Menear places 35th in 100 backstroke
Submitted photo
Mapletown graduate Ella Menear improved on her heat placement, although her time was a little bit slower in the 100-meter backstroke Monday at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
The Alabama sophomore finished 35th overall with a time of 1:02.03. Her 50-meter spit was
30.04 seconds.
The cut for the top 16 and B final was 1:00.71.
Menear entered the meet with the 40th-fastest qualifying time of 1:01.54.
Menear qualified at the Almost Heaven Open in Morgantown. She took time off after the NCAA Championship in March.
Menear understood the daunting task at hand before she competed in her event.
“To some extent you have to be realistic with yourself,” said Menear, who will enter her sophomore year at Alabama this fall. “There is no chance for me to make the team. I want to get a best time in my event. I want to swim a ‘.00’ (one minute). I have to trust my coaching and my training.
“I want to enjoy the moment. I don’t get a chance to do this often. It’s really a big stage. I’m excited to be there.
“I want to take it all in. I’m excited to be there with my friends.”