American University senior swimmer Mimi Watts competed at the Phillips 66 National Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, finishing in the top 60 competitors in both of her events.
Watts advanced through the preliminary stage of the Championships, which took place in the first week of July and excelled in two categories: the 50-meter and 100-meter butterfly. Watts ranked No. 49 in the 50-meter butterfly, and No. 57 in the 100-meter butterfly.
The Phillips 66 National Championships took place at Indiana University’s Natatorium. This event was held to determine which swimmers would compete in the 2023 World Championships, Junior World Championships, Pan American Games and the LEN European U23 Swimming Championships. This event brought in swim clubs from all corners of the U.S. to compete and represent Team USA in the coming championship events being held around the country and world.
Watts holds eight school records at AU, including the 100-meter butterfly. She is a three-time Patriot League Champion and won Women’s Swimmer of the Meet at the Patriot League Championships this past season. She also holds two First Team All-Patriot League selections, and two NCAA “B” cuts.
AU swim & dive coach Garland Bartlett said that this experience has been “amazing” for both Watts and the team.
“This meet is the fastest meet to be held in the next two years besides the Olympic trials,” Bartlett said. “Mimi got to compete against some of the best swimmers in the country and in the world.”
Watts was the only swimmer from AU to compete at the National Championships, swimming in two events out of 330. Bartlett described the training that Watts went through to get ready for this meet, saying that her routine speaks to her dedication and talent as a student-athlete. Watts works at an internship from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week in Daytona Beach, Florida, and was still able to fit in training to go to Indianapolis for the National Championships.
Bartlett also noted that Mimi’s performance has done wonders for the AU swim program as a whole.
“Mimi has bought into and believed in this program,” Bartlett said. “It’s helping other people on the team realize that they can achieve great things on this team as well.”
AU’s swim team is bringing in 15 new swimmers this coming school year, adding what Bartlett describes as “a lot of talented depth.” She is excited to see what this new influx of swimmers will do for the program. Bartlett said that the expectation for Watts this season is to go out and compete as she always does. Giving it her all will likely land her in the NCAA Championships and the Olympic trials.
This article was edited by Penelope Jennings, Delaney Hoke and Abigail Pritchard. Copy editing done by Isabelle Kravis.
