Anderson to compete in seven events at upcoming Olympic trials

One of the top swimmers at the US Olympic swim trials will have ties to Folsom.Alyssa Anderson is a 17-year-old senior at Granite Bay High School, but is in Folsom everyday practicing at the Folsom Aquatic Center. A member of the Sierra Marlins swim team, Anderson has qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 200, 400 and 800-meter freestyle, the 100 and 200-meter butterfly and the 200 and 400 individual medley. The Olympic trials will be held June 29 through July 6 in Omaha, Neb."It's cool because people strive to make the trials in one event and I got in seven," Anderson said. "I qualified for two of the events two years ago at Spring Nationals and from there I've gotten the others by just improving my times."Anderson is thrilled to be going to the trials, but she's more than just happy to be there. She's got a legitimate chance to qualify for the Olympic team. Her top times in the 400 freestyle (4 minutes, 11.11 seconds) and the 800 freestyle (8:36) are among the top times in the country."She's not one of the favorites to make the team and I think that gives her an advantage because there's less pressure," Sierra Marlins coach Jeff Pearson said. "Everyone in front of her is a professional athlete, but at every trial there are those who don't swim well and someone from the younger contingent of swimmers makes it.""I'm definitely excited and I'm going to try to take it all in," Anderson said. "Everyone's goal is to make the team, but I'd like to swim my best times and make the top-eight finals in at least one of the events."The top-two finishers in each event will make the US Olympic team. While the 400 and 800 freestyle races are her best events, Anderson said the 200 butterfly and the 200 individual medley are among her favorite events.Any swimmer who's headed to the trials has put considerable time in training and Anderson is no exception. She spends more than 20 hours a week in the pool and also does weight training twice a week.On Tuesdays and Thursdays she swims for 90 minutes before heading to school."Alyssa a rare athlete in that her work ethic matches her talent and that's why she's been successful," Pearson said. "She's one of the hardest workers on the team."Two other members of the Sierra Marlins have qualified for the Olympic trials. Anderson's younger sister, Haley, will compete in the 400 and 800 freestyle, while Auburn's David Seiler will swim in the 100 and 200 butterfly. The Marlins home pool is the Folsom Aquatic Center.