Shaving seconds

CEDAR RAPIDS - Seconds count in swimming.

Xavier junior Mitchell Anderson, who swims for Washington as a part of the coop swim program, was eager about turning in some great times this season in an attempt to qualify for Saturday's the state meet in Marshalltown.

'I am expecting that I will improve upon my times,” he said earlier this season.

To prepare for the upcoming swim season, Anderson had to sacrifice his summer and get into shape.

'Preparations that I have made for the swim season were summer workouts and practice,” he said. 'I also started to swim full-time in August all the way up to the start of swim season.”

Last year, Anderson qualified for the state championship as an alternate. Every last second counts for Anderson to make improvements and reach his goals.

'I am hoping that by the end of the season that I get it (my breaststroke time) down,” Anderson said.

Anderson placed in the 50 freestyle at the Mississippi Valley Conference meet, but failed to qualify in any individual events at last week's district meet.