Having been burned in the past with swims that end up not counting for Top 10 consideration, I have some questions about a meet this Sunday that I am thinking about going to: www.usms.org/.../event.php
First, they do have timing pads, but I heard that these may not be working. If they have to do hand timing, does that mean times won't count for TT consideration?
Second, the final event of the day is the 400 Free/IM, with each swimmer picking one or the other (you can't do both). If I sign up for the 400 free and someone is swimming the 400 IM in the same heat, are the times invalid for TT consideration? (I made the mistake last year of swimming several events in the "Open" category and none of them counted officially.)
Thanks! This is one of the few LCM meets I can actually drive to, but I don't want to waste the gas money if it's going to be all for naught!
Chris and Jim are correct that a primary timing system consisting of two manual watches per lane meets the requirements for USMS Top 10 (105.2.3 and 103.18.4). Also remember that Chris is correct that USMS (national) records and FINA (world) records require 3 watches (103.18.4).
The entry form was done correctly for the 400 free and the 400 IM. Information regarding “Open” and “Choice” events has been published 4 times in issues of Streamlines (7/25/07, 4/25/09, 4/9/10, and 11/14/10). Don’t do “Open” or “Choice” events. Let me know if you would like to see any of these articles. Yes, the 400 free and 400 IM can be run together (102.10.1B, “…events of the same distance 200 yards or longer may be combined…”). If there would be only one heat, the meet director may want to seed the IMers in one half of the pool and the freestylers in the other half of the pool to make it easier for the officials, but I’m guessing this is a bigger meet than that and they will likely have full heats of freestyle and full heats of IM with a potential for only one combined heat.
FINA accepts manual timing for FINA Masters Top 10. The USMS Top 10, which includes valid 2-watch times, is submitted to FINA by USMS for Top 10 compilation.
When you need “rule booking”, contact rules@usms.org to get accurate rules information quickly.
Chris and Jim are correct that a primary timing system consisting of two manual watches per lane meets the requirements for USMS Top 10 (105.2.3 and 103.18.4). Also remember that Chris is correct that USMS (national) records and FINA (world) records require 3 watches (103.18.4).
The entry form was done correctly for the 400 free and the 400 IM. Information regarding “Open” and “Choice” events has been published 4 times in issues of Streamlines (7/25/07, 4/25/09, 4/9/10, and 11/14/10). Don’t do “Open” or “Choice” events. Let me know if you would like to see any of these articles. Yes, the 400 free and 400 IM can be run together (102.10.1B, “…events of the same distance 200 yards or longer may be combined…”). If there would be only one heat, the meet director may want to seed the IMers in one half of the pool and the freestylers in the other half of the pool to make it easier for the officials, but I’m guessing this is a bigger meet than that and they will likely have full heats of freestyle and full heats of IM with a potential for only one combined heat.
FINA accepts manual timing for FINA Masters Top 10. The USMS Top 10, which includes valid 2-watch times, is submitted to FINA by USMS for Top 10 compilation.
When you need “rule booking”, contact rules@usms.org to get accurate rules information quickly.
