A Star Is Born
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A Star Is Born Although just 15, Mary Ellen Blanchard outshone even Janet Evans at the short course nationals. Story by Russ Ewald Photos by Mike Gosman CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--This col- her to swim high out of the water. lege town has seen a number of ath- And she's a very determined girl. letes become famous on its Univer- "She's the first one in the weight sity of North Carolina campus. room," says Alex Braunfeld, her There's Michael Jordan and James coach at the Dynamo club. "She's Worthy among others in basketball not afraid to lift." and Lawrence Taylor in football. While no one outside of Dynamo Another star emerged at Koury may have thought a record would Natatorium, the school's swimming fall in the sixth heat of the 200 facility, although she's not a North breast, Blanchard went into the race Carolina student. Mary Ellen Blan- with that goal in mind. After going chard is only 15 years old, but she 2:12.1 unshaved two weeks earlier stamped herself as a leading lady in a region meet, she reasoned that with her performance at the 1989 not only was Caulkins' mark of Phillips 66/U.S. Swimming Short 2:11.46 within reach, but even a sub- Course Championships March 2:10 which had been done only once 21-25. before (Nagasaki's U.S. open mark Blanchard has always been known of 2:09.76). as Doc's granddaughter. That's Doc Blanchard got out almost as fast as in Doc Blanchard, the 1945 Heis- as Nagasaki's pace, 30.07 to 30.04, man Trophy winner as a running but fell 22-hundredths of a second back for Army. Her father, Tony, behind the halfway record split of was also a football standout, ironi- 1:03.08. The young American picked cally playing at North Carolina. up her pace the third quarter, The Blanchards now live in Nor- though, thanks to an underwater in- cross, Ga. tercom from which she could hear Mary Ellen made her name known her times and the excitement of the early in the meet. On the first morn- crowd. A blistering 32.53 third 50 ing of prelims of the five-day com- put her 12-hundredths up on the petition, Blanchard wiped out the record at 1:35.61. And instead of nine-year-old American record of the backing off the final part of her heat great Tracy Caulkins in the 200 yard like most swimmers do in prelims, breaststroke. And she erased the she stormed home in 33.45 for a better U.S. open mark by Japan's time of 2:09.06. Hiroko Nagasaki with it. "I wanted to get the record in the Nobody had set an American morning to take off the pressure in Dynamo's Mary Ellen Blanchard record at the short course nationals the final," she explained. (above) matured a great deal since 1985. And no one had set an Blanchard has been an outstand- from the nervous youngster at American short course mark in a ing age grouper for several years, last year's Olympic trials to set prelim race of 200 yards or longer leading the 11-12 division in the American records in both breast- since 1978. But it's plain to see Blan- middle distance frees in 1986 and the strokes and a U.S. open mark in chard is no ordinary swimmer. 13-14 in the IMs in 1987. Last year the 100 breast. She also collected Besides having good genes, she has she started concentrating on the the women's high-point trophy. exceptional technique that allows breaststroke and finished fourth in P- Swimming World/May 1989 41 USS Senior Nationals the 200 breast at the Olympic trials. neously (29.06 to 29.17). A tremen- Her previous best in the 200 yard dous last turn gave Blanchard a breast was 2:17.91, although that clear lead which she increased to isn't entirely indicative since there win by a half-body length. The win- was no short course nationals last ning time of 1:00.66 lowered her year. American record and was the sec- While most female swimmers ond-fastest ever. McFarlane touched think about shedding pounds, Blan- in 1:01.30 for eighth on the all-time chard felt she needed to gain weight performance list. following the trials. "I was too thin "I think I'll try a little harder and weak," she recalled. "I was now," said McFarlane, who is com- lucky to make fourth at the trials. I peting for Longhorn Aquatics while only dropped one second from the finishing up her studies at Texas this indoor nationals to the trials. That year. "My top priority was