kids korner: NAG Record Setters

Swimming World and Junior Swimmer, Jan 2004

Last July, Elizabeth Beisel was taking one last shot at the record books in her 10-and-under swimming career. And what a shot it was! She ended the month with seven National Age Group (NAG) records to her credit-in both long course and short course.

Elizabeth normally swims in southeastern Massachusetts for the Magnus Aquatic Group. But the first weekend of July found her deep in the heart of Texas-Austin, to be precise-at the Texas Open at the University of Texas. There she bettered the NAG mark in the 400 meter freestyle with a 4:42.40.

The next assault took place at the Greenwood Summer Splash, July 18. Elizabeth, though only 10, competed in the women's 12-and-under 500 yard free (5:20.03) and senior 100 back (1:01.69) and 200 IM (2:15.51), establishing NAG marks for 10-and-under girls in those events.

Swimming at the New England 12-and-under Championships at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., Elizabeth set two more NAG marks in the 100 meter back on July 25 (1:09.96) and the 200 free two days later (2:16.37).

Elizabeth set the final standard of her streak in the prelims of the 200 meter IM (2:31.26) during the first day of competition at the New England Championships. The meet, held in Providence, R.I., featured senior swimmers, most of whom were several years older than her. Elizabeth placed 15th overall in the event.

Elizabeth's coach, Carl Cederquist, is very enthusiastic about his swimmer. "The thing that I love about Elizabeth is that she always brings an upbeat attitude to practice. She and her best friend on the team are always telling me wacky stories or singing me wacky songs. She really brings an enthusiastic and fun competitiveness to the pool for eveiy practice. Each set is like a new challenge for her to meet and exceed. I believe that our team attitude and being able to practice with her own peers, rather than older swimmers, is allowing her to blossom."

Hang Time: Surfing, playing the violin

Training: She basically practices four to six times a week, depending upon what else is going on in her life. (She is also an accomplished violin player.) Each practice averages around 5,500-6,000 yards and always includes some type of drill set.