Root For...That 15 Year Old

I would imagine that most people watching the Olympic Trials said the same thing during the Women's 400 IM "Who is that 15 year old" and, during the 200 Back, "That 15 year old might make it in this event, too". Elizabeth Beisel, that 15 year old, has been on the National and International scene since she finished 15th at the 2004 US Open as a 12 year old. I first saw Elizabeth swim at GCIT in 2003 as a member of the New England Zone Team. Elizabeth was the 10 and under age group High Point winner and established a new National Age Group Record in the 500 Free.

It has been fun to watch Beisel's progression over the last four years and there is no telling how far she will reach. Just in the last year she has dropped 12 seconds in the 400 IM and five seconds in the 200 Backstroke. Keep an eye on her splits in the 200 Back: she usually negative splits the race (second half is faster than the first half) and has one of the best final 50s I have ever seen. She used this fast final 50 in Omaha to power past Hayley McGregory for the second spot behind Margaret Hoelzer in Beijing. And, for the record, she turns 16 during the Olympics.

Root for...Elizabeth Beisel...USA!