Norwalk junior Emma Sizemore is set to compete in her third consecutive State Swimming and Diving Meet over the next two days at the Marshalltown YMCA/YWCA. Sizemore is a member of the Des Moines Lincoln girls swim team, which shares a program with Norwalk and Carlisle.

Sizemore qualified for state in two events at last week’s regional meet in Johnston. She will compete out of lane 8 in heat 2 of Friday’s 500-yard freestyle prelims, with the finals set for Saturday afternoon. Also on Saturday, Sizemore will swim the second 50-yard leg of the Rails’ 200 freestyle relay, teaming with Haylee Shaffer, Paola Santiago and Samantha Douds.

Sizemore tells KNIA/KRLS Sports that she is excited to go back to state for the third time, citing an “awesome atmosphere” and raucous fan support at the Marshalltown venue. She acknowledges that her two races are very different in terms of strategy and execution.

“The 500 you have to really know your pace and trust your counter that they’ll tell you basically how fast you’re going, but in that 50 you just have to get out there,” she said. “It’s just down and back and you have to keep your head down and not breathe, which is really a different thing from the 500.”

The 500 free is Sizemore’s favorite high school race as she enjoys finding the right pace, using her endurance and the feeling of satisfaction at the finish. She clocked a season-best time of 5:26.3 at regionals and hopes to ‘PR’ again at state while improving upon her No. 24 qualifying seed as well. Last year, Sizemore finished 19th in the 500 at state.

Sizemore adds that the keys to a good race at state will be getting in the right mindset beforehand, staying calm and prepared, trusting her training and knowing that her teammates are all behind her in support.