[SwimTeamSpeedo]

Jimmy’s last event of the tryout was the optional 500 free. It was the event that Greg thought Jimmy had the greatest chance at, given his endurance. The 500 free was a race of strategy, Greg had explained to Jimmy. Start out too fast and you will burn up, too slow and you will never catch up. “Always know where you are in the distance,” Greg had explained. “Hold some in reserve for the final 100, that is where the power moves take place,” Greg also explained to Jimmy during their practice sessions. It turned out to be sage advice.

Five swimmers entered the 500 free, neither Aiden or Randy included. Jimmy was in lane 2, lane one was empty, as were lanes seven and eight. The odds on favorite was a tall and lean swimmer in lane 3. His actual name was Ralph, but he went by the nickname “Bo.” No one was sure why or where he got that name, but it was the name he was known by. He wore a tight and sleek yellow and red Agon swimsuit that had his AAU team logo on it. He looked every bit the swimmer he was, tight abs, broad shoulders, amazing pecs, and muscular legs. He also looked hot in his colorful swimsuit, which when wet was not transparent, but at close observation did show through his frontal parts ever so slightly. Randy zeroed right in on all of that.

“Other than Bo, the rest of the field is pretty much wide open,” Randy advised Jimmy. Randy was done for the night, having finished up the optional IM set. Randy did well, second out of ten. Aiden also swam IM, coming in one spot behind Randy. “Go get them, hot stuff,” said Randy. He smiled at Jimmy’s tight butt as he walked away.

“Stay solid, keep pace, and watch for the big move,” Jimmy repeated in his mind. Greg’s long distance mantra. “Swim your race,” also rang through his mind. Greg wished Greg was there to watch, to coach him. Once again, Jimmy was nervous. Not sure why, but he was even shaking a little. Part of him just wanted to step off the block and go home. The coward part. Jimmy quickly pushed those thoughts from his mind.

Two hundred meters in, Jimmy was in third place. Bo was out front, as expected. Jimmy was a body behind the guy in lane four. The swimmer in lane two was behind Jimmy, the tips of his hands almost lined up with Jimmy’s peripheral sight. Jimmy flipped at the 250 mark and pushed strong off the wall. “Stay under as long as you can,” raced through his mind, just as it had every other turn. “You go faster under water,” Greg had pounded into his mind. His push was strong, he was now solidly ahead of the fourth place swimmer and nipping the knees of the second place guy, who seemed to be slowing. Jimmy felt his surge rise up, he wanted to take the guy. He could feel himself getting a rush of adrenalin. “Too early,” he told himself. “Easy until 150,” Jimmy strategized in his mind. “Get close, tease him,” his thoughts expanded. Jimmy pushed hard until he was a mere should behind him.

Flip! Two hundred to go. A solid turn and the two swimmers, Jimmy in two and the guy in lane four were now neck and neck. The lane four swimmer was wearing a really colorful Tyr swimsuit with a wild print. It was a new swimsuit, one of the emerging bolder, more colorful briefs coming on the market. Out of the water, the swimsuit looked hot on him. In the water, it was a bright beacon that Jimmy could now see clearly as they swam in a dead lock for second. Bo was so far out front, the race for second was the real race. The coaches watched closely, eyeing the strategy being played out in lanes two and four.

At the final 100, Jimmy had a slight lead, so slight Jimmy actually thought he was behind. He pushed hard off the wall. He had energy to burn left in reserve. One turn left, two lengths to go in the 50 meter pool. The swimmer in four saw Jimmy, too. He was swimming as hard as he could, hoping Jimmy was also at his breaking point. “Reach,” Jimmy told himself as he powered through his strokes. His body was slicing through the water.

“His technique is really good,” said the lady assistant coach.

“Good arm reach, nice rotation,” replied the lead coach. They were both watching Jimmy.

“Let’s see if he makes a move,” the lady coach added.

