J. The First Healthy Senior Nationals - Summer 2002

It shouldn't have been much of a surprise that Kate started the late spring and early summer of long course season piling up personal bests, considering how sick she was at her first Senior Nationals in the Spring 2002.

With the prospects of swimming healthy for the first time at Senior Nationals, Kate continued her climb up the National Age Group Top 16 lists.  When the lists were finally published at the end of 2002, this is how Kate ranked:

There are two stories of particular interest buried behind the events of the Summer of 2002.

Of specific importance is the fact that Kate swam her best time od the summer at the Potomac Valley Summer Champs, July 11^th through 14^th.  This happened the previous summer, too, so a pattern was becoming apparent.  Too early to start thinking about 2004?

Also of great importance is the fact that Kate was eventually chosen for the National Select Camp based on her 1500 Free, although that wasn't a given until after Senior Nationals.

As for Nationals in Fort Lauderdale?  Other that placing 55^th in the 800 Free and 20^th in the 1500 Free, Senior Nationals proved to be very valuable in experience, as time would show.  Just watching Erik Vendt duel Michael Phelps in the 400m IM, with both breaking the current world record and Michael just out-touching Erik, or Natalie Coughlin setting her World Record in the 100 m Backstroke (:59:58) - you could just sense that Kate wanted part of the excitement, she loved swimming at the national level.