Members of the Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics Masters Swim Team competed in the Grateful Ducks Jason Troiano Memorial Masters Swim Meet on Saturday April 23, 2022 at the Mark Twain Pool in Yonkers, NY. Representing AGUA Masters were Ed Haggerty, Delaney Smith, Ryan Lathrum, and Isabel Miesner. We caught up with them before the meet and talked about what they wanted to accomplish there.
Ed Hagerty
Age 38
Began competitive swimming at age 14
When did you last swim in a meet?
In April of 2019 at the New York State Championships – AGUA Masters won!
What events are you swimming?
The 100 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, and 200 freestyle.
Why do you compete?
The high. I love the nervous jitters before you race, the control and implementation mid-race (if it feels good). Also, the validation that the training is paying off and that I can still hang with swimmers decade(s) younger than me.
This article will be published after the meet. What will your personal results look like?
Good [results], I hope. I’m aiming for a time of 1:47 in the 200, 0:47 or a low 0:48 in the 100 freestyle, and 1:02 or better in the 100 backstroke.
Delaney Smith
Age 25
Began competitive swimming at age 8
When are you next swimming in a meet and what meet?
No plans as of yet; I will see how this meet goes first and whether I can convince Ed, Ryan, and Isabel to do some long course meets this summer. I think Isabel is on board, it's mostly Ed and Ryan that need convincing.
What events are you swimming?
The 50 and 100 freestyle, 50 and 100 butterfly, and the mixed 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.
Why do you compete?
I am a very competitive person by nature, so I really benefit from having some sort of healthy outlet for that. I also push myself much harder in training when I know I have something I'm training for – let's just say it makes getting up at 4:45am much easier. I'm mostly excited for the relays because nothing gets me more fired up than competing for, and with, a team, and the four of us have been really pumped up for those.
This article will be published after the meet. What will your personal results look like?
I'm definitely not expecting to put up any personal records this weekend; I'd love to not completely embarrass myself, but it’s also my first meet in over four years, so I didn’t go to set a super high bar for myself expectation-wise. Again, I'm mostly excited for the relays so if I can drop some decently fast 50 freestyle splits on those, I'll be happy about it.
Who will be in your cheering section?
Well, my friends refuse to come up to Yonkers, and I can't really blame them for that. So I'll be counting on receiving that energy from Isabel, Ed, and Ryan.
Ryan Lathrum
Age 45
Began competitive swimming at age 12
When did you last swim in a meet?
My last collegiate meet was in 1999, but the last time I swam in a 'fun' meet was 2006.
What events are you swimming?
The 50 and 100 breaststroke. 50, 100 freestyle, 100 individual medley, 200 freestyle, and 200 medley mixed relays0.
Why do you compete? I love swimming for the friendships, and the exercise. And I'm super competitive, so still being able to race is awesome!
This article will be published after the meet. What will your personal results look like?
I know I'm not going to equal my best times from college, but I want to be able to say that I set my best times as a 45-year-old.
Who will be in your cheering section?
My husband, my brother-in-law, and his wife.
Isabel Miesner
Age 37
Began competitive swimming at age 7
When did you last swim in a meet?
April 2019, NY State Masters State Championship
What events are you swimming?
The 100 individual medley, 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 50 butterfly, and the 200 freestyle and individual medley mixed relay.
Why do you compete?
I love being in the water, and it’s equally fun to float around as it is to compete.
This article will be published after the meet. What will your personal results look like?
No idea! It’s been a while since I’ve been in a meet, but hopefully they’ll be renaming the Major Deegan Expressway after our mixed relay, based on our results!
Who will be in your cheering section?
Ed, Delaney, Ryan, and Nicholas!