Age group swimmers of the month: Julie Smith

Swimming World and Junior Swimmer, Aug 2003

Julie Smith began swimming year-round at the Raleigh Swimming Association when she was 9 years old. Her first national rankings came a year later in the 50 meter free (seventh, 30.22) and 100 breast (11th, 1:25.54).

During her 11-12 career, she continued to earn state and sectional titles. Julie won six events at the 2002 North Carolina Swimming (NCS) 14-and-Under Championships in Hillsborough, then competed in the NCS Junior Olympics in High Point, where she won six more titles and took home the high-point trophy.

Julie has continued her winning ways as a 13-year-old this year. On March 20-23, Julie swam at the Southeast Age Group Sectional Championships in Savannah, Ga., where she won six events (50 yard free, 23.47; 100 free, 50.57; 100 back, 57.91; 100 breast, 1:04.70; 200 IM, 2:05.75; 400 IM, 4:27.44). She earned the high-point award with almost twice as many points as her closest competitor.

She placed 50th in the 50 meter free (27.12) last April at the Conoco-Phillips USA National Championships in Indianapolis. Since she was the youngest swimmer at the meet, she was tracked and tested by USA Swimming's sport science department and was identified as someone to watch in the future.

At the Charlotte UltraSwim in June, Julie finished 11th in the 50 meter free, setting an NCS 13-14 girls record with her 26.97.