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| Swimmers compete at the Midwestern Swimming Championship in the pool at Woods Pool on Saturday. (Devin Wagner) |
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Swimmers dive in at long course championships
Nebraskan Durrand among 555 competitors at Woods Pool
BY TOMMY DAHLK / Lincoln Journal Star
Phish is not performing in Lincoln this weekend.
However, the plethora of RVs and tents surrounding Woods Pool gives the impression of a rock festival rather than a swim meet.
This weekend, Nebraska Aquatics is hosting the Midwest Division I Long Course Championships.
The event attracted 555 swimmers from 25 teams in Nebraska and western Iowa.
Patrick Rowan, head coach of Nebraska Aquatics, who organized the meet, said it is the premier swim meet in Nebraska this summer.
“This is the biggest age-group event in Nebraska for sure and has the best competition in Nebraska,” Rowan said. “A lot of focus is put on this meet, and swimmers train year-round for it.”
In the midst of the many swimmers competing, Nebraska Aquatics’ Ashley Durand, who is swimming in the 400-yard individual medley this weekend, stands out.
Durand, a sophomore who swims collegiately for Eastern Michigan, has a shot at making it to the 2008 Olympic Trials in Omaha.
Rowan, in his sixth year of coaching Nebraska Aquatics, said Durand’s work ethic gives her an excellent chance to be his first swimmer to make the trials.
“She sets goals and knows what it takes to achieve those goals,” Rowan said. “She’s an incredibly talented athlete. But at the same time, the hard work, the hours, the time, and the energy she puts in all culminates into that special swimmer you have every now and then.”
Durand didn’t always put this much effort into swimming. In fact, she didn’t take swimming too seriously until her freshman year at Lincoln Southeast.
“My freshman year of high school opened my eyes to how competitive you can be with this sport,” Durand said. “I decided to take it to the next level after that.”
Durand then caught on with Rowan and Nebraska Aquatics, and has been a standout in the individual medley and breaststroke since.
Now competing in college and training for the Olympic Trials, Durand, a biology major, is working harder than ever.
Her workouts involve swimming at least 5,000 to 7,000 meters a day. Four times a week, Durand hits the pool twice a day.
On top of doing aerobic and stroke work in the pool, Durand has film sessions with her coach at Eastern Michigan so she can learn how to perfect her mechanics.
All in all, Durand spends around 20 hours a week practicing and competes in many events throughout the year.
The constant practicing can be a lot for a 19-year-old student-athlete to handle, but Durand said her drive and her love of swimming help her handle the immense time commitment the sport takes.
“It’s a lifelong sport, and you can do it forever,” Durand said. “It makes that mind-body connection that people need to blow off the stress of school, studies or anything. You have to be goal-driven, and you have to think in your head that second place isn’t an option. It gets you out of bed every day.”
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