2011 USA Swimming LCM Nationals and Jr Nationals Stanford

I can't speak for War Eagle, but at Cal they have to recruit furners, 'cause most of the Americans can't get admitted...:DWith all due respect to Cal and agreeing that it is VERY difficult to get into, it being one of the best universities in the world (just a notch behind Stanford according The Times world ranking of universities here -- www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/.../top-200.html), if Cal (or any other university skimming the world for swimmers) doesn't need to go outside the US to get 75-100 football players to field that team with players who can make the academic requirements, I doubt it needs to for the swim team. I'm not opposed to coaches going outside the US, but let's be clear about their reasons for doing so.

With all due respect to Cal.... (INSERT AN OF COURSE HERE!) if Cal (or any other university skimming the world for swimmers) doesn't need to go outside the US to get 75-100 football players to field that team with players who can make the academic requirements, I doubt it needs to for the swim team. I had a conversation with a die-hard Auburn football fan this past week at Nationals. He asked me if I was a football fan and would I be coming back for an Auburn football game ( :) ) I enjoyed describing the U of Auburn aquatic facility to him and told him he should take some time to go inside and count the National Championship banners hung in that building. Auburn's Swim Team far exceeds the football team in national championship titles. The die-hard football fan was shocked. He had no idea. But he asked more questions and I think he will try to make a stop by the Tiger's pool! Anyway, how can we compare the number of available recruitable football players to the number of swimmers? Not even close. And especially when the acceptance standards are relaxed. It seems like the recruiting coach has either a philosophy of training American swimmers or training swimmers. Luckily there are a lot of colleges and a lot of coaches with varied philosophies. Hopefully everyone gets to study - and swim if they choose.

I agree that he has great genes, and its gonna be like shooting fish in a barrel for Longhorn recruiting!

USA Swimming's Age Group All-Time Top 100 Lists showing rankings for: Boys & Girls, 11 - 12, 13 - 14, 15 - 16, 17 - 18 LCM & SCY * Keep in mind some of the times done between 2000 - 2009 were by swimmers in body suits especially in the older age groups, some 13/14 ... there's a disproportionate # of swimmers from 2008 & 2009 who raced in the newer generation body suits, bumping older times done by swimmers in nylon, lycra, & paper suits, though some of the top times and records from the 70's, 80's, & 90's survied the 2000's & still stand. This gives us a frame of comparison for USA's future stars this week at Jrs Two of the teens I practice with who are going to Olympic Trials next year are both on this list. And both did their swims in 2010.

Depends on how you define "long reach." Texas doesn't recruit any international swimmers, unlike Cal and Auburn (random examples). I can't speak for War Eagle, but at Cal they have to recruit furners, 'cause most of the Americans can't get admitted...:D

With all due respect to Cal and agreeing that it is VERY difficult to get into, it being one of the best universities in the world (just a notch behind Stanford according The Times world ranking of universities here -- www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/.../top-200.html), if Cal (or any other university skimming the world for swimmers) doesn't need to go outside the US to get 75-100 football players to field that team with players who can make the academic requirements, I doubt it needs to for the swim team. I'm not opposed to coaches going outside the US, but let's be clear about their reasons for doing so. I was largely joking. Certainly in the 1980s, and no doubt in more recent times, Cal made a run at recruiting every top US swimmer who could get admitted. We tried hard to get Pablo, for example. What you do see is that it is very hard for Cal to get the "best" football players in. Even so, they don't all graduate, to put it mildly. So they can get in, but not always stick around... Plus, football sucks at Cal, to my disappointment.

At yesterday's JR Nats at Stanford University in the boys 200 butterfly finals, 16 year old Clark "the Shark" Smith 6' 7" of Denver Swim Academy, son of masters swimmers & former UT swimmers John Smith & Tori Trees Smith (also a US Olympian, 200 bk) won with a time of 1:59.33 his reaction time off the blocks was an impressive 0.68. First 50 was 26.55, 100 56.56 (30.01), 150 1:27.76 (31.20) & 200 1:59.33 (31.57). His next races are: Tue 100 Free Wed 100 Fly Thu 200 Free Fri 50 Free

At yesterday's JR Nats at Stanford University in the boys 200 butterfly finals, 16 year old Clark "the Shark" Smith 6' 7" of Denver Swim Academy, son of masters swimmers & former UT swimmers John Smith & Tori Trees Smith (also a US Olympian, 200 bk) won with a time of 1:59.33 his reaction time off the blocks was an impressive 0.68. First 50 was 26.55, 100 56.56 (30.01), 150 1:27.76 (31.20) & 200 1:59.33 (31.57). His next races are: Tue 100 Free Wed 100 Fly Thu 200 Free Fri 50 FreeGreat genes there. Definitely someone to watch.

Considering his height I think he should start hyphenating his last name: Clark Smith-Trees.

A kid from Maui won the 100 fly! Richmond, Renny 16 Lahaina Swim Club 55.37 53.88T He's just a normal size kid who'll be a junior next year. Guess he knows how to get up for the big meets.