Lara’s Blog

I’ve looked up the results on the Durban swim page to see how Lara performed in her first World Cup swim meet.  I have nothing to compare it to since these events are in short course meters and college swimming in the US is done in short course yards.  Not to be confused with long course meters that’s done in the summer including in the Olympic games.
So on Friday Lara competed in the 50 free and the 50 back.  Lara made finals in both events.  She came in 5th in the 50 free with a 23.99 (prelim time was 24.21).  She had the best reaction time off the block in .64.  JH from US was 6th with 24.25 and reaction time of .69.
Lara finished 5th in the 50 back (she says it’s her weakest stroke, now does she have a weak stroke or just a least favorite stroke?)  Her time was 27.23, rxn time .61 (prelims 27.78 with rxn time .74).  The 50 fly Lara tied for 6th with a 25.96, rxn time .63.  The Swedish swimmer finished first with WR time in 24.75.  Lara qualified for finals in the 100 IM with a 1:02.69, but did not compete in finals.  I don’t know why she scratched, perhaps to rest for the 100 fly, I’m not sure.
Now with each finish in both prelims and finals, I noticed the swimmers get FINA points.  I’m not sure about this either, but perhaps the points go towards prize money?  That would be nice for Lara to re-coop some of the cost of the trip though not necessary.  I am blessed to have the funds to pay for this trip and I just want Lara to savor the experience and use the time on her world tour to learn the ropes for future big time overseas meets.   Hopefully we are launching a very successful professional swim career for our Lara.  Lara has the talent to go far!  And I am along for the ride.

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I just got an email from Lara telling me what events she will be swimming this weekend in Durban.  She will be competing in the 50 free, 100 free, 50 fly, 50 back and 100 I.M.  This is truly a sprinter’s dream line up!

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Lara has just arrived in Durban, South Africa!  She is off on her world tour.  FINA World Cup swimming is a series of meets around the world where you can win prize money as top finishers in each event.  And the distances are 50 and 100 short course meter races, so how awesome for Lara!  She is especially excited to swim the 100 IM.
The first meet in on October 17 and 18 in Durban.  Hopefully the results will be posted on Swimming World Magazine.com.  And check out www.swimsa.co.za for the results in Durban.  Go Lara and go Whitney Myers (her travel buddy)!
Since the next meet in Brazil was cancelled, Whitney and Lara will head to Lyon, France (10/26-11/3) for 9 days to stay with former U of A teammate Arthur.  They will train there and get ready for the next meet.  Whitney will head to Moscow for the next World Cup meet.  Lara gets to go to Bolzano, Italy 11/3-11/9.  Lara’s agent got her  a deal through Arena to make an appearance with Aaron Peirsol at the Balzano meet on November 7th.  She actually gets paid to swim in this meet.  It’s a rough life.
Next stop is in Berlin, Germany for the meet on November 14 and 15.  Lara will be in Germany November 9th  through 16th.  After Berlin, Whitney and Lara will travel to Singapore for the last World Cup meet.  They will be in Singapore 11/16-11/23.  The girls will return to Tucson in time for Thanksgiving.
They won’t have too long a rest because they need to head to Austin, Texas for the Texas Invitational at UT.  That meet is 12/3-12/5.  I will swing out to watch Lara compete at that meet.  Yee-haaa!

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