A Star Is Born

Although just 15, Mary Ellen Blanchard outshone even 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 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 in the 200 yard like most swimmers do in prelims, . 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 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 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.

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The three wins, U.S. open record Caulkins' pace (56.5 to 58.19). She and three American marks earned fell further off on breaststroke. Her Blanchard the women's Robert J.H. Awards At A Glance winning time of 4:08.53 made Evans Kiphuth Award as the high-point LEADING SCORERS the second-fastest performer in his- scorer among the female competi- Men tory and was the fourth-fastest ever. Derek Weatherford, Swim Florida, 136 tors, ending the streak of Janet , Bolles School, 108 Sanders, who trailed Evans by less Evans, who had won the award at John Keppeler, Mission Viejo, 106 than a second going into the final the last four nationals. Chas Morton, Nashville, 106 leg, set a 15-16 NAG record of Chad Hundeby, Irvine Nova, 103 4:12.00 (bettering Evans' mark) in Women Mary Ellen Blanchard, Dynamo, 198 placing second. Evans didn't do badly herself, Janet Evans, Fullerton, 170 "I think the 4:04 that Tracy did is also tripling to show that success has Pare Minthorn, Curl, 160 an amazing record," said Evans. not spoiled the three-time Olympic , VACS, 160 "It's stood for a long time. I think of , Seacoast, 158 gold medalist from Fullerton, Calif. the events I swim it's the toughest." She set an American record in the PHILLIPS PERFORMANCE AWARD The triple world record holder 1000, did a personal best in captur- Mary Ellen Blanchard, Dynamo, also never matched the splits of 200 yard breaststroke ing the 400 IM and also won the Caulkins in the 500. She was down 500. ROOKIES OF THE MEET 47-hundredths after the opening 100 Amy Walker, Des Moines Swim Fed., The 17-year-old from Fullerton 6th, 1650 free and wound up winning in 4:38.82, Aquatics swam the closing-day 1000 Matt Buckley, Heartland Swim Assn., well off the mark of 4:36.25 and practically alone with a pool-length 4th, 1000 free even slower than her high school lead by 775 yards and finished in record of 4:37.50 set last year in 9:25.49, bettering the mark of Long Beach. 9:28.32 set by Mission Viejo's Tif- she figured to threaten American "I felt good at the beginning and fany Cohen in 1985. While Cohen records in every race she entered. then I stiffened up," she said. "My picked up her pace in the final laps, Because the 1650 was switched from turns aren't as good. I'm definitely a Evans took it out hard the opening the final night to the first day of the long course swimmer." half (4:40.94) to be up on the record meet schedule, she passed it up and But Evans added, "I do think it's split by 3.42 seconds at that point. instead established a U.S. record (the 500 record) within reach." "The day off helped a lot," said (15:44.98) in the event in January at Asked about the constant expecta- Evans, who didn't race Friday after a Q meet. But the 400 IM and 500 tions of records from her, she winning the 400 IM on Wednesday marks, both held by Caulkins, replied: "I don't know if it's unfair. I and 500 the following night. proved too tough. guess there are some high expecta- Since Evans had not fully tapered With the fly leg her weakest tions. ! try to do the best I can. for a short course meet since 1987, stroke, Evans started out behind "I think some people think Janet isn't working out as much because she's taking all the trips. I've been doing the same distances and just as intense. I still get in my usual 11 Changing Your Address? workouts a week and train when I'm IF YOU'RE MOVING, PLEASE LET US KNOW 6-8 WEEKS IN ADVANCE on the road as well. I don't need a coach to tell me to work out and If you have no label available, print old address here. motivate me." I But the inexperience of Evans' in- I ,-I I terim coach, Dawn Brandewie, who b.1 name please print i replaced Bud McAllister, adversely .¢ ,-1 address I affected the star once during the meet. Brandewie neglected to scratch city i Evans from the 200 free. Thus, Evans I had to swim in the 200 free prelims I t.. state zip code j or else be automatically scratched Fill in new address below: from the 400 IM which was the same day. On 20 minutes notice, she did a 1:48.48 as a warmup for her 400 IM and qualified ninth. She scratched name please print from the night's consols of the 200.

address But by having to compete in the 200, she was forced to bypass the city state zip 200 IM and spoil what would have Mail to: SWIMMING WORLD, P.O. Box 45497, Los Angeles, CA 90045 been the most interesting matchup of the meet against Blanchard.

44 Swimming World/May 1989 USS Senior Nationals

Another Olympic champion, Suri- nam's Anthony Nesty of Holmes Lumber, surprisingly came back to take the 200 fly (1:46.02) after being upset in the 100 fly, his gold-medal event. Nesty has been training only once a day while concentrating on studies in the hope of entering the next winter. "I missed every turn in the 100," he said. "I took seven strokes, looked for the wall and couldn't find it."

