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Statesville swimmer prepares for national competition
Bruce Matlock
Jessie Cromie’s practice has paid off. The Statesville 14-year-old is preparing to compete in the YMCA Nationals. She will be competing in the 50-meter backstroke.
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Published: July 26, 2009
While some area students are getting last-minute vacationing in this week before school starts in August, Statesville's Jessie Cromie will be traveling to Maryland.
For the 14-year-old, this will be more of a business trip than a chance to get away from the grind.
Cromie qualified for the 2009 National YMCA Long Course Championships in College Park, Md. She will compete Friday against nearly 200 other swimmers in the 50-meter backstroke.
"I can't believe I did it," said Cromie, who swims for the Statesville YMCA Seahawks. "I'm really excited, and I've been training hard, getting my technique good, and I'm ready for the competition. I'm just really anxious."
David Jones, her YMCA coach, is bubbling with pride over the achievement, as well.
And Jones didn't squander an opportunity to drive home a point about how big of an accomplishment it is, especially for swimmers in the Statesville area.
"Y Nationals is right before the Olympic trials," he said. "This is the top of the top you can get to at their level.
"She's our first Seahawk swimmer to attend, and the first swimmer at the Y here to go in over 15 years. This is a big boost, if nothing else, for the YMCA and Jessie. … I'm extremely proud of my girl."
Cromie earned her nationals berth earlier this month at the Upper Southeastern Regional YMCA Championships in Hickory, where she clocked a time of 34.52 seconds in the 50 backstroke.
She had two attempts, and missed qualifying by about a second on her first run.
Disappointed but unfazed, Cromie jumped back in the water for another try. She paddled to the finish, hopped out of the pool and looked at her time posted on the board. What she saw overwhelmed her.
"When I saw the time, I like burst into tears," Cromie said. "It was so emotional and so exciting.
"I was hoping a day like this would come, but I didn't think it was going to be this soon," added Cromie, whose 11 years experience in dance dwarfs her four years as a swimmer. "I wasn't really aiming for the national time, but (Coach Jones) said, 'You're close, so you go for it. I know you can do it. I have faith in you.' So I went out, did my best and got it."
About a year and half ago, Cromie said she devoted herself more toward swimming.
Now she practices five times a week anywhere from one to two hours daily at the Statesville YMCA. That doesn't even take into account the additional weight training she does.
"I've coached Jessie for two years," Jones said. "I'm not bragging, but to qualify for nationals … is astronomical. She has done phenomenal. The training regiments she's had are excruciating; we're putting in anywhere from 3,500 to 5,000 meters a day in swimming practice."
In the 14-and-under division, Cromie is the top qualifier representing North Carolina, according to the nationals' unofficial psyche sheet. She is seeded 106th out of 182 entrants among all age divisions, which range from 12 to 18 years old.
The top seed is Missouri 14-year-old Heather Lundstrom, who qualified with a time of 28.78 seconds.
Cromie developed into a strong swimmer in a relatively short time, and her passion is the backstroke. But the Iredell County hopeful, who will attend Statesville's Northview International Baccalaureate Candidate School this fall, remains measured in her expectations.
After all, this is her first trip to nationals.
"I'm shooting for my best time," she said, "and I want to go up there and possibly win my heat."
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