Who says one person can't make a difference?
That certainly isn't the case with the Colorado girls swimming state championships this weekend. Because of
Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.) standout
Missy Franklin, a world record-holder and likely competitor in the London Olympics this summer, the state's Class 5A event is generating increased attention.
Missy Franklin
Photo by Ray Chen
On Tuesday the state's governing body announced that the event finals,
which are scheduled for 2 p.m. MST from the Edora Pool Ice Center in
Fort Collins, will be broadcast by
ESPN3. The meet also will be shown
online at chsaa.tv.
"From our perspective, it's a privilege to help recognize an athlete like her," Colorado High School Activities Association assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann told MaxPreps. "We've had to work through a few minor issues, but we want to help make this a special event for everyone involved."
Borgmann said ESPN originally requested to have one camera person at the event to tape some Olympic preview footage. ESPN officials called back later, expressing interest in televising the meet and a deal was worked out over the weekend. Borgmann said ESPN will have at least four, and maybe six, cameras in operation.
The CHSAA had announced Monday that the meet was nearly sold out, except for about 350 tickets for Friday's preliminaries and 100 for the finals on Saturday. Strict ticket rules also were put in place for when the tickets go on sale 90 minutes before each session – such as prohibiting saving spots in line and requiring all members of a party be present when purchasing tickets.
Franklin is the world record-holder in the 200-meter backstroke (short course) and a member of the record-setting 400-meter medley relay team (short course),
and she returned to high school competition on Jan. 21.
She won four events at the state meet last year to help the Raiders claim the championship. Coach Nick Fraser Smith said Monday that Franklin will swim the 100-yard backstroke (she won the event last year in state record time) and the 200-yard freestyle, in addition to two to-be-determined relays.
The CHSAA also notified the state's media that access to Franklin will be limited to a post-meet news conference each day, so that she can focus on and enjoy the meet. During the Jan. 21 meet at Regis Jesuit, local TV stations conducted interviews with Franklin in between events.
