I propose a rule change for the championship committee. If someone misses their heat at USMS Nationals due to general stupidity and day dreaming, they should be allowed to swim in an open lane in that same event.
John Smith
(2006 psuedo champion, 50yd back)
It can happen to anyone... didn't some American sprinters at the '72 Olympics have a similar problem, missing the hundred dash? Thiink what distinguished company you have... if that's any comfort... And I bet those sprinters would have loved a chance to compete in another heat with or without a shark cap (altho such a thing is probably unnecessary in running events).
I swam in my first USMS meet last year and knowing my absence of mind, was terrified I'd miss my heat while swimming in the warm-up pool. I'd swim a bit, run over to the starting blocks to check on things, swim more, go back to check...get nervous... and finally (to my relief and also, I think my bf's), was there in the right place for my heat. And was VERY SLOOOOOOW! It was LCM, and I was used to SCY--began wondering about 3/4 of the way whether I was anywhere near the finish, since it seemed to be taking forever. (Of course, this taking forever thing isn't all that unusual for me, but I'm talking forever and a day.)
So in mid-freestyle, I raised my head to see where the heck I was and whether I'd unaccountably gotten lost and was really swimming to China or something. Nope... still in same pool. Still not done. I think if I had taken much longer, the officials might have wished I'd missed the heat. ;)
It can happen to anyone... didn't some American sprinters at the '72 Olympics have a similar problem, missing the hundred dash? Thiink what distinguished company you have... if that's any comfort... And I bet those sprinters would have loved a chance to compete in another heat with or without a shark cap (altho such a thing is probably unnecessary in running events).
I swam in my first USMS meet last year and knowing my absence of mind, was terrified I'd miss my heat while swimming in the warm-up pool. I'd swim a bit, run over to the starting blocks to check on things, swim more, go back to check...get nervous... and finally (to my relief and also, I think my bf's), was there in the right place for my heat. And was VERY SLOOOOOOW! It was LCM, and I was used to SCY--began wondering about 3/4 of the way whether I was anywhere near the finish, since it seemed to be taking forever. (Of course, this taking forever thing isn't all that unusual for me, but I'm talking forever and a day.)
So in mid-freestyle, I raised my head to see where the heck I was and whether I'd unaccountably gotten lost and was really swimming to China or something. Nope... still in same pool. Still not done. I think if I had taken much longer, the officials might have wished I'd missed the heat. ;)
