The "A Day At The Races" Story

Camille showing me her many ribbons
she has won over the last few years for
her ability in swimming.

It was an ordinary day. Saturday morning and I'm sitting under a tent on a grassy knoll at the Frederick High School in Frederick, Maryland.  Visiting with my daughter and her family this weekend.  Drove the two hours from Lancaster to see my granddaughter swim for the Villages of Urbana Seahawks in the 25 meter breaststroke in under half a minute and  try to beat 23 other young girls. Nine year old Camille, who swims in the 8 and under category (I know that doesn't add up, but she just had a birthday) beat the qualifying time a few weeks ago when she placed 1st out of 30 some other girls and made it into today's "Stars Swim Meet." Today's competition will be tough swimming against all of the other girls who also beat the qualifying time around this area of Maryland.  She is excited, but well prepared.  She has her blue swim suit and lucky Speedo swim cap on and is ready to go.  There are over 60 races today, but they go surprisingly fast, unlike some of the other meets we have attended in the last few years.  

Today she is in race #30 and will be in lane 2 of heat #2.  Know this because she has it written in permanent marker on her left hand.  She also will swim in the 25 meter backstroke which she also qualified for, but should do much better in the breaststroke.  Her mom and dad as well as her sister, Carol and I are all gathered under the tent with Camille and a few of her best swim friends.  

Camille's mom wishing her good luck.

About 10:30, a half hour after we arrived, she noticed that race #29 has just been called.  Time to head to the tent with all the rows of chairs so she can get in place when they call for race #30 competitors.  I position myself next to the tent so I can electronically and visually document this exciting event in her life.  I hear the loudspeaker call for the #30 swimmers and she walks briskly to the tent.  There are approximately six rows of chairs under the tent, each row carrying large numbers from 1 to 6 taped on the back of them.  Camille's name is called and she occupies the chair with the #2 on it in the rear.  Before long, and with my camera clicking with every move, she makes it to the front row.  

The "Waiting Line"

I now depart with the rest of the family to find our way into the indoor pool for the race.  We no sooner get into the seating area when I see her in another row of chairs behind lane #2.  She advances quickly through these chairs until she is standing behind the starting platform for lane #2.  The excitement and anticipation can be seen on her face, but she is a determined and competitive little girl and will do her best for the half minute she is in the water.  I leave my seat and position myself for the best shots I can get in the congested area around the water.  

Heading towards the finish line.

She steps on the starting block, the starter announces, "Swimmers to your mark", the starting tone sounds and off she goes.  She seems to fly across the water as her lithe body breaks the water over and over.  

Ready to touch the wall.

I have the camera on continuous shooting and just hold down the shutter release till she strikes the wall.  25.58 seconds!  Wow!! Takes me longer than that to stand up out of my lounge chair at home.   She bettered her qualifying time by .38th of a second.  That's a major accomplishment for anyone.  She finished 10th today out of 24 and she is all smiles.  Why wouldn't she be?  She just loves competition and doing her best.  

A satisfied smile on her face.

Race #44, the backstroke, was about 30 minutes later, but by then she had satisfied herself that she could swim with the best and beat most of them.  She told me that now it is time for cheerleading, gymnastics and maybe lacrosse.  Oh her poor mom!  Congratulations are here offered to Camille for her great performance at the swim meet where she tried her best and was successful.  Another ribbon will be arriving soon at her home.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.