2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

knelson — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:31:06 GMT

Wow, impressive swims by Schmitt!

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

ande — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:11:05 GMT

The women's 100 & 200 free looks quite competitive for Trials here's some impressive results from Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite & Santa Clara Event 1 Women 100 LC Meter Freestyle ======================================================== Name Age Team Prelims Finals ======================================================== === A - Final === 1 Allison Schmitt 21 North Baltimore 55.41 53.94 26.52 53.94 (27.42) (smokin 2nd 50) 2 Megan Romano 21 Athens Bulldog 55.49 54.16 26.32 54.16 (27.84) 3 Missy Franklin 17 Colorado Stars 55.26 54.73 26.92 54.73 (27.81) 4 Amanda Weir 26 SwimAtlanta 55.31 54.97 26.78 54.97 (28.19) Event 11 Women 200 LC Meter Freestyle ======================================================== Name Age Team Prelims Finals ======================================================== === A - Final === 1 Allison Schmitt 21 North Baltimore 1:59.78 1:55.04 27.01 55.97 (28.96) 1:25.73 (29.76) 1:55.04 (29.31) 2 Missy Franklin 17 Colorado Stars 2:00.57 1:57.91 27.68 57.18 (29.50) 1:27.60 (30.42) 1:57.91 (30.31) 3 Shannon Vreeland 20 Athens Bulldog 2:00.78 1:59.51 28.11 57.94 (29.83) 1:28.79 (30.85) 1:59.51 (30.72) 4 Kathleen Hersey 22 Longhorn 1:59.99 1:59.64 27.64 57.67 (30.03) 1:28.75 (31.08) 1:59.64 (30.89) Event 3 Women 100 LC Meter Freestyle ======================================================== World: W 52.07 7/31/2009 Britta Steffen, GER American: A 53.02 7/30/2009 Amanda Weir, USA U.S. Open: O 53.30 5/16/2008 Cate Campbell, AUS Meet: M 53.30 5/16/2008 Cate Campbell, AUS Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points ======================================================== === A - Final === 1 Vollmer, Dana W 24 California Aquat 54.38 54.38 22 26.15 54.38 (28.23) 2 Coughlin, Natalie A 29 California Aquat 55.12 54.77 19 26.42 54.77 (28.35) Event 15 Women 200 LC Meter Freestyle ======================================================== World: W 1:52.98 7/29/2009 Federica Pellegrini, ITA American: A 1:54.96 7/29/2009 Allison Schmitt, USA U.S. Open: O 1:55.88 7/2/2008 Katie Hoff, North Baltimore Meet: M 1:57.18 5/17/2008 Bronte Barratt, AUS Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points ======================================================== === A - Final === 1 Vollmer, Dana W 24 California Aquat 1:59.75 1:57.25 22 27.71 57.29 (29.58) 1:27.63 (30.34) 1:57.25 (29.62) 2 Chenault, Chelsea A 17 Terrapins Swim T 1:59.17 1:58.85 19 28.27 58.03 (29.76) 1:28.13 (30.10) 1:58.85 (30.72) 10 Tosky, Jasmine 18 Palo Alto Stanfo 2:01.83 1:59.45 10 28.12 58.54 (30.42) 1:29.00 (30.46) 1:59.45 (30.45)

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Former Member — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:04:58 GMT

I'm going by the perhaps too-simple theory that the stronger the field, the better the times. And that stronger competition before the trials is a better motivator. I get it about too many time-zone changes or prelim heats. Beisel won the 200fr in Florida 4-6 seconds slower than the UT/SC winners. Kukors won the 100fl more than 4 seconds slower than Vollmer won the event in SC. Bet they would have posted better times against a stronger field. Bottom line.

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Elaine Krugman — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:44:10 GMT

:wave: Hi there, WBL! Welcome back to the forums! Please give my best to Laura/Y/Z! :D

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Former Member — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 07:55:21 GMT

There were 163 swimmers in the women's 100M free prelims in Santa Clara. Unless you need to get a bit of experience on how to swim well in the middle of that mass of humanity, I can understand wanting to do a tune-up meet where you had maybe four prelims heats of each event instead of as many as 17-18 heats.

