Today was the day so many Canyons swimmers were waiting for. Abbey Weitzeil was scheduled to appear in the 100 freestyle at the US Nationals. Her job was to take 4th place or better, as the top four swimmers in the event would earn a spot on the National Team and represent the United States at the Pan Pacific Championships and the World Championships. That was a tall order, but you have to have a goal at a meet like this. After a strong showing at Junior Nationals last week where she broke the 50 free National Age Group record (actually tied it), Abbey seemed primed to do even better this week. Then the unexpected. A few days ago Abbey came down with a cold. The timing could not be worse. Train all year long only to be punched in the gut (the nose) with something so trivial. The 50 free can be completed with one or two breaths, but the 100 free requires much more. The outlook was concerning at the least. Game day – Abbey was exceptional in preliminaries racing in the final heat on the outside lane against the likes of Missy Franklin. About 50 meters in it was apparent that the common cold couldn’t keep her down. She touched second with a 54.41. How fast was that? Well, it ranked her 6th on the day and put her in a very fast final. Historically the time puts her in the top 25 in the world for this year. In fact, her time would have broken the world record as recently at 1993. The time set the SCS 17-18 age group record and somewhere, someone wrote that it broke a 17 & under world records. We’re looking into that one (we’ve never heard of a 17 & under world record, but if it exists, we want it). Flash-forward to the finals. Abbey was up against seven women who have all been either Olympic medalists or been members of a World championship team. It was one of those “I’m just happy to be here” moments. Shes was the youngest in the race so there were few expectations of greatness. As the TV announcers introduced the swimmers to the Internet audience, they barely acknowledged Abbey and just said it was a “surprise” she was there. A surprise? To whom? Not anyone on Canyons and not anyone who knows Abbey and not anyone who knows swimming and not every college coach in the nation. The only person who was surprised was announcer Rowdy Gaines who needs to spend a little more time studying the talent in pool instead of fawning over the Olympic stars in the deck. Race on. Abbey goes out strong but we’re talking swimmers like Franklin, Lia Neal, Natalie Coughlin, Simone Manuel, Amanda Weir. She’s strong on the turn (Coach Coley’s biggest concern from the morning) and she comes back even stronger. She needs 4th place and at the wall SHE GETS IT. 4th Place and membership to the most talented swim team in the world. All this while wearing a Canyons cap. Her time is 54.38, breaks her SCS record from the morning, moves up even higher on the world rankings and makes swim history. So who was surprised? No one—except maybe Rowdy Gaines, but if he was, he didn’t show it as he barely mentioned Abbey and the camera crew missed the shot of her getting her medal. None of that mattered because the Canyons families at the pool and those watching at home were too busy celebrating to care. Wow. That was all on the first day!
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 02:47:39 +0000
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