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Murphy will be in familiar territory for district meet

The Springstead backstroke athlete, a Gulf transfer, is returning to the New Port Richey Recreation Center.

By VINCENT THOMAS
Published October 13, 2005

Competing in the backstroke can be semi-disorienting. You're looking straight up in the air, can't see the lane dividers and don't know where the pool walls are.

Familiarity can be an advantage.

Springstead's Kim Murphy, a Gulf transfer who was the Hernando County Athletic Conference winner of the 100 backstroke, is anticipating her return to the New Port Richey Recreation Center, site of the Oct. 21 Class 2A, District 5 meet. She says it could make a difference.

"I'm used to the pool," said Murphy, who started swimming at the New Port Richey site at 10 years old. "I'll make my foot turns better. I know my count there."

During the backstroke, a line of flags appear over the pool to notify swimmers that they have about two strokes left before they hit the wall. That's when they make their foot turns, a sommersault-like maneuver in which competitors flip under water, propel off the wall with their feet and start heading the other way.

At Port Richey, it almost was second nature for Murphy. But at the sites she's swam at as an Eagle (Spring Hill YMCA, Bicentennial Park) ... "Uh, the other pools have been kind of iffy," she said.

The lack of familiarity hasn't been significant enough to slow her down much. Murphy won the 100 freestyle along with the 100 back in the HCAC meet, events she generally has dominated throughout the season. She's added needed depth to an Eagles squad that already featured Sarah Barry.

"I didn't know Kim personally, but - as a coach - you always know who the top swimmers are in the area," Justin Hengesbach said of Murphy, who transferred to Springstead last spring when her family relocated to Spring Hill. "You're always excited to add a top-line swimmer."

Murphy, not one for hyperbole, is cool with her new home and new team. "It's been good." She's established a close bond with teammate Nicole Westervelt and says the squad is a close-knit bunch. "Everybody cheers for everybody," Murphy said

She's not thrilled with the practices, though. "They're a lot harder than the Gulf practices were. The sets are faster, less break time. We'll see at the end of the season if it paid off."

Vincent Thomas can be reached at vthomas@sptimes.com or 352 424-0177.

[Last modified October 13, 2005, 01:11:19]