This one was a long time coming......Laura had been trying all year to get a qualifying time to make it to this meet. It is called the AGE Groups and only the best get to qualify for it. They have qualifying times. She had been coming oh so close to making it. 6/10ths of a second one time and 3/10ths another time. but in swimming, thats a long way away.....so back to the drawing board she went, going at it harder and harder, not only in the practice pool but on dryland. She would run on days where she wasnt in the pool. We were driving home from one of the meets and she was calculating how many more practices she had and what she needed to do on days she wasnt practicing. The girl was in tip top shape. She had made the Sectionals and it just happens, that the Sectionals was the last meet where she could qualify for the AGE groups. There is no suspense leading up to it, you know she kicked ass in it and made AGE groups.... It was so exciting for her to get to that point...and one day later she came within 3/100ths of a second to making it on another event, but she was so happy to get that first one , a 50 yard free it would be......
Sooooo, we were on to AGE groups this weekend at BU. She would face the best 13,14 year olds from New England (She's 13). What a race she had. She was thrilled just to be here, but watch this race.....if you cant figure it out, she finished first in this heat.....qualifying for the finals. First of all, when she finished she looked up at the time and realized that not only was it a personal best (25.71) but she had broken that elusive 26 second mark that had been her nemesis. Kara had been monitoring the races at home on her racing app and let everyone know that Laura had qualified for the finals that afternoon......Now, you must know, that the finals were never something she had even dreamed about. After all, she was ranked 49th going in and they only took the top 20 for the finals....The numbers usually dont move too much....She was out of her mind...It was quite an experience for her, She had worked real hard for this and nobody gave it to her, she earned it....
On sunday, She got to come back and compete in the relay finals also and her team came in a very respectable 6th overall.....What a weekend for Laura!!!
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