Qualified.

Just a quick post to share Shi's accomplishment this past weekend at the League Championships.

Prelims were Friday.

Shi was swimming two relays and a 50Free and 100Back.

She has been trying to get a State-qualifying time in the 50Free for the past two years.

Last year at the League meet she swam a 26.8. The qualifying time is 26 flat.

She bumped her time up to a 26.5 at one of her dual meets during this season, but I still felt that it might stay just beyond her reach.

I know what you're thinking.
(I've thought it, too.)

Half a second.

(How hard could it be to cut that off?)

I will admit I had pretty much given up hope.

That didn't stop me from giving some great tips as she and I drove to the meet together.

"Kick a tiny bit more."

"Stroke a tiny bit faster."

"Push yourself a tiny bit further."

"You can believe in yourself."

That 50Free is a highly competitive race, and 26-28 seconds seems to be the threshold for a lot of girls. This meet was the absolutely last possible time for Shi to qualify. 

She's a senior, you know (I still can't believe it).

The race began.

Shilo's start was excellent. Her streamline was superb. It was a fast heat, and it's sometimes hard to tell who finished first until you look up at the scoreboard. Shilo came in third in her heat. 

Bummer.

That thought was going through my mind when I realized that Bill was going a little cray-cray yelling something...
what was he saying?

"She did it! She got a State time!"

I had to look at the board again, try to remember what lane she was in (I actually looked for the 3rd place ranking), then register in my head what the time displayed meant.

25.88

Not only did it qualify her for State in that event, she also got to swim it in the Finals the next day.

Just to give you a little perspective, another swimmer got a 26.88 - one second slower (and pretty much what Shi swam last year) - and came in 29th. Twenty-ninth. Shilo placed 10th.

The State Championship Meet is this weekend.

I will spend much of Valentines Day at a crowded pool sitting on uncomfortable cement benches.

This could very likely be the last State swim meet I ever attend.

I love to watch Shi swim, so I will relish the moment.

At 6:15 this morning I was at the school, hanging locker tags:

Printed, cut, laminated and glitter-fied/bedazzled by me (14 total), 

assembled with love by Bill, Shi and myself.

You go, girl!