While it promises to be a long three days of action, a member of the Aberdeen Swim Club enjoyed her short time in the pool Friday afternoon during the State A Long Course Championship at the Aberdeen Aquatic Center.
Mali Larson competed in the 50-meter breaststroke, one of the shortest possible races with just a swim from one end of the pool to the other.
“The shorter ones are definitely better, for me anyway,” Larson said. “I’m just not a distance swimmer.”
With such a short race, there really is no margin for error from the start of the event to the finish.
“You have to get off the blocks quick,” Larson said. ” Everything just has to be quick and smooth, and no error.”
When asked if she looked at the scoreboard to find her time as soon as she got out of the pool, Larson responded, “Not right away. That’s what my coach is here for. He tells me. I don’t have to worry about that.”
The 14-year-old also is a member of multiple relay squads. She said there is a difference between team events and individual races.
“Relays you have to work as a team. You’re not the only person that you have to depend on,” Larson said. “You have to depend on your teammates.”
Larson, who will be a freshman this fall, said the atmosphere surrounding a state meet is definitely different than a regular-season meet.
“The energy’s a lot higher. Everybody’s a little more serious about all the races,” Larson said. “Other meets, it’s not just to horse around obviously, but you still have fun at all the meets, but others are more relaxed, and little less time dependent. It’s more of practices to get up to the state meet.”
ALL ABOUT THE TIME
While state championships will be handed out throughout the weekend, one local swimmer is more concerned with times than places.
“I’ve been trying at practice a lot more,” said Blake Isaak in preparation of the state meet. “I really want to get better at swim. I cut off my last (time), so I think it’s paid off a little.”
He said he pays more attention to the clock than to the person in the lane next to him.
“Right now I just want to cut time on as many (races) as possible,” Isaak said.
The 14-year-old member of the Aberdeen Swim Club said his favorite event is the 400-meter freestyle.
“I like distance, but not mile distance,” Isaak said, “but kind of like in between.”
The weather for this weekend’s state meet is the opposite of the cool and cloudy conditions the swimmers had during the High Point Meet in June.
Given the two options, Isaak said he prefers to be cool instead of hot.
“I think I prefer that,” Isaak said, “because like you can’t even sit anywhere over there (in the sun) without just dying of heat.”
STATE MEET NUMBERS
This year’s State A Long Course Meet is comparable to the annual High Point Swim Meet which takes place every summer at the Aquatic Center.
In fact, the number of total competitors is nearly identical with 382 swimmers competing this weekend, six more than were here about a month ago.
There are 15 total teams in the state meet, and about 22 state officials who surround the pool to make sure rules are being followed.
The state meet is set up on a six-year rotation. Aberdeen hosted the meet in 2023 after Yankton was unable to do it when its turn was scheduled and the meet went up for bids. Aberdeen is scheduled to next host the state meet in 2031.
DISPLAYING TEAM SPIRIT
While conditions made temperatures feel like the 90s on Friday, Aberdeen Swim Club coach Darien Street was all dressed up in a blue body suit that encased his arms and fingers.
“I wouldn’t say I’m comfortable. I’m suffering in silence,” Street said. “It’s hot but, it’s OK. It’s bearable. It’s worth it. The team has its team day and today it’s blue day, so I had to represent.”
Street order the outfit on line and Friday was the first time he wore it.
He did look a bit out of place, but the ASC members were enjoying how their coach showed his support.
“I wouldn’t say uncomfortable, it’s more just hot,” Street said. “It’s definitely a little toasty in here.”
Street also had a Santa hat, but he did not wear that for long.
“That got way too hot, the hat did,” Street said.
The coach said the meet has gotten off to a solid start with two days of action still to come.
“Attitude and overall swims are really solid,” Street said. “A lot of kids are coming out racing fast.”