While Evans continued her suc- cess, only Whitney Hedgepeth of the remaining nine U.S. Olympians at the meet won a race. The versatile Hedgepeth, despite passing up her Olympic event, the 200 IM, captured two events with a 1:46.89 in the 200 free and 54.17 in the 100 fly. A bout with the measles two weeks earlier Evans wasn't the only Olympic that was bettered by Dave Wharton probably kept the 18-year-old Vir- star running into trouble at the at last year's NCAAs. ginia Association swimmer from meet. Hungary's Tamas Darnyi, the Hungary also got victories in the lowering her personal bests in those gold medalist and world record 100 breast by Karoly Guttler (54.94), races (1:46.05, 54.00). About skip- holder in both IMs, was disqualified the Olympic silver medalist, and in ping the 200 IM, she stated, "I'm not in the prelims of the 400 IM. The the 500 from 18-year-old Norbert that much of an IMer. I can't do turn judge ruled that coming into Agh (4:19.51). However, an over- breaststroke too well. And I like to the wall on butterfly, Darnyi came weight Joszef Szabo, the Olympic alternate events." up short and used an illegal stroke gold medalist in the 200 breast, One high school Olympian, Wil- to bring himself to the surface. For swam only 2:02.75 for 14th in that ton's (Conn.) , didn't the rest of the meet and even after event's prelims and scratched from even show up for the meet, citing in- the competition ended, Hungarian the consols. sufficient training since the Games. • coach Tamas Szechy and his stand- out argued the decision. Darnyi did take time out from discussions with meet referee Charly Mallery the final day to win the 200 IM in Fast 1:47.45. Darnyi enjoyed a four-month vacation from swimming after the Lanes Olympics. "It's not a bad time for Having gained a how much I've been training," he reputation as being said about his 200 IM. "If I'd have among the finest sum- swum the 400 IM, I'd have swum a mer camps for boys and much better time because that's my girls and for teens, Wekeela is more than a best race," added the still-bitter Camp Wekeela Hungarian, who set a U.S. open complete experience, Head Coach John Trem- Traditional camps forteensandcbildren record in the 400 yard IM two years encompassing 65 activi- bley, and endorsed and in beautiful Canton, Maine since 1922 ties, plus frequent re- staffed by Kathy Lawlor Full or Half S~aso,l ago at the short course nationals 198~gSeason June26 toAugust20 gional and Canadian and C. Robb Orr, UPenn 130 Sou tb M~,rkle, (.blu m bus, OH 43209 trips. and Princeton Head (614)2~5-~177 Hungary's Tamas Darnyi (above) Wekeela happens Coaches, respectively. to offer a comprehen- If you can't aftk)rd lost a chance to repeat as the sive competitive swim- to slow down your pro- men's high-point scorer at the ming program, endorsed gram for the summer, short course nationals when he by award-winning Uni- contact us for more was disqualified in the 400 IM. g versity of Tennessee information. The double gold medalist came back to capture the 200 IM.

Swimming World/May 1989 45 USS Senior Nationals

"I think a lot of Olympians took swims for Mission Viejo, captured time off, especially the high school the 200 free (1:36.30). South Caro- seniors because they've got four lina graduate Jean-Marie Arnould, years of hard college training 22, on leave from the Belgium army, ahead," explained Wichita's Anne won the 1650 (15:11.26). Harvard Mahoney, who won the 100 back law school student Dirk Marshall, (55.72) in spite of jamming her elbow 26, who started his own team called so badly on the last turn that a hush the Boston Scrod with one of its came over the crowd. Mahoney, a mottos, "Every dog has its day," high school senior who barely missed held off gold medalist Nesty in the making the Olympic team, said, "It 100 fly (47.53). was definitely a disappointment but The club winning the combined not a setback. I have a lot of swim- team title changed, but the winning ming still to do." coach remained the same. Mark The same could be said for the rest Schubert, who guided Mission Viejo of the women's winners, which in- to 44 national titles (combined, cluded a trio of 16-year-olds--Sea- men's and women's) and Mission coast's Jenny Thompson, Curl's Pam Bay to nine including a sweep at last Minthorn and Julie Kole of Fox- year's U.S. indoors, led Longhorn to catcher. Thompson swept the sprints the combined championship. Long- and had personal bests (22.66, horn swam to easy victories in three 49.67p). Minthorn dropped more relays, taking the men's and women's than 31/2 seconds from a year ago to 400 medleys in 3:19.24 and 3:42.41, take the 200 fly (1:56.01). Kole, who The Bolles School, won the 400 IM respectively, and the women's 400 used to resemble Janet Evans in size (3:48.79) and finished as the second freestyle in 3:22.84. Little Rock, but has grown to 5-7 and 120 leading scorer. The other high school helped by a 400 freestyle relay vic- pounds, captured the 1650 in a per- winners were seniors William tory (2:47.15), won the men's com- sonal-best 16:06.60. Berkeley's (N.J.) Schwenk of Sarasota (Fla.) in the petition for its first-ever national ti- Dede Trimble, 18, became the only 200 back (a 17-18 NAG record of tle. Dynamo, led by Blanchard, was collegiate swimmer to win an event 1:45.50) and Chad Hundeby of Ir- a first-time champion in the women's when the Stanford freshman won vine (Calif.) in the 1000 (9:01.53) division. In the 800 freestyle relay, the 200 back in 1:58.38, cutting 1.41 and junior Nelson Diebel of Peddie Pine Crest won the men's race seconds off her third-place time at (N.J.) in the 200 breast (1:58.97). (6:34.31) and Mission Viejo the the NCAAs the prior week. All the post-collegiate champions women's (7:18.32). [] Besides the Hungarians and Nesty, won national titles for the first time. the other men's winners were evenly Little Rock's Steve Crocker, 25, a divided between high school com- Kentucky graduate assistant who Seventeen-year-old Derek petitors and post-collegians. Swim was third at the Olympic trials in Weatherford (above) became the Florida's Derek Weatherford, a high the 50, edged silver medalist Tom youngest swimmer to lead the school senior from Fort Myers, cap- Jager in that event (19.50 to 19.70). men's scoring at a nationals tured the high-point award with a Bucknell graduate Jim Harvey, 22, since Jesse Vassallo in 1978. victory in the 100 back (49.08), a sec- of New Jersey Wave, took the 100 The Swim Florida standout won ond in the 200 back and third in the free (43.85). John Keppler, 21, an the 100 back, was second in the 200 IM. Greg Burgess, a junior at Arizona State dropout who now 200 back and third in the 200 IM.

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46 Swimming World/May 1989