At first it seems downright silly: The 200 free cut is 1:46.7 for Japan. If you go a 1:47 in april, you could certainly go a 1:46 low in August. And that might be enough to swim in finals, not just semifinals.
But here is how I think it works: If the 2nd (or 1st for that matter) do not make Japan's A standard, then they can send someone else who makes their A standard in a subsequent meet. Perhaps the 3rd place finisher in the 200 free goes a 1:46 next month. Japan wants that guy to swim in London over the 2nd place finisher from Trials who was a 1:47.
Hopefully they end up sending as many as they can. For the women the Japanese cut time for 200m free was faster than their national record!
At first it seems downright silly: The 200 free cut is 1:46.7 for Japan. If you go a 1:47 in april, you could certainly go a 1:46 low in August. And that might be enough to swim in finals, not just semifinals.
But here is how I think it works: If the 2nd (or 1st for that matter) do not make Japan's A standard, then they can send someone else who makes their A standard in a subsequent meet. Perhaps the 3rd place finisher in the 200 free goes a 1:46 next month. Japan wants that guy to swim in London over the 2nd place finisher from Trials who was a 1:47.
Hopefully they end up sending as many as they can. For the women the Japanese cut time for 200m free was faster than their national record!
