2014 Spring Nationals Seeding Decisions

RE: 2014 Spring Nationals Seeding Decisions

barryf — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:56:22 GMT

Looking at the heat sheets I was wondering why the oldest swimmers are often in heat two and not heat one. This doesnt make any sense and is not the way the seeding is supposed to be. My understanding of the rules is that heats are based on age, old to young. In the womens 200 fly there are 50 year olds in heat one and 80 year olds in heat two. I understand that slower swimmers are sometimes put in different heats but this is done consistantly. In the womens 100 fly the whole heat of 65-69's is in heat one with the 70s and 80s in heat two, This is not only inconsistant but also confusing and I can see people missing their heats. The Meet Manager software to run meets has the ability to switch two heats. This is often used at USMS National Championships because heat 1 can be a lot slower than heat 2. Because we are running two courses, the even numbered of heats normally take less time that the odd heats. This is always true for events seeded by time but most of the events are seeded by age group. Bottom line is that the meet will run faster if heat 1 and 2 are switched when there is a significant difference in the slowest times in heats 1 and 2. Heat 2 is usually started about 30 seconds after heat1 so swimmers should not miss their heat.

RE: 2014 Spring Nationals Seeding Decisions

lauraval — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:14:53 GMT

RE: 2014 Spring Nationals Seeding Decisions

jroddin — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 01:15:18 GMT

The Meet Manager software to run meets has the ability to switch two heats. This is often used at USMS National Championships because heat 1 can be a lot slower than heat 2. Because we are running two courses, the even numbered of heats normally take less time that the odd heats. This is always true for events seeded by time but most of the events are seeded by age group. Bottom line is that the meet will run faster if heat 1 and 2 are switched when there is a significant difference is the slowest times in heats 1 and 2. Heat 2 is usually started about 30 seconds after heat1 so swimmers should not miss their heat. Thanks, Barry, for the explanation. To clarify: this practice is only done when we are using two courses (i.e. Short Course Nationals). Normally you think of heat 2 as coming after heat 1, but for two courses you have an "even" course and an "odd" course (or sometimes east vs west, north vs south, etc.). So heat 2 is actually the very first heat in that particular course. Jeff

RE: 2014 Spring Nationals Seeding Decisions

knelson — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:14:05 GMT

It will be a zoo Friday morning and almost impossible to warm up and get a few turns in a new pool for most. It might not be that bad. The 400 IMs are the first event Friday, so I'm sure plenty of people won't show until the 30 minute warmup following the IMs.

RE: 2014 Spring Nationals Seeding Decisions

Patrick W. Brundage — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 05:42:39 GMT

The 400 IMs are the first event Friday, so I'm sure plenty of people won't show until the 30 minute warmup following the IMs.In fact, there will be so many heats of 400 IMs that, if you are not swimming the 400 IM, warming up before the 400 IM will be counter-productive to your later racing efforts: You'll miss out on sleep, Get cold hanging around in the frigid, foggy Bay Area and then, "leave your race in the warmup pool" because you will then have to warmup again later before your actual race Trust me as I swam Nationals in Santa Clara back in 2001 and raced at this same pool back in 1986 (e.g., almost 30 years of experience backing up this highly accurate recommendation), if you are not swimming the 400 IM, you do not want to show up at the pool a minute before the the last heat of the 400 IMs dives in the water. That will allow you the requisite ~5 minutes to take off your clothes and slip into the pool at the optimal time, right at the start of the 30 minute warmup after the 400 IMs ... ... just don't jump in on me as I cool down from my IM as I'll be very tired, not able to see straight.

RE: 2014 Spring Nationals Seeding Decisions

jroddin — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 11:24:07 GMT

Please note I have edited my original post with one change and one correction. The change is the men's 500 free will now be deck seeded by age group. The correction is the check-in deadline for Sunday's 200s is 9am - I had it wrong in my first post when I said 7am. Thanks, Jeff

RE: 2014 Spring Nationals Seeding Decisions

bfwilliams — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 06:01:50 GMT

Given that 2250 people are entered it would be nice if you would consider leaving the pool open Thursday until 6:00. It will be a zoo Friday morning and almost impossible to warm up and get a few turns in a new pool for most.

RE: 2014 Spring Nationals Seeding Decisions

jroddin — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 03:00:57 GMT

An estimated timeline is available for the meet: www.usms.org/.../timeline.pdf This timeline is only a guide for use in determining the approximate start of all events. We may run ahead of or behind the estimate. This estimate is based upon historical scratch rates for deck seeded events and the relay durations are guesses based on scaling up smaller Nationals. It is the responsibility of all swimmers to get to the pool well before their events and be behind the blocks before their heats start. All swimmers must check in for all deck-seeded events by the check-in deadlines! Jeff

RE: 2014 Spring Nationals Seeding Decisions

Karen Duggan — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 02:56:24 GMT

I agree with Patrick. I have a really good idea, now, of what all goes into this, thanks to Jeff. This really is a pretty cool event considering there aren't too many (none I can think of) adult national competitions, and certainly none this large. THANK YOU :bliss:

RE: 2014 Spring Nationals Seeding Decisions

knelson — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 05:22:46 GMT

We plan to post an estimated timeline next week, but Thursday's competition should end ~2pm Don't go too fast. I think my flight gets in around 11 am! I figured I wouldn't be swimming till late afternoon. :)

RE: 2014 Spring Nationals Seeding Decisions

mmlr38 — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 04:31:19 GMT

Jeff / National Committee / Santa Clara / Pacific Swimming, THANKS for making these adjustments to ensure this HUGE meet goes off and that we get our 6th event in. I really, really appreciate all the work you all are doing to make this happen. This is going to be a rip-roaring, fun meet made all the better by getting to swim the full complement of events. I really applaud all the behind-the-scenes work that is going on ahead of the big event, and all of the volunteers who will make it happen. :bow: +1 !!!

RE: 2014 Spring Nationals Seeding Decisions

Patrick W. Brundage — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 02:48:47 GMT