Double-take! 40-year old Lisa Blackburn has been mixing it up at Grand Prix meets in the last few years, which in itself is pretty impressive.
This morning in Indianapolis, however, she took it to a whole-new-level. With fellow 40-something Dara Torres not swimming her one race until Friday, Blackburn stole the show with a 2:35.83 for 17th in prelims, a berth in the C-Final, and her first Olympic Trials qualifying time for 2012.
She won’t swim in Omaha, however, despite clearing the 2:35.99 requirement. That’s because Blackburn represents Bermuda internationally (where, incidentally, she’s breaking National Records in her 40’s).
Blackburn trains at Paul Yetter’s T2 squad in Florida, where she swims with a really veteran, and impressive, adult group that includes 33-year old National Teamer Erika Erndl, and most recently Katie Hoff. The Masters group at T2 is one of the more impressive in the country.
Though this is not her best time (she was a 2:32 in 2004), it is the fastest she’s been in this Olympic cycle. The Olympic consideration qualifying time is a 2:32.03, so that’s what she’d have to hit to head to London (barring a developmental invite). An impressive swim none-the-less.
Jeffrey is a bit of a sporting star in the island country, though she grew up in Canada. Just last week, she was named the 2011 Bermuda Female Athlete of the Year.