Thanks to everyone involved in the Ft. Lauderdale Nationals. I had a great time and met some exceptional people. I especially want to thank Doug Malcolm for the competition in the adjacent lane. It looks like (from USMS data) you have not competed for quite a while and had a great meet! I had not competed for over 20 years when I entered the 2001 Nat's at Santa Clara and have done pretty well for the past few years. Doug exemplifies what our sport should be all about; a true competitor who brings out the best in someone like me who may not have accomplished the standards acheived in Ft. Lauderdale without someone like him next to me. I never got a chance to thank you so I am doing so now. Keep up the good work!
I would also like to congradulate John Blank for being the first male competitor over 45 to break one minute in the 100 yard breaststroke; a great accomplishment! I have never broken a minute in that event and am full of envy.
Lee Rider
I, too, was thinking that the team scores needed some sort of revision. Our team is very small, and we only brought 6 swimmers to the meet (SAWS). We still managed to score 165.5 points without even having relays.
It was discouraging to know that our swimmers were placing so well and know that there was no conceivable way for us to compete against teams combined by state with 80+ swimmers. Because we knew placing top ten was impossible even if we had entered relays, we opted not to enter any relays so that we could be fresh for our individual swims.
I also compete in Masters ski racing, and at our National championships, we score on a percentage. Having a larger team doesn't necessarily help unless all of your team is placing well in their respective age groups. I am certainly not one of the strongest racers, and I have never felt like my team discouraged me from participating so that I wouldn't bring down their percentage.
Just some thoughts. This was my first meet in many years, and I absolutely loved getting back into it. I'd like to go again next year.
Kristi
I, too, was thinking that the team scores needed some sort of revision. Our team is very small, and we only brought 6 swimmers to the meet (SAWS). We still managed to score 165.5 points without even having relays.
It was discouraging to know that our swimmers were placing so well and know that there was no conceivable way for us to compete against teams combined by state with 80+ swimmers. Because we knew placing top ten was impossible even if we had entered relays, we opted not to enter any relays so that we could be fresh for our individual swims.
I also compete in Masters ski racing, and at our National championships, we score on a percentage. Having a larger team doesn't necessarily help unless all of your team is placing well in their respective age groups. I am certainly not one of the strongest racers, and I have never felt like my team discouraged me from participating so that I wouldn't bring down their percentage.
Just some thoughts. This was my first meet in many years, and I absolutely loved getting back into it. I'd like to go again next year.
Kristi
