Hey Swimmers,
I'm back at hustling up results for meets around the country to put into the USMS data archive. I'd like to solicit your help.
Why?
The USMS searchable database (www.usms.org/.../toptimes.shtml) assembles all uploaded meets into a single place that can be searched.
So What?
Haven't you ever swum an event that doesn't make the top ten? Haven't you wondered where you placed in that event nationwide? Well, the searchable database is a partial answer to those questions. But, it only works when meets are submitted to this particular database. Posting meets on local web sites or at Results.net won't allow them to be compared easily to other meets. We tried this actively two years ago for the database & it worked pretty well. Last year we were passive & not much happened. So, let's see if we can make it work again.
I have just recently uploaded 15 meets, many of them Zone championships or other large meets. Have a look at the web site (www.usms.org/.../toptimes.shtml) and see where you stand. See what you need to do to win a national championship. If you have a favorite meet that's not in the database, let the meet director know & have the right kind of file sent to us. HTML and PDF files will not work. What is needed is the HyTek Meet Manager zipped backup file, or a ComLink file, or an SDIF file. Each of these is creatable from the Meet Manager drop-down export menu.
Please send your results to Mel Dyck (meldyck@rkymtnhi.com). If you are worried about birthday privacy issues, Meet Manager's latest version will allow you to export ComLink files without birthdates included. So, no excuses for not getting the meets in.
Hope to hear from you soon! Thanks in advance.
The SwimToad
aka Mel Dyck
Coach, Snow Mountain Masters
Former Member
Hmmm. I don't see a file attached to the last message as promised. Oh well.
If you would like a copy of the file described in my last message, just e-mail me & I will send you a copy via return e-mail.
Sorry about that.
-- mel
OK, LC swimmers, there are now 31 long-course meets posted in the searchable 'Top Times' database at the USMS web site (www.usms.org/.../toptimes.shtml). Our Webmaster has updated the forms for the current season, so that you will see only meets run during 2004.
I've just posted the results from the FINA LC Champs in June. Please note that I had to hand-enter all these data, so there may be some errors that I haven't caught. If you swam at Worlds and see a major error (i.e. wrong event, wrong time, wrong age or wrong name) please contact me & I will make the change to the data file. I WILL NOT make corrections to team affiliations since that involves far too much manipulation at this point.
With the Savannah LC Champs coming up, you can now see how your competition is really doing, as compared to how they have seeded themselves.
Enjoy & see you in Savannah!
-- Mel
Swimmers,
there are now 41 LC meets posted in the 'Top Times' section of the USMS 'Competition' page (www.usms.org/.../toptimes.shtml). Most of the big ones that I'm aware of are uploaded -- 41 out of 45 for a bit more than 90% completeness for the ones I know about. There may yet be one or two more added before LC Nats next weekend.
See you in Savannah.
-- Mel
Hey Mel,
Just wanted to say thanks for all your work on the times database! I'm not gonna show up very high (or often), but kind of cool just to see where I ranked in the "grand scheme" of things.
Hope Savannah is good to you!
Hi Kay,
you're EXACTLY the kind of swimmer this database is meant to help! Thanks for the feedback & glad you find it useful.
Hmmm. Savannah. One tornado warning. One threat of cancellation from hurricane Charlie. An interesting meet...
-- Mel
