Marina Olmstead competed in the 2017 Mississippi Swimming Long Course State Championships held July 20-23 in Tupelo.
Olmstead won three gold medals, three silver medals, and one bronze medal. She cut time in every event and set five new team records.
In the 15-16 Girls age group, Olmstead won the state championship races for the 100-meter freestyle (1:02.01), 100-meter breaststroke (1:20.05), and 100yd butterfly (1:07.33). Olmstead scored silver in the 50-meter freestyle (28.22), 200-meter breaststroke (2:58.71), and 100-meter backstroke (1:10.27). Olmstead scored bronze in the 200-meter individual medley (2:37.10).
When asked what was the hardest thing about the state meet, Olmstead replied, “Picking which events to swim.”
Olmstead could have chosen events that would have been easy to win, or she could pick events that were more meaningful for colleges. Several colleges have already begun actively recruiting her. She picked the most competitive races that would give her the best scholarships from colleges. (Because of her age, only Division II and III schools can currently talk to her. Division I schools will be able to contact her in September. Olmstead is doing her best to beef up her resume by that time.)
The next event for Olmstead is USA Swimming’s Futures Championships in Nashville, Tenn., on Aug. 3-6. Futures is the most elite national event for which anyone in her age group in MS has qualified. Olmstead hopes to seize this opportunity to better her swim times further. For Olmstead, it is an opportunity to swim with athletes as serious as she is.
Sister Maya Olmstead also competed in four events in the 13-14 Girls age group, and placed fifth in the senior girls 400-meter freestyle relay and 16th in the 13-14 girls 100-meter freestyle. She cut time in all her events and achieved “A” times for the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle.
Friday Night Finals
100-meter breaststroke 23.00
100-meter butterfly 2:32.37
Saturday Night Finals
200-meter individual medley 45.57
100-meter freestyle 1:28.20
200-meter breaststroke 2:03.44
Sunday Night Finals
100-meter backstroke 1:07.00
50-meter freestyle 1:34.34
Saturday Morning Prelims
100-meter freestyle 2:03.13
