Mackenzie Buss, of Shawano, made it to the finals in the 50-meter backstroke Thursday at the USA Swimming National Championships in Indianapolis.
The new Shawano Community High School graduate’s time of 29.68 seconds set a personal record, eclipsing her previous best of 30.20. Earlier in the day, Buss swam a 1:03.41 in the 100-meter backstroke, with a 50-meter time of 29.62 to qualify for the 50 final.
“It’s always fun to go a personal best,” Buss said. “I went in seeded 20th, which is awesome. Top 20 in the nation, that’s quite exciting.”
Buss finished last in her heat, one of three, in the final. California’s Rachel Bootsma clocked the fastest time at 27.82 and Colorado’s Missy Franklin came in at 27.98 to qualify for the U.S. team at the World Championships next month in Barcelona.
Buss will compete in her primary event, the 100-meter backstroke, Saturday morning. The top two finishers advance to Barcelona.
“I’m really hoping to go a personal best,” Buss said. “That’s my biggest goal.”
Buss’ best time in the 100 is 1:03.40; she hopes she can get that down to around 1:02.00.
For Buss, who will swim at the University of Louisville in the fall and hopes to qualify for the Olympics in 2016, this week was a great opportunity to learn.
“Just taking everything as a learning experience, and when it comes around to Olympic trials in 2016, having that experience will help,” Buss said.
The U.S. championships were not too much different than the Olympic trials she competed in last year, Buss said.
“I was standing getting ready for my race and Missy Franklin was literally standing right behind me,” Buss said. “Ryan Lochte was sitting one bleacher down from me. All the Olympians are here, besides Michael Phelps because he retired. … The atmosphere isn’t necessarily as intense, because they didn’t parade out every final, but they still have the special lighting and the interviews and everything like that.”
Another perk of the meet is Buss can spend some time with four Louisville teammates also competing.
“I got to talk to them and sit with them,” Buss said. “They’re doing really well.”
Buss was a two-time state champion in the 100-yard backstroke and a four-time state qualifier. Earlier this month she was named the female athlete of the year and female scholar athlete of the year by the Shawano Athletic Booster Club.
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