NBAC?s Groome is open minded

“Everyone knows about the NBAC because it has so many Olympians,” Groome said recently, while taking a break from training. “So we just decided to move up here.”

Since then, she has taken up the open-water event, a grueling competition growing in popularity since being added to the upcoming Olympic docket.

“I never even thought about doing open-water, but since they added it to the Olympics, I have a chance in it,” said Groome, who holds the area open-water record for her age group.

Open water is a lengthy race in exactly that ? open water. Groome recently competed off the Florida coast, where she said competitors must be on the lookout not only for competing swimmers but also sharks.

“I did open water one time ? in Ocean City ? and I almost died,” teammate Courtney Kalisz, 17, said. “My mom doesn?t let me do them anymore.”

The 5-kilometer race tested both Groome?s physical and mental endurance. “Mentally, you just have to keep with it,” said Groome, who is home-schooled. “You?re going for an hour.”

The idea of competing in such a grueling race might sound like fun to some, but to others, trying it once would be enough. “Before I retire I?d like to do one open swim, just try it,” said Felecia Lee, 14, who, like Groome, moved to Maryland simply to join the NBAC.

Groome said she likes being in Maryland.

“The people are nice, and the weather is nice, too. But [NBAC coach] Paul [Yetter] says it?s going to get hotter,” Groome said.

THE GROOME FILE

Hometown: Shreveport, La.

Age: Will turn 16 on Aug. 2.

Didyou know? Groome won the 5K race at the 2006 Open Water Nationals June 2 in Ft. Myers, Fla. Her time of 57 minutes, 22 seconds beat the runner-up by 37 seconds ? The NBAC?s Clair Hutchinson, 19, came in eighth in the same race ? Groome took first in the 400 freestyle at the 2006 Grand Prix in Ann Arbor, Mich., May 22.