Jimmy was now a quarter of the way off the wall for his last turn. To his left he could see he was locked with the lane four swimmer, both had stayed in the exact position, both swimming hard. Bo, the lead swimmer had just flipped and was on his way back. Bo was easily three or four seconds ahead, maybe more. The swimmer behind Jimmy and the Tyr guy was two seconds back and not a threat. “This is it,” Jimmy thought. He opted to make his break heading into the turn, he was sure that the other swimmer was planning a break after the turn, Jimmy wanted an edge. Jimmy’s brain sent a signal out to open all reserves. Jimmy felt the surge as he turned on the speed. Suddenly, Jimmy was pulling ahead, catching his competitor by surprise. Jimmy hit the wall a half second ahead, not much of a lead, but enough to push out of the turn in front.

“We have out move,” the coaches said to each other. “Let’s see how they respond to each other,”

“F---,” the Tyr guy thought to himself. He had little left to give. He pushed as hard as he could off the wall. His form started to collapse as he tried to burst speed into his tired body. Jimmy was pulling away. Aiden and Randy watched from the bleacher. It was quite a race. They could see the interest of the coaches. It was clear Jimmy was making a solid winning move.

At 25 meters to go, Jimmy had increased his lead. He was now three quarters of a body ahead and gaining. Jimmy was in a zone. He saw nothing, heard nothing, he was one with the water. His form had suffered a little, but nothing a good coach couldn’t fix. Jimmy had endurance, and he was proving it right now.

Bo hit the wall first, as expected. Jimmy was four seconds back when his outstretched arm made contact. Jeffrey, the guy in the Tyr swimsuit hit the wall slightly less than a second after Jimmy. The rest of the field came in behind. Bo did not respond to Jimmy’s congratulations, as a swimmer he was a bit arrogant and not like the rest. Jimmy reached across to lane four, shaking hands with Jeff. “Nice swim,” Jimmy said.

“Hey, you too. You out kicked me in the end,” Jeff replied. Jimmy had seen Jeff in school, but they never really knew each other. “I didn’t know you swam,” Jeff added.
“Lot’s of potential!” the coach had written next to Jimmy’s name. “Great end move.” she added.

The guys got out of the pool. Jimmy pulled his clinging suit from the front of him. Randy came right over and put his arm around Jimmy. “You kicked butt!” Randy said.

“Thanks,” Jimmy replied. The guys lined up along the bleachers as the coaches finished their notes. They were not sure what was going to happen next or whether they would find out right there.

“Okay guys, great session today. You are all good swimmers, so our job is going to be tough.” The head coach started off. Jimmy had seen him many times at the pool over the Summer. For the first time, Jimmy was part of a post swim team meeting. Jimmy listened intently. “A few bad starts, and a few wrong turns for the strokes you were swimming, but overall a great display of swimming talent.” Coach added. Coach Lisa will go over the next steps. Thanks for coming out and I hope to see you at practice next week.”

“We look at three things when we decide,” Coach Lisa explained. Jimmy thought she was cute. Lisa was the only female swim coach for a guys team in the whole state, a rising star swimmer who just missed the Olympic trials. She was young, not much older than the guys themselves. She was married to her high school sweetheart, who was also a pretty good swimmer himself. “We look at your speed, of course, but that is only part of it. We also look at your technique, how well you do your strokes, and how much potential you have for improvement. Finally, we try to see how much heart you have for the sport. You won’t swim on my team if you don’t love the sport.”

“Well, one out of three isn’t bad,” Jimmy thought to himself.

“We will post the final list on Friday at lunch period. It will be on the coach’s office door. Good luck.”

As the guys all headed to the locker room, Jimmy broke away. He walked over to the coaches and extended his hand. “Thank you for letting me try out,” Jimmy told each of them. “I hope I make the team.” Coach Lisa smiled back at him.

“Thank you , Jimmy, nice job today,” Coach Lisa replied.