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Former Member — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 07:19:00 GMT

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

That Guy — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 04:58:13 GMT

Great swims in both meets, but USA-S should get their arms around this one. www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../30722.asp 0h n0es! There's a THIRD elite meet going on, and Batman doesn't return for another month! Who will save us?

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

ande — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 03:35:23 GMT

There were some great swims both in Austin and Santa Clara, but I find myself questioning the wisdom of splitting our best swimmers between two meets in the final runup to trials. Especially with the foreign stalwarts who showed up in Santa Clara. Duel IN the pool makes sense; duel OUTSIDE the pool (by meet organizers) doesn't seem to make much sense for the swimmers. As an example, our freestylers should be facing Park Tae-Hwan every chance they get. His 400fr time in Santa Clara was over six seconds faster than the Austin winner. His 200fr victory was more than three seconds faster. In fact, the winner of the M200fr in Austin would have placed something like seventh in the Santa Clara final. Breaststrokers should also never miss an opportunity to face down Kitajima, especially right before the Olympics. Even Phelps' 200fl time was bested by Matsuda in Santa Clara (although I think his time got DQ'd later for some reason). Great swims in both meets, but USA-S should get their arms around this one. Don't think it really matters, Santa Clara GP & Austin Elite Invite were just tune ups for trials. Some swimmers didn't want to travel to Cali or swim in an outdoor pool. You can bet your britches there's going to be some very fast practice swims as those going to trials fine tune, taper, & prepare to race. Our best swimmers can watch race vids of Great swimmers like Park, Sun Yang, & Kitajima. They can do race and split analysis to know what to expect. Like Park has a tremedous kick, he's likely to even split his 200 & 400 and has the ability to go 53 on his last 100 in his 4 fr & maybe 52 on his 2nd 100 of his 2. The work and ability development needed to be done months ago. Now it's time for USA OT qualifiers to get ready to rumble at TRIALS Days Till Then those fortunate qualifiers will get ready to really rumble at the Games

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

smontanaro — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 03:22:28 GMT

There were some great swims both in Austin and Santa Clara, but I find myself questioning the wisdom of splitting our best swimmers between two meets in the final runup to trials. Just playing devil's advocate here, but maybe the big name swimmers don't want to swim head-to-head so close to Trials, so giving them different tune-up venues keeps them happy. Skip

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

ande — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 07:34:52 GMT

Impressive swims at: 2012 SANTA CLARA INTERNATIONAL GRAND PRIX May 31 - June 3 Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite June 1 - 3, 2012 Meet Results Senior Circuit IV LC Meet Mansfield ISD Natatorium June 7 - 10 Olympic Trials June 25 - July 2 btw Have you ever seen this vid? you might enjoy it watch lane 7 (2nd from the bottom of the screen) Men 50 Meters Backstroke (final A) Texas Circuit #3, Austin Hook Em

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Former Member — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 15:05:56 GMT

I just got back from the finals this evening. With Phelps not here, the stands were noticeably emptier than they were last year. I remember last year the stands were packed so full the fire department was on hand just in case. It is a Friday night, though, so maybe it'll be better tomorrow and Sunday.

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

That Guy — Thu, 31 May 2012 06:33:41 GMT

Santa Clara Grand Prix results: www.fastlanetek.com/.../

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Former Member — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:24:02 GMT

Lochte finished strong, with a 1:57 200 IM. 15 year old Katie Ledecky dropped to 8:25 in the 800 free! www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../30520.asp He did great in the 200 IM! Team Lochte!

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Former Member — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:58:42 GMT

