I am so proud of Lara.  She did a great job in Berlin, our motherland!  Understand that this is the first time that Lara has competed at this distance, short course meters.  Lara is the definition of a sprinter.  And in a splash and dash, there is no room for error.   Lara is the American record holder in the 50 yard free.  She has that race down, to the perfect start, great pull out, excellent turn and a big finish.  This race is second nature to Lara.  But with the 50 meter free in short course, the timing may be a little off due to the extra distance.  Math 101, a meter is longer than a yard!  So the automatic execution is not quite there yet.  So Lara has been disappointed in her 50 free results at the last two World Cup meets, the one in Durban and now Berlin.  In Durban Lara went a 23.99.  and in Berlin she did a 23.85.  She’s getting faster, but just good enough for a 5th place finish.
Sunday, November 15 was a new day and the 50 fly came together for Lara.  She got on the podium with a third place finish which entitles her to prize money.  According to swimmingworld magazine.com, “…while Lara Jackson of the U.S. took third in 25.17.  That effort beat her American record set during prelims with a 25.61.”
Lara’s email to me after stated, “Was disappointed with my free but the 50 fly was great.  I was thinking about it and at AZ my 50 fly was the first thing to come around too.”  Meaning as a freshman, Lara struggled every day with doubts about whether she belonged on a Division I swim team.  Then in the middle of her freshman year she earned a spot on the 200 medley relay with the 50 fly.  I guess history does repeat itself.  Watch out Singapore!

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