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GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School student Cadence Vincent has qualified to participate in the 2020 YMCA National Short Course Championship.
On her final day of competition, Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School student Cadence Vincent did not drop time as she had hoped, but she did move up in the rankings – by 50 places – from 149th to 99th place in the 100-yard freestyle at the 2019 YMCA National Short Course Championship.
During the week, Cadence, a Buckhannon native, competed in the 100-yard freestyle, 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke.
Cadence is the youngest Elkins/Randolph County YMCA RAYS member in years to qualify for the National Competition, and her times during the Championship qualify her to participate again in the upcoming year.
She began swimming with the RAYS at age 8.
On Wednesday, Cadence swam in the 100-backstroke and moved from the 150s to 122nd place with a time of 59.12. Thursday’s competition was the 50-yard freestyle, and she moved from 150th to 83rd place with a time of 24.46. In her performance Friday, Cadence clocked a time of 53.52.
Following her swimming performance on Friday, Cadence and her family rushed home so she could compete early Saturday morning in the Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School track meet. Before traveling to the 2019 YMCA National Short Course Championship, she said her goal was to do her best and drop time or swim each event faster than ever before.
“I thought it was an awesome experience,” Cadence said. “I had so much fun, and I enjoyed seeing new people and places. I have the times for next year (to participate in the 2020 YMCA National Short Course Championship), and I can’t wait!”
Cadence’s coaches remarked how proud they were of her performance. Coach John Schmidt said he “couldn’t be happier with her performance during the competition.”
Coach Brendan Cain said, “Cadence did an outstanding job.”
“I’m pleased with her performance on the big stage,” he said.
In the upcoming year, Cadence said she has some new goals.
“I hope to make it to the Nationals from here on,” she said. “And by the time I am 18, I hope to make it to the finals.”
