14-Year-Old Santee Swimmer Competes in Olympic Trials

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Of over 1,800 U.S. swimmers competing for a spot at the Olympics, Sarah Nowaski, a 14-year-old swimmer from Santee, is one of only 15 swimmers under 15-years-old that is taking part in the trials.

She is currently the fifth ranked 14-year-old in the nation in the 200-meter fly and seeded 139th in her event at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. On Thursday she will compete against others seeded near her (ranging from others her age to college age swimmers) in Omaha, Nebraska. Times from all of the heats are ranked in the results and the top 16 times advance to semi-finals.

Nowaski will be the youngest swimmer from San Diego attending this summer's Olympic Trials. There are 22 san Diego-based swimmers at trials; 12 are collegiate, nine are in high school or just graduated, and Nowaski just graduated from middle school, missing her promotion ceremony at to get to Omaha for final preparations for the event.

"Sarah is just excited to have qualified and have the opportunity to compete with the best swimmers in the nation," said her coach, Dave Kilmer.

She has been swimming competitively since age seven and dropped five seconds this season to qualify, Kilmer said. She competes for the college area swim team and has won the high point award for 13-14 year olds in the last two Junior Olympics in San Diego.

You can watch her heats live on video here between 8:20 and 8:30 a.m. on June 28, 2012. To learn more go to the U.S.Olympic Swimming Trials.

Other East County swimmers in the meet:

• Heartland swimmer: Garrett Glaudini - from Ramona, to compete in the 1500M free on Sunday
• CAST swimmer: Justin DiFederico - from Lakeside, competed in 200 fly - finished 48th, 400IM- finished 106th
• CAST swimmer: Tommy Anderson- from Jamul, swam 400IM - finished 80th, competing in 200bk on Friday
• CAST swimmer: Brandon Meier- from Jamul, swims 200 breast stroke on Thursday

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