In the final pre-championship meet of the year, I swam at the Blackstone Firecracker Classic, at a 10 lane outdoor pool in Quincy, Illinois.
I began the meet exactly the way I wanted, with one of my better swims of the summer up to this point. I dropped 4 seconds in my 200 IM, to place 1st with a 2:20.70, splitting :29, :35, :44, :31. I had a really bad breastroke leg and feel like I could drop even more tapered. I then had another disappointing 50 free clocking in at 27.57 and placing 14th. There was a thunderstorm delay that threw off my warmup, but I ended the night with another 1st in the 400 free with a time of 4:18.87.
Saturday I arrived at the pool, warmed up and prepared to swim. Thunderstorms arrived and the meet was cancelled, so I headed back to the hotel. I had been really looking forward to the 400 IM and 200 Fly, but things just happen.

Sunday I continued to have a solid meet with a 1st in the 200 free with a 2:03.94, a best time and 3rd place finish in the 100 fly clocking in at 1:03.74, a so-so 3rd place in the 200 back at 2:25.50, and a solid, 1st place in the 1500 at 17:12.61. I was happy with my mile because I managed to hold a 6 beat kick throughout, as well as kick off the walls successfully. I wasn't out as strong as I would've liked but held a good pace. All in all I had 2 best times, and a good weekend.