The Road to Nationals-Tyler McGill
The Road to Nationals-Tyler McGill
Coming off a successful 2009, Auburn senior
Tyler McGill is looking forward to a strong finish to his collegiate season and more international competition. McGill placed second in the 100-meterbutterfly at the
2009 ConocoPhillips National Championships to earn a spot on the
2009 World Championship team. In Rome, he was part of the gold medal 400-meter medley relay team, swimming the butterfly leg in prelims.
With only a handful of meets left in the collegiate season, I caught up with McGill to talk about his training leading in to NCAAs and the long course season.
With only a handful of meets left in the collegiate season, I caught up with McGill to talk about his training leading in to NCAAs and the long course season.
National Team Member: Tyler McGill
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 2,173 miles
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 2,173 miles
You had strong butterfly performances this past year at both Nationals and World Champs in Rome, - how do those races impact looking forward to Nationals this coming August?
Tyler: I think the biggest thing that I took away from this summer is that I have the ability to compete at that level. Having gone through experiences from Nationals and World Champs, I have a greater sense of what I need to do at those meets to perform at the level I know I will.
Tyler: I think the biggest thing that I took away from this summer is that I have the ability to compete at that level. Having gone through experiences from Nationals and World Champs, I have a greater sense of what I need to do at those meets to perform at the level I know I will.
With the Southeastern Conference (SEC) meet and NCAAs on the horizon, what types of training are you focusing on right now?
Tyler: Right now we are starting to work on front-end speed a little more. We’ve done the work in terms being able to finish races, now were starting to incorporate the ability to go out fast without draining the energy systems completely to bring races home.
Tyler: Right now we are starting to work on front-end speed a little more. We’ve done the work in terms being able to finish races, now were starting to incorporate the ability to go out fast without draining the energy systems completely to bring races home.
Since it is still January, how are you staying mentally focused for both SECs, NCAAs and the summer ahead?
Tyler: It’s my senior year and Auburn has been great for me that [it] would be unfair and not right [to not] to put all my attention into the team and our goals. The summer will take care of itself as it approaches, but I want to be able to say I did everything I could for the guys that have helped bring me to another level of racing.
Tyler: It’s my senior year and Auburn has been great for me that [it] would be unfair and not right [to not] to put all my attention into the team and our goals. The summer will take care of itself as it approaches, but I want to be able to say I did everything I could for the guys that have helped bring me to another level of racing.
Being that it is your senior season for Auburn, is there anything you are looking forward to in particular at SECs or NCAAs?
Tyler: I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to end my college career like all seniors want to, and that’s winning. Like I said, I want to walk away from my college career saying that I did everything I could to help our team win.
Tyler: I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to end my college career like all seniors want to, and that’s winning. Like I said, I want to walk away from my college career saying that I did everything I could to help our team win.
How will your training change for the long course season?
Tyler: I’m not exactly sure how it will change; every summer for me has been different. I can say that I will continue to try and improve as an athlete in general. Brett [Hawke] and the rest of the staff are always so inventive and fresh with their ideas that it’s hard to predict what we will be doing.
Tyler: I’m not exactly sure how it will change; every summer for me has been different. I can say that I will continue to try and improve as an athlete in general. Brett [Hawke] and the rest of the staff are always so inventive and fresh with their ideas that it’s hard to predict what we will be doing.
Where will you be train with this summer?
Tyler: I will be staying in Auburn and training with the professionals that are here. In terms of coaches, I will work with the entire staff – Brett, Richard Long, Aaron Ciarla, and Paul Yetter – to improve my skills as an athlete.
Tyler: I will be staying in Auburn and training with the professionals that are here. In terms of coaches, I will work with the entire staff – Brett, Richard Long, Aaron Ciarla, and Paul Yetter – to improve my skills as an athlete.
Do you have a favorite butterfly set?
Tyler: I can’t say that I have a favorite butterfly set. My idea of a good butterfly set would incorporate a mixture of body position drills, speed drills, and some full swimming either racing or pace.
Tyler: I can’t say that I have a favorite butterfly set. My idea of a good butterfly set would incorporate a mixture of body position drills, speed drills, and some full swimming either racing or pace.
Will you focus on the 100 and 200 fly, or a combination of events at Nationals?
Tyler: I will prepare for the 100 and 200 fly for this summer but over the past year my 50, 100, and 200 free have also improved, so I will be preparing for some combination of all those events.
Tyler: I will prepare for the 100 and 200 fly for this summer but over the past year my 50, 100, and 200 free have also improved, so I will be preparing for some combination of all those events.
Any particular goals for the meet in Irvine?
Tyler: I left Rome last summer feeling accomplished, but still feeling like I could have been much faster. So my primary goal this summer is to go faster, and with swimming faster, I feel as though I will qualify for the different teams available.
Tyler: I left Rome last summer feeling accomplished, but still feeling like I could have been much faster. So my primary goal this summer is to go faster, and with swimming faster, I feel as though I will qualify for the different teams available.
In what other ways will you prepare yourself for Nationals this summer?
Tyler: I’ll read some off topic books this summer and stay relaxed. I swim my best when I’m calm, happy, and enjoying what’s going on. As the summer progresses, I’ll picture myself being successful and being a champion. I’ll picture my race and the way I’ll react to a great swim. Then when the time comes, I’ll feel as if I’ve done it a million times.
Tyler: I’ll read some off topic books this summer and stay relaxed. I swim my best when I’m calm, happy, and enjoying what’s going on. As the summer progresses, I’ll picture myself being successful and being a champion. I’ll picture my race and the way I’ll react to a great swim. Then when the time comes, I’ll feel as if I’ve done it a million times.
How do you stay energized to compete each season?
Tyler: We have the most energetic staff in the country as far as I’m concerned, so it’s really easy to show up with energy when the people you are working with everyday do as well
Tyler: We have the most energetic staff in the country as far as I’m concerned, so it’s really easy to show up with energy when the people you are working with everyday do as well
What is your favorite road trip memory – either for a swim meet or for fun?
Tyler: The males in my family have been on several fishing trips down to Arkansas. Those trips are always fun and eventful.
Tyler: The males in my family have been on several fishing trips down to Arkansas. Those trips are always fun and eventful.
What was the make and model of your first car?
Tyler: My first and only car has been a 1994 Plymouth Voyager. She was faithfully unreliable.
Tyler: My first and only car has been a 1994 Plymouth Voyager. She was faithfully unreliable.
If you could take a road trip with someone famous, who would it be and where would you go?
Tyler: I would want to play 36 holes at Augusta National with Arnold Palmer.
Tyler: I would want to play 36 holes at Augusta National with Arnold Palmer.
Any favorite road trip games?
Tyler: The alphabet game is always a classic in my family, but my personally favorite game is how fast and how long can I sleep.
Tyler: The alphabet game is always a classic in my family, but my personally favorite game is how fast and how long can I sleep.
