The SWMO Championships on Monday didn’t quite meet Ellie Turnbull’s expectations. But the Nixa senior sprinter was proud of the manner in which she bounced back to finish third in the 100 freestyle.
Turnbull turned in a time of 54.53, an improvement of her prelims time of 54.62.
Earlier, she finished fourth in the 50 freestyle with a 24.73, after posting a prelims time of 24.66.
“I’ve been trying to go out with a bang and this SWMO didn’t go as well as I wanted to,” Turnbull said. “I wanted to drop some time. I didn’t have the best 50. I didn’t drop any time, so I was a little upset about it.
“I feel good about the 100 free,” she added. “I put ear pods in and listened to some music (after the 50 free). I also had a pep talk from both of my coaches. That got me pumped up again. I went out and did my best.”
Nixa coach Pete Hill wasn’t surprised to see Turnbull fare better in the longer sprint.
“I love Ellie to death, but she is not a 50 freestyler,” Hill said. “I wish she could wrap her head around that she could be an amazing 200 freestyler. She is so strong, long and powerful that the 200 would suit her well. She’s a good sprinter, but I think the 50 eludes her because of her turnover.”
For most of her high school career, Turnbull has had to cope with a right shoulder injury that affects her labrum, bicep tendon and rotator cuff. The injury restricts her flexibility and thus, the strokes she can swim. She had to stop competing in the 200 IM.
“I’m limited to only doing freestyle,” she said. “It’s been an ongoing problem. It’s an overuse injury and has been happening to me since the end of my sophomore year.”
“Every year we have struggled with her shoulder,” Hill said. “It used to be that when the shoulder would get after her, she would stop and let it get the best of her. This year, she never stopped. She alternated her practice routine so she could keep working hard.
“Hopefully, her kick will help her at State,” he added.
Former Nixa standout Olivia Stoneman endured the same injury during her career.
“Olivia wasn’t able to (swim at Missouri State) because of her shoulder,” Turnbull said.
Likewise, Turnbull doesn’t anticipate she will swim in college due to her shoulder.
“I want to, but don’t think I will be able to and I probably won’t,” she said. “After this season, I’m going to look into getting a surgery for my shoulder. I don’t know if I should try to continue after that or just call it (a career). We’ll see.”
Nixa’s Aspyn Howard placed fifth in the 100 breaststroke in 1:13.25 and 200 IM in 2:21.06.