getting wasn't too great." through school until now. I keep The 5-81/2 high school sophomore wondering if I'll ever give it (swim- put on 10 pounds since last summer. ming) up." Even at 136, she says her "skinfolds" McFarlane remembers Blanchard ~ are down (indicating less fat) because as a "scared young girl" at the trials. "I stopped eating a lot of junk and About her rival's record-setting per- had more healthy stuff." formances, the veteran said, "I think Unfortunately, Blanchard didn't it's neat because we never do well have any competition in the final. internationally (in the breaststroke). Mission Viejo's Amy Shaw, the U.S. Caulkins' American record split in We never get in the top three. I'm record holder in the long course 200 her 100 breast heat, the weight train- hoping she'll do something about breast, took a long layoff from her ing paid off for the Georgia gal who that." specialty because of a groin injury powered home in 31.87 for another Blanchard then came back 43 and swam only freestyle at the meet. U.S. record. Her time of 1:01.08 minutes later to take the 200 IM in Tracey McFarlane of Longhorn, an eclipsed Caulkins' mark of 1:01.13 1:58.66 and become the second- Olympian in the event, had trained set in 1981. fastest performer of all time in that just once a day since the Seoul "I was pretty scared about the 100 event. The time also gave her a third Games and qualified just ninth. Blan- because my 200 is my best race," 15-16 NAG record. She trailed 16- chard swam an even faster opening said Blanchard following the pre- year-old Summer Sanders of Califor- half (30.07, 1:02.86) at night but lims. "I usually cut my stroke too nia Capital (who was third at the couldn't duplicate her amazing third much. I tried to stretch out and did Olympic trials) the first leg (26.27 to 50 of the morning and settled for a until the last 15 yards. I wanted to 26.63) before pulling even on back- five-yard victory in 2:09.54, giving go faster, a 00 or a 59. stroke (56.92) and assuming com- her the two fastest 200 yard breast "Tracey McFarlane will be there mand on breast by a body length. times ever. tonight. She's fast. That will help." Blanchard's almost two-second vic- "I tell them they should go for the McFarlane, who set a U.S. open tory was the fourth-fastest time ever time in the morning and the win at mark of 1:00.51 last year before she and a half-second better than any- night," said Braunfeld. became an American citizen, quali- one in history except for Caulkins, Blanchard followed that strategy fied second in 1:01.72. In the final, the American record holder at again two days later. Although she Blanchard and McFarlane turned 1:57.06. got out 41-hundredths slower than halfway through almost simulta- "I'm proud of my body holding up tonight," said Blanchard, who capped the evening by anchoring ~,No,t~ Holiday Inn-Riverview Dynamo's 400 freestyle relay in f Co°,t Toledo, Ohio 50.84. "I need to work on my free- I C,,°ch,,, .J" style because I usually expend J~, 19-21, i~ 141 N. Summit St. myself on breaststroke." ~ Toledo, Ohio 43604 I Featured Speakers: Featuring: Popular Janet Evans (above) is Richard Quick Mary T. Meagher ASCA Stroke School so accommodating she signed autographs immediately prior Brian Gordon Jim Montrella Red Cross Swimming Coaches to standing on the blocks for the Rich Draper Ann Urschel Safety Certification start of the 1000 yard free. The Bob Steele Linda K. Hall Ph.D. 10 ASCA Credits attention hasn't seemed to raze Contact: the Fullerton star who went on David Faiella • 3142 Strathmoor ° Toledo, Ohio 43614 and set an American record. 42 Swimming World/May 1989 ~r~i I ~ If you think a serious I swim camp can't be fun. you're all wet. ~ • ~ !'~t._ ~ / m m The most serious competitors instructors know how to create are finding out that the best a thoroughly enjoyable and place to train is also the rewarding camp experience most fun. with a wide variety of planned Mission Bay Aquatic Training activities and events. It's Center. Where swimmers and impossible not to have divers ages 9 and up enjoy an a good time. aquatic complex containing tape library; meeting rooms So if you're serious about the most comprehensive for film viewing and sports training, come to the camp state-of-the-art facilities in the psychology sessions; two that's serious about making country.