Cato-Meridian eighth grade student Chloe Hubbard has become the youngest swimmer in QJS3 history to qualify for the USA Swimming Futures Championships.

Hubbard will compete at the end of July in Knoxville, Tennessee, alongside fellow QJS3 qualifiers Joey Swenton and Adrian Clay.

The USA Swimming Futures Championships are a time-standard-based national meet. The competition gives rising swimmers the chance to race at a higher level and gain experience on a larger stage.

Hubbard has been a member of QJS3 for two and a half years, after first being introduced to the program through Cato-Meridian’s Otters Swim Club.

“The coach thought I would be a good breaststroker, and here I am,” Hubbard said.

When she found out she had qualified for Futures, Hubbard said she was both excited and surprised.

“I didn’t realize that I would get the time by almost half a second,” she said. “Being the youngest to qualify shows how hard I have worked.”

For Hubbard, qualifying is not only a personal accomplishment, but also an opportunity to represent her team and state on a larger stage.

“Going with Joey and Adrian is a good opportunity to show how fast New York can be, especially because not many people from New York attend,” Hubbard said.

Hubbard said she is looking forward to the competitive environment at Futures and knows the meet will bring a new level of challenge.

“Futures is a meet where people compete at a national level,” she said. “The qualifying times are very hard to get.”

As she prepares for the meet, Hubbard said her training will likely include tapering to help her body get ready to compete. She also credited QJS3 Head Coach Jim Funiciello for helping her reach this milestone.

“He’s perfected my strokes and helped me train hard,” Hubbard said.

Cato-Meridian congratulates Hubbard on this outstanding achievement and wishes her, Swenton and Clay the best of luck as they prepare to compete in Knoxville.