R-MC Swim Team Aquathlon

Aquathlon. It's the term for the run/swim flavor of multisport competition. Following the Ashland Harvest Run, our team came back to the pool for the first annual R-MC Swim Team Aquathlon. Actually, it was an F-1 style aquathlon, and it went a little something like this: 500 swim - 1.2 mile run - 500 swim - 1.2 mile run - 500 swim. For the swimmers with injuries, it was an aquabike competition (swim/bike): 500 swim - 2.25 mile bike - 500 swim - 2.25 mile bike - 500 swim.

Based on early season running form, the odds on favorites were Brianna and Sarah, who occupied the pole positions in lane 6. They were to be challenged early on by the swimming specialists (aren't they all swimming specialists, you ask?) in the form of the two Elizabeths. Plowman and Buckley jumped out to a commanding lead of ~25 seconds on the first 500, but after running around the block and returning to the pool, the runners had taken control. There they would stay for the duration of the competition. Brianna and Sarah, Sarah and Brianna. Side by side the entire race. The photo finish even proved indecisive, and so they shared the top spot on the day.

Here are the results, and photos:

Aquathlon
1) Lovell            40:58
    Almond         40:58
3) Buckley        41:20
4) Babington    42:24
5) Mullin            44:19
6) Dodd            45:15
7) Plowman      46:12
8) Spurrier        47:24
9) Mauch          47:50
10) Carter        47:59
11) Obermiller  48:33
12) Shea           49:15

Aquabike
1) Stevenson - 39:18
2) Milstead - 39:45
3) Preddy - 40:39

 The winners take control near the end of the first run

 Swimmers do their thing as one athlete changes in the (very orderly) transition area

The photo finish. Keep your head down and reach!

Ashland Harvest Run

This past weekend was Fall Break here at R-MC. What did that mean for the swim team? Well, it meant several things, including a fun filled Saturday morning in Ashland. After a long warm-up and team breakfast, the ladies and I took our posts at various intersections through town. We served as course marshalls for the Ashland Harvest Run 5K/10K, which meandered through town and campus. It was a good way for the swimmers to get out there and cheer on other athletes, while also supporting two good causes. Race proceeds benefitted Hanover Safe Place and the Western Hanover Emergency Action Team.

It also served as a mental prep session for the events to follow....Anyway, here is proof that our swimmers were helping out some runners:

 Kellianne manning the "hot corner" at Center & College

 Ellie Shea directing traffic somewhere south of rte. 54

 KDodd helping out an unknown runner

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Swim Season

...Everywhere I go. Yes, the first three and a half weeks have come and gone, the team is getting in better shape each day, and we're not too far away from the first "real" competitions of the season. I say real because our swimmers already got up and raced last weekend at our annual Lemon vs. Black intrasquad meet. I saw some pretty good swims from the ladies, and was pleased with the meet overall. Team Black ended up being a little shorthanded on the day, but still did a good job of keeping it a close meet. It wasn't enough to overcome the might of Team Lemon, which prevailed by a score of 121-116.

The next competition our swimmers will take part in will be our first annual aquathlon (that is swimming plus running) over fall break this weekend. I'm looking forward to it!

Top Ten Lists

One project that I worked on over the summer was putting together a list of the top ten performers in each individual event in the history of our women's program. In looking through all of the results of the past eleven seasons, it was good to see how our current team stacks up against the teams and individuals that have come before them. Many of our current swimmers and recent grads made the list....which will be posted soon.