Subraits, Bryan O’Connor and Jean Basson to mention a few of the men. Plus a few swimmers you may have heard of: Dana Vollmer, Kara Lynn Joyce, Katie Hoff, Ryan Lochte, Aaron Peirsol and Michael Phelps.
My friend Carol Nelson is here from New Jersey. And Carly Rose and I are doing the best we can to fill Keith’s shoes. Keith always said that he was Lara’s biggest fan and we’re here to continue the tradition. We anticipate tomorrow’s sessions with excitement. Thursday is 50 free day. Lara and Dara Torres meet again. On the psych sheet Dara is seeded first and Lara is seeded second. So in prelims Lara will swim lane 4 in the next to last heat and Dara will swim lane 4 in the last heat. If all goes as expected, they will swim side by side in finals at night. So everyone out there, send us your prayers and good thoughts to get through these sessions. Lara is looking and feeling great! She’s relaxed and confident and working on donning her game face as I write this.
So may the best swimmer win and then onto World Champs in Rome!
On to Indianapolis
Tina 02 Jul 2009 | : Mom and Dad
The World Championship Trials are scheduled for July 7 to July 11, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. And Lara is all geared up and ready! After missing out on making the Olympic Team in 2008, Lara is ready to get back into the pool to race the best in the country. And Dara Torres will be back. Now I have heard several people comment to me, “Why doesn’t Dara Torres finally retire!” But Lara is glad that Dara will be back. Lara wants to compete against the best and Dara is the American Record holder in the 50 meter free. And Lara is the American Record holder in the 50 yard free.
Carly Rose is flying in from Boston and I will meet up with her in Indianapolis. We will be there to support Lara in any way we can! The 50 free prelims are on Thursday, July 9th. Exactly three months after we lost Keith. We’ll be thinking of Keith as we cheer Lara on with our tattooed t-shirts and our chanting, just the way Keith used to cheer her on. I know that he will be cheering her on from heaven. Go get ‘em, Lara!