Worlds ended on a high for yours truly. I departed the Aquatic facility with tears in my eyes, an uncontrollable laugh, a huge smile and a 10th place medal around my neck! After a long morning, heat 31 of the 400 free finally arrived and I swam my tail off, knocking 13 seconds off my EBing of Roddin 3 weeks ago to drop to a 4:38.75 - and best of all a 10th place medal. After the excitement died down, I was able to soak in the last two years of work and triumph, all of which somehow made today's result so special. I guess breaking both of those wrists really was meant to happen.

Anyways, back to the swimming. Day 6, Wednesday, featured the backstroke and fly prowess of a Mr. Emad Elshafei. Emad busted out of the gates and darn near even-split a 100 back to pull out a 1:04.27 - demolishing Curt Reynold's team standard and good for an awesome 6th place finish! And that was just the warmup. Later in the afteroon, Emad flew (pun intended) his 200 fly in what turned out to be a really fast age group! His 2:27.13, also a new team record, was just a tad slower from his 30-34 age group record! Ever the sprinter, Emad's 50 Back ok Thursday was quite impressive - mustering up a 30.84 as his warmup for the 8 hour drive to Lake Tahoe. The 12th place finish would have been a 7th place if this was USMS Nationals.

Mollie put on a clinic in her 100 backstroke on Wednesday, hauling @$$ on the second half of her swim to finish in a Masters lifetime best 1:11.74 - setting a tough new standard for the 25+ women, and a 5th place to boot! Mollie finished off an awesome meet Thursday morning with yet another team record 34. 53, and squeezing into the the medals with a 9th place finish - 4th medal finish of the meet!

Emad
Set 5 new team records in all events he swum - 200 back, 400 IM, 100 Backstroke, 200 Fly and 50 Back (men's 40-44). Look for him in the top 10!

Mollie
Also set 5 new team records - 200 back, 100 free, 200 free, 100 back, 50 back.

Jeff
Set 4 personal bests, and narrowly missed setting new team standards in the 50 fly and 400 free. Watch out Benedick and Emad (OUT).

Now for some beer, greasy food, some sleep, and some VACATION!!!

Thanks to all for your words of encouragement, and Charlie for the shirts. We will have pictures online at some point after we return early next week.