Junior Marissa Clapp Heads to National Championships

Illini swimmer will compete in 200 breast and 200 IM

July 30, 2007

Junior Marissa Clapp will participate in the 2007 Conoco Phillips National Championships held from July 31-August 4 in Indianapolis, Ind. Clapp will compete in the 200 breast on Tuesday and the 200 IM on Saturday.

Clapp qualified for the national championships by swimming a national time standard (2:37.82) at the Illinois Senior State Championships. At the event she swam four lifetime best times in the six events she competed.

Clapp set new goals after the end of the NCAA season. She stayed on campus this summer to reach those goals by training with the coaching staff. The decision has paid off with her first summer nationals' appearance and she is nearing an Olympic trials time standard.

The competition at the meet will be tough with the best swimmers from across the nation coming together for the event dubbed, the duel in the pool.

Illini swimming and diving coach Sue Novitsky knows the challenges, and has faith in one of her top swimmers, "This will be the biggest meet Marissa has ever competed in. She is a great competitor and has the speed, strength, and endurance to swim with the best in the sport."

The national championships will serve as the USA National Team selection for the 2007 Japan International Grand Prix held in Chibo, Japan from August 21-24.

Clapp is excited for the opportunity her hard work has afforded her. "I really just want to see how fast I can go," the Danville, Ill. native explained. "I would love to swim an Olympic trial time, but I'm just going to swim my own race and try not get caught up in what the other swimmers are doing."