In the USMS Rule Book under 104.5.3C, the process is defined.
In the 2005 convention minutes, the current practice appear to be 11% slower than 5th place national ranking in the USMS Top Ten.
Yes, the NQT, therefore, change each year each season.
What 104.5.3C says is "There shall be qualifying times for national championship meets unless otherwise determined by the Championship Committee. The procedure for determining the qualifying times shall be established by the Championship Committee with the approval of the House of Delegates."
Championship was constantly tweaking the formula, and figuring out a concise and clear way to say it in the rule book was driving everyone crazy. So instead of putting it in the rule book, we just say the above, and let Championship hash it out. I don't really know how they do it anymore, but I'd say Anthony's source of the minutes to their 2005 meeting is pretty definitive. Not sure if they still average. I think they do, but haven't actually paid much attention since I almost never make the QT's for SCY!
"the current practice appear to be 11% slower than 5th place national ranking in the USMS Top Ten. "
As I recall the 11% slower than the 5th place finish was for Long course. It was made more difficult due to the expected high numbers at Long Course Championships.
It had been 10% slower than the 10th place on the USMS Top ten for that age group.
michael
