Gralow places 37th at national meet

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Sandpoint swimmer Paulina Gralow was thrilled with her swim Thursday at the 2008 Speedo Junior National Championships in the University of Minnesota Aquatics Center.

In the prelims, Gralow swam a 1:13.95 in the 100 meter breaststroke, shaving nearly half a second off of her personal best. The time placed her 37th out of the 109 elite swimmers who qualified for the race, and exceeded any expectations she had going in.

"I wanted to go under 1:14, so when I saw my time I was ecstatic," said Gralow, the three time Idaho State Champion in the event. "I surprised myself with my placing. Sectionals was a big meet, but this one was such a bigger deal."

Only the top 24 girls moved on into the final heats, but Gralow took comfort in knowing she was within one second of cracking that group.

Seeing and competing against the top youth swimmers from around the country was certainly a highlight, but Gralow was most impressed by the "laser" racing suit that she got to try, the same suits worn by Olympic racers. They were available to any racer that wanted to try one, and it took Gralow nearly 15 minutes just to get the expensive suit on.

"It was the most unbelievable thing ever; the neatest feeling," said Gralow of the suit, which she said made her float more and was tighter than a normal racing suit. "I'm trying to decide if it was just my mindset, or if it made me feel faster."

Gralow, a senior, will now turn her attention to the upcoming season, where she hopes to not only win her fourth state title, but shatter the state record as well.