I was just looking over the schedule for long course nationals in Auburn, AL and I see the 800 and 1500 are on the same day, as were the 1000 & mile in Mesa. Please have one race at the beginning of the meet and one at the end of the meet so distance swimmers can do all their races, thanks!
Jeff, What about a tougher qualifying time to limit the numbers that want to swim both. Eliminate the distance events from the events that you can swim without a QT. You can get the numbers down to a manageable level. It's a national championship not a zone meet.
Please look back at Portland again (2008 Summer Nationals). Distance swimmers had to choose either the 800 or the 1500 but not both. The projected timeline said the distance day would end at 9:20pm. I wasn't there but heard it actually went much later than that. So I would say you first need to have tougher qualifying times to be able to swim even one event before you begin to think about how to allow swimmers to do both. Again, a 5 day format or two courses solves the challenge. Two courses is ideal because not everybody can manage to take the time off from work/home for a 5 day meet.
Jeff
Jeff, What about a tougher qualifying time to limit the numbers that want to swim both. Eliminate the distance events from the events that you can swim without a QT. You can get the numbers down to a manageable level. It's a national championship not a zone meet.
Please look back at Portland again (2008 Summer Nationals). Distance swimmers had to choose either the 800 or the 1500 but not both. The projected timeline said the distance day would end at 9:20pm. I wasn't there but heard it actually went much later than that. So I would say you first need to have tougher qualifying times to be able to swim even one event before you begin to think about how to allow swimmers to do both. Again, a 5 day format or two courses solves the challenge. Two courses is ideal because not everybody can manage to take the time off from work/home for a 5 day meet.
Jeff
