Blackwell swims to victory

MEMPHIS — Mt. Juliet's Madison Blackwell, competing in the girls' 11-12-year-old category in the Southeastern Swimming Districts Meets last weekend, scored an individual win along with a pair of relay victories.
Competing in the 50-yard backstroke, Blackwell quickly swam away from the field with a winning time of :33.4.
In other individual events, Blackwell placed third in the 100 backstroke [1:13.66], fourth in the 50 butterfly [:32.89], sixth in the 100 individual medley [1:10.1], seventh in the 100 breaststroke [1:26.77], ninth in the 50 freestyle [:30.09] and 12th in the 50 breaststroke [1:13.66].
He was also part of Excel Aquatic's winning 200-yard medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.
"Madison has done a great job this short course season," Excel assistant coach John Barnes said. "Having just aged up into this harder age group, she just barely missed her Southeastern Swimming Championship Meet qualifying time.
"This was only her fifth short course meet since joining Excel a little over a year ago, and at the rapid pace she is progressing, she should have no problem achieving the long course standards in the upcoming long course season."
Her older brother, Luke, will be joining Lebanon High freshman Bradley Gillilan and Mt. Juliet freshman Taylor Wallace in the upcoming SES Short Course Championships on March 15-18. All three boys will be competing in the 13-14 category representing Excel.