It is hot, hot , hot down here. I think it was at least 106 today. A very nice pool that they have to try and keep cool with misters during the night. The team that is running the meet has water stations situated around the pool...they are not charging for water at the meet. I think they would rather forego a bit of revenue so they keep everybody hydrated and lessen the risk of a major outbreak of heat stroke. We promise to keep all our swimmers drinking and staying a step ahead of the heat. They are also opening up an air conditioned gym to get away from it all at the meet...we plan on using that service.

Jean and Yardena are doing a great job keeping the kids well stocked with food and fluids for the hotel rooms. We have truly great parents on our team. We had a nice dinner, with Jack and Deborah winning the prize for consuming the most food. Right now there is a shave down session going on, then off to bed by 10:00.

All 10 of our swimmers are competing tomorrow. I look forward to the opportunity that is in front of us.

Day 2 - Another really good day for our team 10 individual swims and 8 best times. We also had a relay (a sectional first) where we had some great splits, plus a leadoff best time by Laura. Among the highlights was Dillon waking up with a mohawk (don't worry Linda, it is fixable). He claims he had nothing to with it...that it was done to him while he was sleeping ( he is blaming Deborah). We have pictures for the website.

Actually checked the official weather...108 today. Tomorrow they are talking maybe up to 112...we shall see. I look forward to a really foggy Tiburon day.

Day 3 - I understand I shouldn't be complaining about the heat as it is the same in Marin. Today it was 112 and then it got humid. There were a few cases of heat exhaustion at the meet as there was no way to get away from it (the gym we would sit in was cooler, but for some reason they turned off the a/c .It was about 95 in there and quite stifling.) That being said, we had another stellar day at the pool. Pretty much best times for everyone. The swimmers are doing a great job of keeping hydrated and keeping there attention on the swimming. A very tired group that I didn't have to coerce much to go to their rooms and call it a day rather early.

Since I have time, and I drank way too much iced tea to go straight to bed, I thought I would give a statistical report on our sectional experience. Besides the fact that it might be the hottest meet I have ever been to, it has also been one of the best as far as how we did as a team. We have little experience at such a meet as this, and we were able to perform at a great level in spite of this general lack of experience. After this weekend, we will no longer have that problem to such a degree. For those that are not here, but are on the bus, the performances that we have had should give you great confidence in your own performances either next week at Far Westerns or at RESL (or both). I know I may be really tired from being baked over the last few days, but I am also fired up to see the rest of our team enjoy the fruits of their labor as well. We have a lot of potential sectional swimmers on our team next year and on into the future and now that we have established this presence, we will make it a goal to get as many as possible to this level and beyond. It will happen, I can pretty much guarantee it!!

With one day to go, here are the results from the meet: (best times noted with a *)

50 free
Elizabeth ---27.99*
Laura---28.11*
Sasza---29.18*
Chris---25.37 * Jon---26.01* new sectional qualifying time
Jack---25.77* new sectional qualifying time

100 free Elizabeth---1:01.01*
Deborah---1:02.53
Laura---1:01.64
Sasza---1:03.58*
Jon---58.64*
Chris---55.24*
Jack---56.53* new sectional qualifying time
Anthony---57.46* less than 3 tenths from sectionals
Dillon---58.18*

200 free
Deborah---2:13.06*
Elizabeth---2:14.85*
Laura---2:18.51*
Anthony---2:05.85* less than a second off sectionals
Dillon---2:06.75

400 free Deborah---4:45.46*
200 back Deborah---2:29.06* finalist!!
200 breast---Stephanie---2:46.70
100 fly Jack---1:00.71* Anthony---1:02.11* 5 tenths off sectionals
200 IM Stephanie---2:30.14*
400 IM Stephanie---5:17.35*
400 free relay
Laura: 1:02.71 Deborah: 1:02.14* Sasza: 1:03.30* Elizabeth: 1:00.11(!)*
Anthony: 57.46* Jack: 56.70 Dillon: 57.11* Chris: 54.14(!!)*
800 free relay
Laura--2:18.51* Stephanie: 2:15.73* Elizabeth: 2:14.49* Deborah: 2:19.97

Lots of asterisks out there!!! Tomorrow is Day 4 with the 100 fly, back and breast, plus the medley relay.
Go tuna!!!!!!!!!!