Byrd returns to Jr. Olympics

A year ago, Blytheville Barracuda swimmer Cade Byrd made his first apparence in the AAU Junior Olympic games in New Orleans, La. This year, Byrd qualified once again and he will have a teammate swimming with him. Fellow Barracuda and younger sister, Sydney, will also be competing at this year's competition beginning July 27th through the 30th at the Pearland Auditorium just outside of Houston, Texas

"I'm really excited," said Sydney who is 8-years-old and will be entering the third grade at Armorel Elementary in the Fall.

The two swimmers, along with about 40 other swimmers, will represent Arkansas from the South Wind conference.

The conference is made up of teams from the northeast part of the state including Batesville, Paragould, Mountain Home and Wynne among others. They will compete against athletes from all over the country and even a few teams from other countries.

Cade, who is 11 and entering the sixth grade, said last year he wasn't sure what to expect but he's going to be ready this time around.

"I'll be more competitive this year," he said.

Cade will be competing in 12 events this year in the 11-12 year-old division; eight individual events and four relays. Sydney will be competing in four individual events and one relay. Junior Olympics allows for a swimmer to compete in as many as eight individual events. A year ago, Cade only competed in three events.

"Last year, we were completely caught off guard by qualifying for JOs (Junior Olympics)," said Cade and Sydney's father, Jim Byrd. "So this year we planned for it, even though we weren't sure he would make it since he moved up in the next age group."

Another thing that the Byrds did this year to help prepare for the Junior Olympics was competing in larger pools. The Junior Olympic races are in 50 meter pools where most of the meets that the Barracuda's swim in are 25 meter pools. So, when Cade competed last year in New Orleans, it was his first time competing in a 50 meter pool. This year, the team competed in 50 meter pools three times.

Swimming won't be the only thing on Cade and Sydney's agenda. The family plans on making a trip to the Kennedy Space Center.

afitzpatrick@blythevillecourier.com