Megan Pierce, future Olympian?
Late last month, the Williams College sophomore from Wayland recorded a personal-best time of 4 minutes 54.40 seconds in the 400-meter individual medley at the Speedo Central Zone Sectionals in Indianapolis, qualifying for the US Olympic swim trials next year.
The accomplishment came on the heels of an outstanding performance at the NCAA Division 3 Swimming and Diving Championships held in Shenandoah, Texas. There, as the defending champion, she was second in the 400-yard individual medley with another top personal time (4:19.23). She was also part of the winning 800-yard freestyle relay, was second in the 1,650-yard freestyle, and was fifth in the 200-yard butterfly. A psychology major, Pierce, 19, was the 2014 NESCAC Rookie of the Year.
Q. Was there pressure to repeat this year as the 400-meter IM champ?
A. There’s always nerves and pressure and I just tried to put last year out of my mind and do my best for the team. I was pretty excited with second. It was still an incredible experience.
Q. Your sister Molly broke your record this season for the most points scored in Wayland High girls’ swimming history. How proud are you of her accomplishments?
A. We were high school teammates for two years and I am so incredibly proud of her and of how hard she has worked. We have been swimming together our whole lives, and we have always motivated one another.
Q. You were an instructor with the Water Warriors program at Wayland High, which provides instruction to Boston schoolchildren. How satisfying was that?
A. I worked with a seventh-grade girl who had never been in a pool and was terrified of the water. After a few weeks, she was able to float and kick and give swimming a try. It was very satisfying for me because she was enjoying something I loved.
Q. How hard was it to turn around after nationals and find the energy to qualify for the Olympic trials?
A. The adrenaline from the NCAAs was still pumping and it carried over. I wasn’t expecting to qualify, but I got a second wind in the final race, the freestyle, and it was just enough.
Q. What do you enjoy most about racing?
A. Having someone in the next lane to me and pushing me, and also having my team counting on me. Being a part of the Williams team has been an honor.
Q. What music do you enjoy listening to the most on your iPod before a race?
A. One Direction, Justin Bieber, and rap. Anything that can both get me psyched up and also relax me and take my mind off any nervousness I might feel.
Q. What is your favorite course?
A. Psychology of education, which I am taking this semester. The theories are interesting and they prompt me to think about my own experience in the classroom.
Q . What has been your favorite family getaway?
A. This past summer, with my parents and sister, we traveled to Northern Italy and Switzerland and did a lot of mountain hiking and had a lot of fun. We climbed Mount Pilatus in Switzerland. The view was incredible and well worth the effort.