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!
The sprinters are not limited to swim either the 50 or 100, so why are the distance swimmers limited. I do not by the argument that it would make the meet longer, not that many people would chose both. Also if this were an option, make the swimmer meet the qualifying times in both.
Sprinters aren't limited because it takes a lot longer -- more than 30X as long -- to swim a 1500 than a 50.
I disagree that "not that many people would choose both," but even a few will lengthen the meet noticeably. I have had the "pleasure" of being at a nationals late into the night even with the current rule; when you are at the pool at 11pm and you are swimming the next day, even an extra 30 minutes is a little painful. (It is not a great way to encourage volunteers, either.)
The bottom line is this: distance events take a long time, and time is a limited resource. Somebody is going to come up short no matter what you do. For example:
-- If you insist on NQTs, and make them more challenging to control the timeline, then the title of this thread will change to "slow distance swimmers shorted."
-- If you insist on a 5-day nationals, instead of 4 days, then people will either pay for an extra day of hotel, food and rental car, or they will skip a day of nationals and lose the opportunity to swim the events that were on that day.
Either of these options (or some other) may be preferable to the majority of people than the present situation. But there is no such thing as a free lunch.
The sprinters are not limited to swim either the 50 or 100, so why are the distance swimmers limited. I do not by the argument that it would make the meet longer, not that many people would chose both. Also if this were an option, make the swimmer meet the qualifying times in both.
Sprinters aren't limited because it takes a lot longer -- more than 30X as long -- to swim a 1500 than a 50.
I disagree that "not that many people would choose both," but even a few will lengthen the meet noticeably. I have had the "pleasure" of being at a nationals late into the night even with the current rule; when you are at the pool at 11pm and you are swimming the next day, even an extra 30 minutes is a little painful. (It is not a great way to encourage volunteers, either.)
The bottom line is this: distance events take a long time, and time is a limited resource. Somebody is going to come up short no matter what you do. For example:
-- If you insist on NQTs, and make them more challenging to control the timeline, then the title of this thread will change to "slow distance swimmers shorted."
-- If you insist on a 5-day nationals, instead of 4 days, then people will either pay for an extra day of hotel, food and rental car, or they will skip a day of nationals and lose the opportunity to swim the events that were on that day.
Either of these options (or some other) may be preferable to the majority of people than the present situation. But there is no such thing as a free lunch.
