Swimming at Missouri Grand Prix was Grand Time

This weekend, Mary Liston said she heard freshman Patrick Vega and his swim teammates calling the 800 free relay "the most important race of their lives." 

Liston agrees with that notion ... "until the next race they swim." 

As a national team coach for Rockwood Community Education's Swim Club Association, Liston prepared Vega and the club's swimmers for being exposed this weekend to some of the world's top-end swimmers in Columbia, MO, at the Missouri Grand Prix. 

"For swimming, the Grand Prix is as close to a professional circuit as swimmers get," she said.

Liston said it helps young swimmers to see what is possible for them in the future in swimming.

"Grand Prix is a great atmosphere.  Everyone can see what a high level of swimming takes, and that hard work does pay off," she said.

Grand Prix is filled with postgraduate swimmers, with Columbia being one of seven different stops in a series that the organizing entity, USA Swimming, makes throughout the year.  Liston said participating swimmers came from places such as the University of Texas, Canada and South America. This is the fifth annual Grand Prix to be held in mid-Missouri.

The Mizzou Aquatic Center has one of the best pools in the United States, said Liston.

She said one of the primary objectives for swimmers attending the Grand Prix is to qualify for Junior Nationals, which will be held in March in Orlando, FL. 

"Grand Prix enables our swimmers to see the professionalism around our sport, and to become aware of the commitment of others to it.  It's a blast," said Liston.

Editor's Note:  Vega's swimmates in the winning relay include Garin Marlow, of Ballwin; Nick Davis, of Chesterfield; and Sean Feher, of Des Peres.