I went to a short course Nationals many years ago (Fort Lauderdale) in which swimmers were allowed to swim both the 1000 and 1650, on the same day. Why is it that distance swimmers must choose between their 2 best events while there are 9 events of 100 yards or less? Also, it seems that distance swimmers are always required to miss the most amount of work since the 1000/1650 are always first (Thursday). I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I'm not sure what the reasoning was for only allowing 1 distance event (outside of time). It seems as if they could be swum on different days as they are at USS Nationals or any USS meet for that matter. Just curious.
Blessed With No Speed
The fear is that in a four-day format, there is not enough time to allow swimmers to take part in both distance races. However, we have come up with some ideas that might allow you to swim both.
At this year's long course nationals, Alex Antoniou, the meet director, is going to give one of them a try. The meet is going to be five days longs rather than four. This change is being made to accommodate requests like rudderboy's.
With the five-day format, the 1500 will be swum on the first day and the 800 is offered on the second day. Distance swimmers making the National Qualifying Time in either the 800 or 1500 may swim both events.
The Championship Committee is hopeful that this will make things a bit fairer for the distance swimmers out there while not making any one day of the meet too long.
Mark Gill
While I would like to see some modification to the rule that says one can only swim either the 1650/1500 or the 1000/800 free , how long do you want the meet to last?
The 2003 Short Course Championship had 240 swimmers in the 1000, which took 4 hours to swim. The 1650 had 203 swimmers which took about 5:22 hours. The meet started at 8 am and finished about 5:30 (which made for a long day in the sun). Also the in the distance events the men and women swam together saving 1-2 hours.
Again, I would be looking for some modification to the rule, but where do we go? How do we make it work?
michael
I would love to swim both, especially when I'm so out of shape for shorter stuff!!!
I heard several different people, in Indy, "complaining" about the slower heats of both the 1,000 and the 1,650. I personally would never take away the longer events from anyone no matter how old/young or slow/fast...
I did hear it suggested that perhaps people with slower times (and I don't know what the cutoff would be) could swim it on an extra early day of the meet. One thought was that many of the people who are older (and perhaps) much slower are retired anyway and could go a day early? They're not working (although it is still an extra night for them $$$).
I don't know. Just relaying a suggestion I heard. My thought is that if you're going to do that: 1) that's a big can of worms, and 2) if we move "slower" swimmers for the distance shouldn't we move them for everything else as well? I don't know if I agree with that. Would adding this extra day for some be more beneficial to all? And is it that big a deal waiting for an 83 year old to swim the mile?
I for one would almost prefer an extra day especially when travelling east (to get used to the time change)- but I don't know that I would separate "slower" from everyone else. To me that's kind of against what masters is all about. Rambling on.....
We could still do it in four days, either by moving some events to the 1st day and offering the 2nd distance event on a shorter day, or just scheduling the 2nd distance event for the day the 400 IM or 500 don't fall on. For instance, move several shorter events out of Fri, Sat, or Sunday and place the 1000 in their place. Seems like it would only add a marginal amount of time, and it would be much fairer to those who want to swim something besides 100's and 50's. What does anyone think?
Originally posted by swim53
www.savannahmasters.com/nationals04/orderofevents.htm
This is from the website for the savannah meet and it is not showing a 5-day format
the post about the 5 day format was referring to Rutgers not Savannah. it was from before the Rutgers meet had been conducted. Savannah is going with a traditional four day meet.
Here's a complaint I have on this subject. At Indy this year, you could not get the discounted hotel rate for Wednesday night (or Sunday night for that matter) - only Thursday thru Saturday nights. Anyone swimming on the distance day would arrive on Wednesday. And many of us who traveled a great distance did not leave until Monday AM. I thought it was pretty unfair that these significant groups of competitors were not considered in arranging for the hotels. Of course, I also found out we were only getting $10 off the rack rate from the hotel anyway, which is pretty lame too. I suppose I'm taking this topic in a whole new direction, but I wanted to get that out there.
I really don't want to assist in highjacking this thread, but want to mention that hotel rooms were A LOT cheaper on Priceline. Might want to give it a try next time.
Jeff,
You argument seems to make sense, but you are assuming away the most significant problem with the 1500/800 double. How many people will chose to swim both? You can't have it both ways. You want to let people swim both events because you think there is a significant number of people who want to do that, but cannot do that now. OK, fair enough. But, if that is the case, all those folks adding either the 1500 or the 800 to their schedule of events (instead of, hypothetically, the 400's they are now swimming) will add significant numbers of heats to both events, and require more time to complete them.
I have no problem with changing the meet to let pure distance folks do both events, but let's be honest with ourselves about what the cost will be.
Matt
