I was thinking about the US men's 400 free relay at the Olympics. The top 6 guys make the team: The following guys have been under 49.2 in their career: Phelps, Hall, Lezak, Walker, Tucker and Ervin. Additionally Crocker should be a contender in that race. The way I look at it, the only way to be a part of this team is to go a 48 at trials. And even with that you may not make the team. Hard to believe, but the finals heat will have 7 or 8 guys whose career best is under 49. Wow!
Originally posted by lefty
I was thinking about the US men's 400 free relay at the Olympics. The top 6 guys make the team: The following guys have been under 49.2 in their career: Phelps, Hall, Lezak, Walker, Tucker and Ervin. Additionally Crocker should be a contender in that race. The way I look at it, the only way to be a part of this team is to go a 48 at trials. And even with that you may not make the team. Hard to believe, but the finals heat will have 7 or 8 guys whose career best is under 49. Wow!
Kind of interesting so many of these guys are close to the same age. I think Hall, Tucker, Walker and Lezak are all somewhere around 28 or 29 now.
Where's Ervin been? I haven't heard much from him. I assume he's training for the 2004 OTs?? However I don't see him listed in the list of qualifiers that's posted on the USA Swimming site:
www.usaswimming.org/.../trials04_men.pdf
If Ervin IS in good shape I'd guess Gary Hall Jr. as the odd man out. I think he'll be fast in the 50, but maybe not fast enough in the 100.
