CROWLEY – For Notre Dame freshman Alex Miller, her first trip to the Southern Zone Age Group Swimming Championships at the 1996 Olympic Natatorium in Atlanta, Ga. was a successful one.

Although the Evangeline native didn’t bring home any top finishes, she did set a team record in the 200-meter butterfly (2:31.3) and set a personal record in the 50-meter freestyle (28.9). Her time in the 200 butterfly was good enough for a 13th place finish, her highest of the meet. She finished 15th in the 100-meter backstroke, 17th in the 100-meter butterfly and served as he leadoff swimmer for her team in two separate relays.

Miller teamed with Mandeville’s Alex Cloutet and Baton Rouge’s M.K. Miller and Victoria Padial to place ninth in the medley relay.

Despite not advancingto the finals in an individual event, Miller’s mother Debbie couldn’t be more proud of her daughter’s accomplishments.

“It was a good meet for her, especially since it was her first meet of this kind,” said the elder Miller. “She didn’t ease into it until Saturday and she figured it out on that day, which was her best day.”

Miller has swam in meets with upwards of 40-plus competitors before and this zone saw some of the fastest competition of all the zones in the United States. The zone covers Texas, up to Tennessee and Kentucky, all the way up to North Carolina and down to Florida.

Miller, who will also be playing volleyball and basketball for the Lady Pios this year, says she is pleased with her swimming this summer and hopes to continue improving.

“Now I’m very motivated to reach my goal and be in the top 10 next time,” she said.