Ledecky at 4:05 and 8:25, awesome swims for her. Swims of the meet in Charlotte for me. At (barely) 15, she could potentially drop a bunch more time. Other good signs in Charlotte: Leverenz's first half of the IM is hugely improved. She'll be 2:08 at least in Omaha. Free is still a bit of a mess, though. Soni = ridiculous. What else can you say. Lia Neal dropped half a second off her best in the 100. She'll be in the 53s soon and is now a genuine threat to make the prelim relay team. Great to see. Shanteau at 2:09 is also very good to see. Burckle. Shanteau and Hansen, the US 200 br corps is looking a lot stronger than I thought it would. Gotta get more guys under a minute in the 100, though. Vollmer smoked that 100 fly, great swim for her. Her back 50 looked especially strong, she's a very experienced racer on top of being a dynamo. Ryan Murphy continues to impress in the 200 back. In Rio, he'll be a junior in college. That's crazy. I really wanted Berens to break 49 in the 100, he got damned close. His 200 looked beautiful. Could he pop a 1:45 in Omaha? I think it's possible. US 4X200 will be ridiculous on paper if he's able to do so. Bootsma is really stepping up in the 100 Back. Off to Cal in the Fall, she's going to be a real force in a couple of years. Not so good: Women's 200 fly is still weak in the US. 2:08 mid should not be winning grand prix races, IMO. Men's and women's 50. Schneider's 22.1 is a solid swim but I don't think he can go much faster. Jones looked (frankly) pretty sluggish. he has lots of work to do. Hardy's swim was OK but not stellar. Work to do.

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Former Member — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:35:10 GMT

I agree with geek (!) Mid-season times mean absolutely nothing. Some guys just drop huge amounts of time when they taper and shave, and some guys drop almost no time. I'm usually in the former group so I get how it is.

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

aquageek — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:34:06 GMT

Men's and women's 50. Schneider's 22.1 is a solid swim but I don't think he can go much faster. Jones looked (frankly) pretty sluggish. he has lots of work to do. Hardy's swim was OK but not stellar. Work to do. Jones and Schneider are in the middle of a training cycle and are very beat up. Cullen lost his goggles on the 50 and took three breaths. I stood next to them after their 100s and they were both clearly exhausted and unable to talk for around 10 minutes post race. I'm not sure what you mean by "lots of work to do." I think other than Adrian the 50 and probably the 100 is a crap shoot for the second slot.

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Former Member — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:05:28 GMT

Wasn't aware of Jones' problems, it's not surprising he looked so out-of-sorts. I'm not trying to denigrate the performances in Charlotte, just pointing out that relative to other swims at this meet they were not as compelling time-wise. I'm sure everyone will be sharper in Omaha, it just some swimmers have less far to go to be potential finals threats in London. The US is clearly better in some events than others. IMO, the 50 on both the men's and women's sides one of the weakest. Again, no knock on US swimmers in these events but the facts are the facts.

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Chris Stevenson — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:44:00 GMT

We have a lot of promising young female swimmers coming up through the ranks. That's for sure.

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

aquageek — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:31:53 GMT

I'm not trying to denigrate the performances in Charlotte, just pointing out that relative to other swims at this meet they were not as compelling time-wise. You do realize that none of the big guns were shaved, tapered or rested for this meet? Most of the women had more leg hair than wookiee. Adrian and Lezak weren't there either. I wouldn't draw too many conclusions from this meet other than Lochte can turn it on when he wants to and we have a lot of promising young female swimmers coming up through the ranks.

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Midas — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:14:14 GMT

Probably a dumb question but what are the "preseb sports" records?

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

That Guy — Sun, 13 May 2012 10:33:26 GMT

A pretty bad meet for Lochte so far. He must be absolutely exhausted. Lochte finished strong, with a 1:57 200 IM. 15 year old Katie Ledecky dropped to 8:25 in the 800 free! www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../30520.asp

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Former Member — Sat, 12 May 2012 15:26:38 GMT

A pretty bad meet for Lochte so far. He must be absolutely exhausted.

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Former Member — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:56:58 GMT

btw Have you ever seen this vid? you might enjoy it watch lane 7 (2nd from the bottom of the screen) Men 50 Meters Backstroke (final A) Texas Circuit #3, Austin Hook Em and this one www.floswimming.org/.../80787-friday-afternoon-texas

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Former Member — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:11:38 GMT

Somebody double check if I seeing this right - I think Lisa Blackburn, 40 yrs old, just made OT's in the 100 *** prelims. wow! 1:11.7 1:12 is qualifying

RE: 2012 2011 USA Swimming Grand Prix Meets

Former Member — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:37:10 GMT

Berens at 1:47 here, and Dana Vollmer swimming the 200 free regularly the Grand Prix season seem to make the US 4x200 relays more promising come London.