WEEKLY UPDATES: All practices are at normal times and days during the next couple of weeks. There will be no practice during spring break from March 17 to March 22. Have a good week away from the pool and get some much deserved physical and mental rest.
UPCOMING MEETS: The MAKOS SPRING CHAMPS meet is the weekend of March 29 and 30. If you did not swim at JO'S you should be entering your best events for this meet. Please enter by March 11.
Don't forget March 17 is ST. Patricks day!
JUNIOR OLYMPICS WRAP UP: We just finished a long weekend of some very fast and exciting swimming, and our group did extremely well. It was fun to watch a lot of you rise to the occasion against the fastest swimmers not only in Potomac Valley but on the EAST Coast. Many of you kept your focus throughout the entire weekend, kept your energy level high and were able to do some incredible swimming. Some of us also learned some valuable lessons which I only hope will serve you well in the future
Let's look at some numbers for our group;- 176 spl
- 126 lifetime best
- 34 -- 1.0 seconds or less off their best's
- 15 -- swims that needed a little more effort
- 72% lifetime best as a group
These numbers do not include the 7 lead off swims that will count as lifetime bests for some swimmers. We also had quite alot of lifetime best's turned in on relay splits, which tell me that the EFFORT WAS THERE!!
ZONE QUALIFIERS: We have three of our teammates from our groups who EARNED spots on the ZONE TEAM. They are James Murphy, Rachel Ward, and Leah Rogers. Great job! 
We started the meet off on Thursday night with Christina G. swimming the 500 free, John K. swimming the 1000 free, and Maggie Shaw swimming the 1650 (mile) freestyle. All three posted lifetime best and got our meet off to a great start.
After a good nights rest we arrived at 6:30am to take on the Friday events. After the 200 medley relay where we had a lot of good splits it was our 200 backstrokers that took to the pool.200 BACKSTROKESam O. after having a good middle 100 in this event finished the final 50 hard and posted a lifetime best. Logan M also had a lifetime best dropping 7 seconds and qualifying for finals Friday night. Also coming back to finals was Zoe H. who held her entry time.
50 BREASTSTROKEOur breaststrokers with their incredible 
kick were next up. All our breaststrokers posted lifetime bests and it included Amy B. who reached her goal set back in September on our goal sheets. Alex H., and Claire M. also posted best times with Claire coming back in the evening. Shannon O. and Luke G. were right on their time. The 9-10 session saw Elise B., Luke J., Roman L., all post lifetime best. Cole M, Gavin S., and Alley B. all swam their entry times.
kick were next up. All our breaststrokers posted lifetime bests and it included Amy B. who reached her goal set back in September on our goal sheets. Alex H., and Claire M. also posted best times with Claire coming back in the evening. Shannon O. and Luke G. were right on their time. The 9-10 session saw Elise B., Luke J., Roman L., all post lifetime best. Cole M, Gavin S., and Alley B. all swam their entry times.100 FREESTYLE: It was now time to change the pace a little bit and do some all out sprinting. Posting lifetime bests were Alex H., Logan M., and Amy B., who just missed breaking the 1:00:00 as an 11 year old. In the 10 and under session we had several of our future STARS sprinting to their lifetime bests and they were; Elise B., Charlotte H., Luke J., who dropped over 2 seconds. The last 2 were Rachel W., and James M., who would come back to finals and just miss breaking the !:00:00 as 10 year olds.
50 FLY: 
Our next group were the fliers and how they soared. Posting lifetime bests were Gillian C. who would post a 28.7 and come back that evening and go faster. Also posting lifetime best times were Mary C., Kylie C., Megan H.,Gabby G., Rachel A.. Swimming about the same time were Zoe H., Lauren Y., Christina G., and Katie S. Matt J. had an incredible swim dropping over 2 seconds and not to be out done was Miles O., who dropped over 1 second, and James C., who was right on his time. In the next session we saw Anna O., and Leah R. drop over 3 seconds and James M. and Elise B. holding their times. Both Leah and James would return that evening to swim again.
Our next group were the fliers and how they soared. Posting lifetime bests were Gillian C. who would post a 28.7 and come back that evening and go faster. Also posting lifetime best times were Mary C., Kylie C., Megan H.,Gabby G., Rachel A.. Swimming about the same time were Zoe H., Lauren Y., Christina G., and Katie S. Matt J. had an incredible swim dropping over 2 seconds and not to be out done was Miles O., who dropped over 1 second, and James C., who was right on his time. In the next session we saw Anna O., and Leah R. drop over 3 seconds and James M. and Elise B. holding their times. Both Leah and James would return that evening to swim again.200 IM: Next up was one of my favorite events and we had some swims that were 
. Abby M., dropped 2 seconds, Rachel A. dropped over 3 seconds, and not to be out done Lauren Y.5 seconds, Matt J. dropped over 3 seconds, and Rachel W dropped over 4 seconds and she would swim it again that evening. James M., also dropped over 4 seconds and would swim again that night.
