Gettelfinger Gearing Up For USMS Long Course Nationals

By Emily Sampl

BOULDER, Colorado, August 12. THE USMS Long Course National Championships in Gresham, Ore., are just around the corner, and just like the more than 1,100 other athletes scheduled to compete, 51 year-old Indiana Masters swimmer Cheryl Gettelfinger is preparing for an exciting meet.

Gettelfinger has been training 4-5 times a week with the YMCA Indy SwimFit team, who will be represented by 12 swimmers at the meet; her main goal is to improve upon her performances from a meet she attended last weekend.

"I'd like to swim a lot faster than I did last weekend," she said. "I just swam awful there. I'd also like to swim faster times than I did in my last age group."

Gettelfinger competes in the 50-54 age group, which has always been especially competitive. In the four events she's entered, the 50, 100 and 200 breast and 50 free, Gettelfinger is seeded third (42.50), fourth (1:33.30), fourth (3:21.00), and 13th (33.90), respectively. She had hoped to swim a few more events at the meet, but the schedule of events made it difficult to fit additional swims into her program.

Swimming fast is always a thrill, but that's not the only accomplishment Gettelfinger is proud of. As an LMSC (Local Masters Swimming Committee) Officer, one of Gettelfinger's primary responsibilities is making sure meets run smoothly and efficiently, something any swimmer or fan can appreciate. With constantly changing technology, Gettelfinger says this is becoming easier and easier.

"I've gone to conventions for nine years, and it's really starting to change a lot, especially with all of the electronics," she noted. "I think it'll cost a lot more money, but pretty soon everything will be electronic and it'll be easier on the volunteers."

Look for some quick times and a smoothly run meet this weekend, with Cheryl Gettetlfinger leading the way.

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