Last Updated: Friday, November 14, 2008 11:57 PM CST
Fourth and final time
Lakeland’s Burley returns to the WIAA state swim meet tonight
By Kevin Damask
DAILY NEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Lakeland swimmer Megan Burley admits she faced some pressure heading into this season. After all, she has qualified for the WIAA state swim meet the past three years and believed anything short of that would be considered a failure.
However, last weekend at the Division 2 sectional meet in Stevens Point, Burley eased her worries by earning a fourth trip to state.
“It’s my senior year, so I had to make it,” Burley said. “It’s an awesome feeling and it feels great to have accomplished it.”
She will compete in both the 200- and 500-yard freestyle tonight at the Natatorium at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Burley is seeded 12th in the 500 and 13th in the 200.
At last year’s state meet, Burley placed 11th in the 200 individual medley and 13th in the 500 free. As a sophomore, she posted her highest finish (10th).
Burley has accomplished a lot in her career, but has never earned a medal during state competition. Lakeland coach Sandy Bolger would like to see Burley end her career on the medal stand.
“If she could make the top eight, that would be really good,” Bolger said. “It will be tough because there’s a really tough group of girls this year.”
A strong finish in the 500 may be Burley’s best chance of reaching the podium. At sectionals, she finished the race in 5:25.98.
“I see her popping down to 5:20 or faster,” Bolger said. “She’s really hoping to break that mark.”
Competition in the 200 should be more difficult. At Stevens Point, Burley finished the 200 in 2:00.27, but she will probably have to eclipse that mark to medal.
“In the 200 free, everybody is hovering around two minutes,” Bolger said. “Everyone is just flying.”
To prepare for the meet, Bolger brought in sophomore swimmer Allie Caudle to practice alongside Burley. Swimming with Caudle should held Burley reduce her time.
“(This week) I’ve been doing speed work and just trying to get faster,” Burley said.
As a freshman, the Natatorium intimidated Burley, but after three trips to state, nothing rattles her.
“Now I’m used to all the people, used to all the girls in the pool, used to getting kicked in the head,” Burley said laughing. “When I was a freshman, I had three (Lakeland) girls with me, so they kind of took me under their wing. Going by myself is kind of hard, but now I’m used to it.”
Burley doesn’t have a rival swimmer whom she wants to beat, so she sees the state meet as a competition against herself. It’s the senior’s final career race and she doesn’t want to hold anything back.
“It’s my last race, so I may as well give it my best,” Burley said.
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