Off to Nationals for Swimming

This weeked I travelled over to Baywave at Mount Maungaui to take part in the Bay of Plenty championships. When I got there I was surprised to find there were over 400 swimmers and they had come from more than 4 regions arund the North Island (Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Waikato, Hawkes Bay and Poverty Bay). We arrived at 1.40pm and the pool was heaving. I'd entered 10 events and knew that there was only one event that was a timed final so the rest of them I had to swim fast in the first session to make it into the finals. Friday started well. 1st event - 100 Individual medley, 5th place,0.49 sec PB with 1:15.72 2nd event - 200m breastroke, 3rd place, 1.08 sec PB with 3:02.72 3rd event - 50m backstroke, 6th place, 5.77 sec PB with 35.06 so I'd made all the finals, even backstroke in which I was seeded 20th. Finals arrived - my first medal came quick in the 100 IM, I secured 3rd place with another PB of 1:13.83 Next came the 200 breastroke, another PB and a 5th place. Lastly 50m backstroke, I couldn't quite beat my qualifying time so I came in 7th but I was still really pleased with it. Off to the motel at 8.45pm, exhausted but happy. Saturday on paper was my strongest day so I was looking forward to pushing myself and my aim was to get the Bay of Plenty record in the 50m freestyle. So we were back at the pool for 6.40am ready to go. 200m freestyle, good start, 2nd place with another PB dropping 4.67 secs to 2:16.92 Next came 50 breastroke, another PB of 37.76 and ranked 1st. I could feel things were going well, and I was feeling really strong so I went into my 50m freestyle buzzing. I had the perfect race, everything clicked into place and I finished quickly, looking up at the scoreboard I was thrilled to see a time of 27.51 and 1st place, I had done it! A new BOP record and a New Zealand age group Championship qualifying time. I'd dropped 0.67 secs and lowered the record by half a second. I felt on top of the world. Lastly I had to get focussed again and race the 200 IM, another PB, I'd dropped 3.57 secs and came in 2nd. What a session, it was hard to think about how I could top it and get faster for the finals as there were a few swimmers who were close in times. Finals time..... 200m freestyle, another PB but edged into 4th, 50m breastroke, disaster struck when my goggles came down but I managed to still come in 2nd. 50m freestyle, I couldn't really top my record so despite going under 28 secs again I was beaten into 2nd from a very fast 11 year old. My only positive was that he didn't swim faster than my record. 200IM, I was shattered and I felt slow on my backstroke but I fought back and came 2nd. I couldn't have done any more. I was thrilled with the day, another 3 medals and a record, but I was ready to leave at 8.30pm that night. Last day - Sunday and it felt like I had been at the pool for weeks but I knew I could get more medals if I remained focussed. 400m freestyle, a timed final thankgoodness, another PB with 5:01.35 but because the age groupe was 13 and under I finished in 12th. 100 Breastroke, another PB by 2.09 to 1:23.20 and another 2nd place. 100 freestyle, another PB by 2.03 secs and another 2nd place. Last session of the day and 2 finals to go.....100 breastroke, what a race, so close but with my team cheering me on I touched 1st with another PB. A gold medal at last, now I had one of each colour. Last event, 100 freestyle, another PB and another silver medal, I didn't really have anything else to give so I was pleased with my result. so that was the end of my swim meet..... 9 out of 9 finals, 14 of out 19 swims I got a PB, 6 medals and a BAY OF PLENTY RECORD!!!!! a big thanks to those people who have sponsored me already, you really helped me to get this record. So whats next..... the 100m freestyle record, so watch this space