Meeting her goals: Menear qualifies for NCAA Swimming Championships
Ella Menear left Mapletown High School last spring with a three-item checklist of what she wanted to accomplish within her first year as a swimmer at the University of Alabama.
The freshman marked off the last of three boxes a couple weeks ago at the Southeast Conference Championship.
鈥淚n my freshman year, I wanted to be on the scoring team, I wanted to get into the Olympic Trials and qualify for the NCAA meet,鈥� explained Menear.
Menear qualified for the national championship in the 100 backstroke, and also as a member of the Crimson Tide鈥檚 400 medley relay.
Menear will have company in the NCAA Division I Women鈥檚 Swimming & Diving Championships to be held on March 20-23 at the Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Georgia. Alabama qualified seven individual swimmers in 18 events, plus the 200 medley, 200 freestyle, 400 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
Menear was unable to hit the 鈥淎鈥� cut in her events, but managed to make the 鈥淏鈥� cut for a spot in the 100 backstroke. She is seeded 33rd with her time of 52.15 seconds.
鈥淚 wanted to go 51 (seconds) at the SEC (meet) and I鈥檇 be guaranteed to go. The cutoff last year was 52.3 seconds. Shoot, I was right at the line (with her time of 52.15 seconds). Am I going to go?鈥� wondered Menear.
Menear was invited in the 200 backstroke. Her time of 1:54.84 is 43rd and met the 鈥淏鈥� cut, but was just outside the top 36 marks. She believes there鈥檚 a good chance she鈥檒l have an opportunity to participate in the longer distance, as well.
鈥淚 was pretty iffy (she鈥檇 qualify for the NCAA meet). My coaches were more confident than I was,鈥� said Menear.
Menear noted the respect the Southeast Conference Championship has around the country.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely a big deal. A lot of people say the SEC is more nerve-wracking than the NCAAs,鈥� explained Menear. 鈥淚 did better than I expected.鈥�
Menear set a lofty goal for her performance in the national meet.
鈥淚 would like to go faster than I did in the SEC (meet). I want to break the 52 (second) barrier,鈥� said Menear.
The 100 backstroke trials and finals are Friday, March 22, with the 200 backstroke competitions on March 23.
Accustomed to the 100 backstroke, Menear added the 200 backstroke to her performance list.
鈥淚t is different,鈥� Menear said of the race. 鈥淵ou can think more about the race (while swimming the race).鈥�
Menear will take a break from the pool for a week or so after the NCAA meet, and then turn her attention (and training) to the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Indianapolis from June 15-23.
Menear qualified in the 100 backstroke.
鈥淚鈥檓 staying (at Alabama) through the trials,鈥� said Menear.
Menear was also a standout volleyball player for the Lady Maples, but is a one-sport athlete now.
鈥淐oming in not playing volleyball in the fall made a big difference,鈥� said Menear.
Menear entered Alabama with an impressive resume, including two WPIAL gold medals, a state gold and a PIAA silver medal in her senior season a year ago.
鈥淟ooking back, I couldn鈥檛 ask for a better high school swimming experience. I didn鈥檛 swim on a team, but I had my parents and community with me,鈥� added Menear.