[PHOTO BY FRANK MITCHELL]
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enjoys exceeding expectations. Our coaches will often challenge him at various workout stages to achieve an even higher gear. I like that Miles looks for areas in which to compete when training, whether it be the first 15 meters or to the finish.” A consummate teammate, Simon often sets the tone of Howard practices. “He never complains when the set is difficult, and the team feeds off of his approach to training and the example he sets. He is super-encouraging and fun to train with. He could honestly share a lane with anyone of any ability in any pool,” says Askew. As an HU swimmer, Askew has trained Miles primarily to compete in the 100 fly, 200 IM, 100-200 free and 100-200 back, and he has shown steady improvement as a result.
HOW THEY TRAIN
MILES SIMON
BY MICHAEL J. STOTT
Free: 400 @ 8:00, 300 @ 8:00, 200 @ 8:00, 100 @ 8:00 (All MAX EFFORT, all off the block)
PROGRESSION OF TIMES SCY
SIMON SETS Following are two workouts Bison swimmers did as a way to chart team progress (with Miles Simon’s times shown for September and November).
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
400: September 3:57.05; November 4:00.92
100 FREE
47.86
47.54
46.58
45.59
300: September 2:54.35; November 2:58.42
100 BACK
53.23
52.32
49.97
50.12
200 BACK
1:59.15
1:55.98
1:51.91
—
200: September 1:51.53; November 1:50.44
—
53.95
51.68
—
100 IM
W
ith a return to normalcy, rising junior Miles Simon is looking forward to a breakout year. Fresh off a baptism in the 50 meter free at U.S. Olympic Trials with a 23.42 (tied for 61st out of 95 swimmers)—well off his 23.11 qualifying time—Simon is ready to improve upon his already impressive Bison résumé. Currently, the Atlanta product and Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Academic honoree owns top-10 times in seven Howard individual events, two of them firsts: 100 yard back (49.97) and 100 IM (51.68). He also shares firsts in four relays: 200-400 medley and 400-800 freestyle. Says his coach, Nicholas Askew, “Miles has a very laid-back personality—never too high or too low. He is not easily rattled, nor will you see him just sitting idle. He is always working to improve himself or giving his time to help improve others. Miles is very driven and enjoys the challenge of progress. He understands the loads of work and sacrifice necessary to see improvement and is fueled by seeing progress from his efforts. He also pulls fulfillment from seeing others succeed. “When training, Miles quickly grasps the intent behind sets and 44
AUGUST 2021
SWIMMINGWORLD.COM
100: September 50.71; November 48.20 200 fly, back, breast, IM; 100 fly, back, 100 breast, IM—each off 8:00 (All MAX EFFORT, all off the block)
200 fly: September 2:06.22; November 2:08.53 200 back: September 2:06.19; November 2:03.30 200 breast: September 2:30.88; November 2:31.83 200 IM: September 2:05.43; November 2:02.51 100 fly: September 56.68; November 55.34 100 back: September 58.62; November 54.00 100 breast: September 1:14.07; November 1:11.54 100 IM: September 55.98; November 55.46
Michael J. Stott is an ASCA Level 5 coach, golf and swimming writer. His critically acclaimed coming-of-age golf novel, “Too Much Loft,” was published in June 2021, and is available from Bookbaby.com, Amazon, B&N and book distributors worldwide.
