AGE GROUP SWIMMER of the MONTH: FELICIA LEE

Swimming World Magazine, Jun 2005

To Montclair YMCA's Felicia Lee, swimming is a "best friend" that gives her energy and confidence. At just 12 years old, she certainly has gained a lot more of both, thanks in large part to the recent YMCA Nationals, held April 5-8 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Felicia got things rolling on the first day of the meet. In the prelims of the 200 yard IM, she tied for eighth place with a time of 2:07.74. Soon thereafter, she had to compete in a swimoff to see who would qualify for finals. Well, not only did she qualify for finals, but she also set an 11-12 girls YMCA national record with a time of 2:06.45. That bettered Bridget Bowman's 1982 mark of 2:07.12. Then, in the finals, Felicia clocked 2:07.70 to finish seventh.

More records awaited Felicia the next day-two to be exact...both in the same race, the 100 fly Her second-place time of 56.16 shattered Lisa Rakoski's 1982 mark of 58.15. And Felicia's 26.27 split bettered Dara Torres' 1980 record-setting effort of 26.44 for the 50 fly.

By meet's end, the precocious age grouper added a fifth-place finish in the 200 back, touching in 2:03.49.

Back home in New Jersey Felicia currently holds 10 short course and four long course state records in the 11-12 age group, as well as five short course and two long course standards in the 9-10 division. She qualified to compete in next December's U.S. Open in the 100 fly and 200 back, and she's ranked in USA Swimming's National Age Group Top 16 list in 12 events.

Felicia is a straight-"A" student at Schuyler Colfax Middle School in Wayne, N.J. She loves math and English, and enjoys listening to music, talking to friends on line and reading.

Candidates for "Age Group Swimmers of the Month" must compete within a nationally recognized age group. Please send a personality sketch and a color photograph or digital image (a face shot, such as a school picture) of each nominee. You can request a Swimming World Magazine Age Group Swimmer of the Month Profile form, which can be used as a guide for submitting the nomination. Send everything to Swimming World Magazine, Age Group Swimmers of the Month, P.O. Box 20337, Sedona, AZ 86341, or by e-maii to bobi@SwimInfoWire.com TYR Sport sends each Age Group Swimmer of the Month a package containing a swimsuit, goggles and a T-shirt for the swimmer's coach.