TommieSports Blog

Lost in all the celebration over Jena's All-American and school-record swim, is the fact that her 58.53 is the fastest time ever swum by an MIAC Athlete in the 100 Back.
The conference keeps both Championship Records (best time achieved at the MIAC Championship), but also an All-Time MIAC Record...the fastest time swum in any competition, anywhere...and Jena broke that time in the prelims of the 100 Back.
This represents a monumental achievement...congratulations, Jena!!!

Posted by Tom Hodgson at 09:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jena dropped a couple of seconds off her lifetime best time in the 200 Back, and closed out the season as an All-American, and returning UST Women's Swimming to the national scene for the first time since 1996.

Her great season is reflective of the year St. Thomas had...amazing improvments, 14 new school records, 69 new entries on our Top 15 list, and probably over 200 personal best times among all our swims.

I know Jena is very proud of her own accomplishments, but all weekend, she talked about how she was just the representative at Nationals of the Family...that everyone swam with as much dedication and as much personal success as she enjoyed

Congratulations, Jena, and congratulation to the team...the Family.

Posted by Tom Hodgson at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jena's prelim record will stand...until next year. Although she made a great run at the finals, the second 50 just wasn't there like it was in the prelims, and just a couple of added tenths gave Jena a 15th place in the 100 Back.

But, no time to worry, as it's time to rest and get ready for the 200 Back tomorrow. At the MIAC Championships, the 200 back prelims was Jena's 9th swim of the weekend...so it's going to be fun to see what fresher arms and legs can do. The school record is only a second and a half away...and it's a 16-year old record. Go, Jena!!!

Posted by Tom Hodgson at 07:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jena swam a beautiful 100 back, breaking her old school record by over three tenths and moving up into a tie for 12th in the NCAA Women's Championships. She went a 58.53.

She swam a beautiful race, keeping her turnover up on the last 25 and hitting her walls very well. We can still improve the 3rd 25, so with a sub-:30 second 50, there's good reason to hope that we might even see a 57+ tonight.

Stay tuned...it's going to be fun.

Posted by Tom Hodgson at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our first experience with the Fastskin Pro will be our last, I'm afraid. Jena wasn't the only swimmer who found the neck opening up like a sea anchor as she tried to swim her 50. It's a shame, too, because Jena has been wicked fast in practice and looking really good in the water.

So, we'll chalk up the 50 to experience, and look forward to the 100 Back. After all, that's where we've spent virtually all our time in preparation.

If you want to follow results for Jena and other MIAC swimmers, click on http://www.collegeswimming.com/Division3/

Posted by Tom Hodgson at 01:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jena Root's 100 back time comfortably qualified her for the NCAA Division III Nationals in Oxford, Ohio, two weeks from now. Becca Ney just missed, in all three events, by a total of 8 one-hundredths of a second. Being so close, she is obviously an alternate...the third alternate listed. We'll have a good idea by Monday whether or not she's likely to make it...and we're hopeful, since the nationals go into the first weekend of Spring Break for many schools, and you never know if some swimmer or three across the country just may have already had plans (or a non-refundable ticket).

On the men's side, we'll have a good idea by next week at this time if TJ Hardy makes it into the 50 or the 100 Free. It may be a long shot, but we're hopeful. He's sitting on the bubble right now, with the strong NESCAC conference still to swim this weekend.

In any event, what an amazing year it was for these three athletes, and our whole team. And, with Jena having another shot at the 100 Back, the 50 Free, and the 200 Back, we may not be done breaking records!

Posted by Tom Hodgson at 07:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When I was younger, I loved the holidays. It was my favorite time of the year. My favorite holiday was Christmas. Then it was a tie with Halloween and Easter for second. Now as I grow older I still love the holidays, a time for families to come together and celebrate. But, I have added another favorite to the collection…March Madness.
March is the best time of the year for basketball players, fans and coaches. March Madness is when dreams are made, champions are crowned and preparation meets opportunity.

Although the opportunity is in the present, the preparation began long before the season started. During the off-season, players are visualizing hitting the last second shot or scoring the big free-throws to win the championship game. In Schoenecker Arena our players worked endlessly for this opportunity. In each of these situations, their team wins and they never face the fear of the unknown. Now, in the present, players are filled with anticipation, anxiety and hope. It is exciting. Through these emotions, you see team determination, commitment, and care. This is team unity. As these emotions continue to build, you begin to see teams handle them differently. Some teams display uncertainty, hesitation and fear. Other teams show a will to win, a determination to be the best they can be. This is what I want from my team. This is why I am most proud of them. They understand the true value of competition. How the emphasis has to be on the process and being your best and giving it your best shot. They have learned from the journey. This is true celebration. Being your best, with people you respect and care for. What an amazing process!

At this time of year, it is important to remember the beauty that athletics brings with its ability to provide opportunity for its participants to grow, develop and be the best they are capable of being. At St. Thomas we are blessed with players, Alumni, fans, and people who have given their best to make us special! This is our beauty…the people in our program.

God has given us gifts and talents to use to our fullest. Let us enjoy the gift of the present at this time of year. Take chances and risks to allow ourselves to grow and be the best we are all capable of being.

Enjoy this time of year. It is a holiday! A whole month to celebrate what is great about athletics and basketball. I know I am excited, prepared and ready for the great month of March. My Tivo is set to record all the games. Make the most of the opportunities provided and be your best. Make it what you want it to be… Make it something special."Llife is not the amount of breaths you take; it is the moments that take your breath away! "-Unknown.

Posted by Ruth Sinn at 02:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)