Shay Flanagan headed to YMCA Nationals
Friday, March 27, 2009
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Area swimming standout Shay Flanagan is set to add another accomplishment to his aquatic resume when he travels to the 2009 YMCA Short Course Championships on April 5-9 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Flanagan, 18, will face the country's top YMCA competition in his third trip to nationals.
A year ago the Clearfield Area High School senior competed in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle, the same two events he medaled in a month ago at the PIAA Swimming Championships.
This time around Flanagan will give those two races another shot, while also qualifying in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 backstroke.
He is fresh off a bronze medal in the 100 free at the Pennsylvania State YMCA Championships.
Flanagan holds the Clearfield Area High School record in the 500 free, two relay records and various pool and YMCA records. He is a graduating four-year letterwinner - the only Bison to win a state medal in each of his four years - and will be heading to West Point where he will continue to swim.
The Championships' opening ceremonies will be held on April 5 at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatics Complex where Mark Schubert will be the guest speaker. Schubert is the reigning head coach of the USA National Swim Team and has served on seven consecutive U.S. Olympic coaching staffs.
Dara Torres, a 2008 Olympian, will make an appearance that evening at the International Swimming Hall of Fame, also in Fort Lauderdale. Torres won three silver medals in Beijing where she made a comeback performance at the age of 41.
Competition will commence on April 6 and will conclude on April 9.
