Making a splash: Mapletown’s Menear qualifies for 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials
Ella Menear has had quite an eventful year so far.
The Mapletown graduate committed to swim at the University of Alabama, successfully defended her WPIAL titles in the 100 backstroke and 200 IM, repeated as the PIAA gold medalist, and was the school’s valedictorian.
Now, the Alabama freshman qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the 100-meter backstroke. The trials will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on June 15-23.
“This is crazy. The trials is the meet everyone wants to go to,” said Menear. “It’s every little girl’s dream to go to the trials. It’s part of why I do what I do to make 6-year-old Ella happy.”
Menear was among collegiate swimmers who were not able to participate in the U.S. Open, so the directors at the Mylan Pool in Morgantown, where Menear trains, hosted the Almost Heaven Open on Dec. 18.
“The format was the same as the U.S. Open. The coaching staff allowed me to go,” said Menear.
Menear faced two other swimmers in her time qualifying heat, so she was unable to feed off the field.
“I swam 1:02.1 in the morning. My time (in the final) was 1:01.54 and the cut was 1:01.89,” explained Menear. “Taking it out faster was my biggest concern with me racing the clock.”
Menear is quite pleased with how her freshman year is progressing.
“It’s going great. I absolutely love it,” said Menear, the daughter of Rick and Christy Menear. “I couldn’t have picked a better place.”
Menear is off to a good start with the Crimson Tide.
She had a third-place finish in the 100 backstroke in 52.37 seconds, for the program’s third-fastest time, and placed fifth in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:55.37 at the Tennessee Invite. Menear also was on the 200 medley relay that finished fifth.
Menear was a high school swimmer without a team, or pool, so she was accustomed to crazy hours for workouts around the school day. But, she noted swimming at the Division I level is often more demanding.
“It’s pretty much a job. It’s a lot, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” said Menear, adding, “It’s crazy.”
Her dorm is a short walk to the natatorium, so she is able to get moving without much travel time, unlike the trek to Morgantown every day, sometimes twice a day, in high school.
“My dorm is a 3-minute walk from the pool. I wake up at 5:15 a.m. and workout is at 6,” explained Menear.
Menear is a specialist, competing in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke and 200-yard IM.
“Training-wise, it’s different. I do a lot of quality yards. What I do is training specific, all in the pool and weights,” said Menear.
As with other sports, Menear does spend some time watching video.
“My primary coach watched races at Tennessee and broke down my strokes. It comes down to a tenth of a second. I want to knock that time down,” said Menear.
Menear is majoring in kinesiology, so her academics are also demanding.
“We have study hall. We have to go, too. If we miss tutoring, we are going to miss the pool,” said Menear. “I’m getting my Gen Ed course out of the way.”
The classroom and the pool occasionally conflict, but Menear has been able to work things out.
“My biology lab is Monday night. It’s the only time that worked out for me. I had to miss a lab, but got lucky with my TA (teaching assistant). She’s understanding and sent me the information,” said Menear.
Menear has picked up academically where she left off in high school.
“I got all A’s this semester,” said Menear.