Ball shatters two WCC records

Monday, January 11, 2010
In between record-setting performances at Saturday's WCC meet, Greencastle senior Melissa Ball keeps laps for teammate Sara Culler in the 500 freestyle.

GREENCASTLE -- To say Melissa Ball broke two records at Saturday's West Central Conference Meet at DePauw would be selling the Greencastle senior short.

It's more accurate to say the Greencastle senior crushed the old marks in the 100 butterfly and 50 freestyle, on her way to four conference championships on the day.

Ball bested Tracy Menzel's conference mark of 25.20 seconds in the 50 with a 24.62 on Saturday.

"Obviously, we targeted this meet for Melissa to go after some conference records and also our school record in the 100 butterfly. So, for her to swim a 24.62 (in the 50 free) -- and we were hoping just for her to get under 25.2 -- so for to shatter the conference record and also get very close to our school record in the 50 -- I lost it. It was incredible," GHS coach Luke Beasley said.

The real shocker of the day, even to Ball, came when she demolished Alison Barnes' record of 1:03.75 in the 100 fly with a 59.96.

"In the butterfly, I was really surprised because I was shooting for the conference record, which was a 1:03, but I never expected to break a minute and break the school record. That was a total shock," Ball said. "Obviously it felt great, but I was very surprised about that."

Ball began and ended her day with two more victories as the breaststroke leg of the medley relay and the anchor of the 200 free relay.

With weather canceling practice on Thursday and Friday, lack of practice was on everyone's mind Saturday afternoon. Ball thought the days off actually aided her effort, though.

"I think the snow days actually helped a little bit because taking the time off -- a little bit of relaxation -- helped me get ready to swim today," Ball said.

While her day on Saturday was impressive, Ball knows there are still goals to reach during her final hear in the purple and gray.

"Now that I've broken both of my personal bests in those races, I think I want to, one, beat them again and make them even better, and then, two, break 24 in the 50 and break the school record in that."