. Abby M., dropped 2 seconds, Rachel A. dropped over 3 seconds, and not to be out done Lauren Y.5 seconds, Matt J. dropped over 3 seconds, and Rachel W dropped over 4 seconds and she would swim it again that evening. James M., also dropped over 4 seconds and would swim again that night.
The evening session included the following Logan, Zoe, Claire, Rachel W (2), James (3) Leah, Gillian, Luke. We posted another 8 lifetime bests in the evening. Now it was time for 
and some much needed rest.
brought a new set of races along with some warm weather.200 Fly: We continued our assault on our best times with Rachel A., and Katie S dropping over 6 seconds and qualifying for finals. Logan M., dropped 13 seconds and Gillian C. and Lauren Y. posted about the same times.
100 IM: A shorter version of the 200 with a different strategy. Amy B., Alex H., Lauren Y all posted best times and Abby M. dropped over 4 seconds. Swimming on their times were Claire M., and Rachel A. The 10 and under session saw Rachel W., Leah R., Elise B., James M., all post best times. Roman L., had a great swim dropping over 5 seconds. James, Rachel, and Leah would return that evening.
100 BREAST Our 
were next to leap into the pool? Amy B reached another Sept. goal with a best time, and Claire M. and Shannon O. swam their times, but Claire would return in the evening to post a lifetime best. Rachel W. dropped 2 seconds and would swim again that evening. Leah R. dropped over 5 seconds in her leap. Cole M. dropped 2 seconds and Luke swam his posted time.
were next to leap into the pool? Amy B reached another Sept. goal with a best time, and Claire M. and Shannon O. swam their times, but Claire would return in the evening to post a lifetime best. Rachel W. dropped 2 seconds and would swim again that evening. Leah R. dropped over 5 seconds in her leap. Cole M. dropped 2 seconds and Luke swam his posted time.50 BACK: Our backstroke sprinter were up next and one of them was in for a treat. Abby M., Gillian C., Matt J and Miles O all posted best times with Miles and Matt making it back to finals that evening. Rachel A., and Katie Y., were just a bit off their times. Zoe was also off a little bit, but had to do a swim off to see who was going to be in the top 8. I've never seen her that excited, and all she had to do was win and win she did with a lifetime best of 30.5. In the 10 and under session James M., Roman L., and Gavin S posted lifetime bests and Gavin dropping over 3 seconds, and James making it to finals.
200 FREE: Logan M. continued her rampage as she dropped 4 more seconds with a lifetime best that got her to finals where she would drop another 3 seconds. Christina G., also posted a lifetime best dropping over 1 second. In the next session Luke J., and Cole M., posted lifetime bests dropping 2 and 3 seconds.
The finals session looked like this; Logan, Miles, Matt, Zoe, Claire, Rachel W. (2), James M (2), Leah, Katie S., Rachel A. Now it was time to find a way to wind down get some rest for the final day. 
.
and no time for the we had some unfinished business to attend to.200 BREAST: Amy B reached another one of her goals by reaching finals while dropping over 3 seconds (she would drop 2 more that night).
100 BACK: We had some excellent swims at this stage in the meet by our backstrokers. Matt J. dropped over 4 seconds, Logan M. dropped over 3 seconds. Gillian C. posted a best time, and Zoe H., Katie Y., Abby M., Lauren Y., Rachel A., and Miles O all posted about the same times. The 10 and unders saw Roman L., and Gavin S., both drop over 4 seconds in their races.
50 FREE: Next up were the true sprinters. Posting best times were Alex H., Megan H., Rachel W., Leah R., Elise B., James M., Luke J., Roman L., Cole M., with Luke, James, Rachel W, and Alex H qualifying for finals.
100 FLY: This was the last event of the meet, but we did not let up. Posting best times were Matt J. (4second drop), Abby M., Amy B., Logan M., (4 second drop), Katie S., Rachel A., and Gillian C., who would drop more time in finals that night. Lauren Y. swam her posted time. In the younger session Rachel W and Leah R. qualified for finals while posting best times.
The final evening session looked like this; Amy, Logan, Zoe, Gillian, Alex, Rachel W. (2), James, Luke, Leah
Even though this was the final act of the meet and all were tired we had enough left to post 9 more lifetime bests.I am so proud of all of you that I couldn't begin to tell you! You approached the weekend like an athlete and when it was time to perform you did. There was very little felling sorry for yourselves and you walked around with your head up and shoulders back which meant you were confident. You've taken what I have given you and grow not only in this sport as an athlete, but also as a person.
I have really enjoyed working with all of you and I only see good things for you in the future.
HAVE A GREAT SPRING BREAK! GOOD LUCK IN YOUR SPRING ACTIVITIES!
MIKE
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