Dedication and a love of swimming have paid off for Jessica Lee, a 16-year-old from Lyme-Old Lyme High School and swimmer at the Marlins YMCA (Y) in Westbrook. In early April, she competed in the Y National Short Course Swimming Championship in Greensboro, N.C., where she swam a personal best time of 24.48 seconds in the 50 yard race, setting the Westbrook Y record and placing 80th overall (she was seeded 156th) at the Y National level.
This season she had set herself a goal to improve on her 50 yard freestyle time, which enabled her to participate for the second consecutive year at the national event in early April.
Lee qualified for the under-19 Y National Championships in 2012 and consistently achieved times under the National cut at Age Groups (in which she finished 5th overall) and at the Connecticut Seniors Championships at Wesleyan University in March, where she achieved a time of 24.76 seconds in the event.
At the Y Nationals, she swam alongside a number of Olympic hopefuls and heard from a number of previous Olympic Swimmers at pre-meet events. All of this contributed to a memorable experience for the Old Lyme swimmer.
With the support of her experienced coach, Pat Callahan, Lee rose to the occasion for the 50 yard race and achieved the tremendous results already mentioned.
She returns to the Long Course season motivated to qualify again for the Long Course National Swimming Championships, which will be taking place at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta in July.
Lee is an all-round athlete also known for her skill and drive on the soccer field. She credits the eight years of competitive gymnastics with Shoreline Gymnastics for the discipline and strong work ethic she has maintained throughout high school.
Congratulations, Jessica!
The Marlins swim team Long Course (50M) season starts soon.
For registration information., contact the Valley Shore YMCA at 860 399-9622