Pan Pacific 2006 Swimming Championships

I agree that it is a screwy way to run things; I was one of the few people in the section I was sitting in who knew how it worked, so I ended up explaining it to everyone who all agreed (general public) that it was incomprehensible and unfair therefore must have been designed by a lawyer. The committee in Victoria, for having only 5 months notice to stage this things have largely done a wonderful job; plenty of cheerful volunteers, but where Swim Canada are involved they show a glib contempt for the public that was personified by keeping our lineup for finals waiting in the hot sun with no shade whilst federal official VIP's were gadded about the premises. Most of the Americans I've spoken to seem to wish to retire to Victoria and the rest of the island, they certainly have been seeing in fabulous weather. I can only thank our lucky stars that the Geek didn't come up to see the meet... Watch out for the Brazilian men's team in a few years, they're coming on big time. Tomorrow morning I get up early, drive a couple of hours & see what Michael plans for his 200im...I predict a new world record for US in the 4x100 Men's medley relay.

Yeah Kirk, I did notice that remark; I did not question it at the time, after all, sweating, North Carolina and various unmentionable acts do seem to go together.

Wow- lotsa wedgies even without the estimable Ms. Beard. Sat through heats & finals today (Fri) and the place was jumping. Hansen looked lethargic on his first lap of 100brst, picked up last half when Rickard was at his shoulder at 75m mark, did 59.9. Women's 100brst saw the 'B' finalist winner (Jessica Hardy) smoke the winning time from the 'A' flight, another weirdity of a strange qualifying process for finals. Crowd went went wild when Brent Hayden touched out Lezak for 100free with a 48.69; Coughlin looked very tough in her winning 100free & I swear would have clobbered the world record if she hadn't tightened up the last few strokes. Tara Kirk seemed to cruise the 400IM, taking it out slower than she has in the past, coming home very strongly and Phelps did just a routine 4:10 in his event (his breastroke is getting better and better). Random obervations: believe it or not, at this level, I saw more than one swimmer swim circles rather than a straight line (and I don't mean just a little bit, or attempt to draft). Saw much less of the single dolphin kick on the breastroke than I expected; some swimmers seem to be sticking it amid their bubbles from their dive rather than with their pullout. Gary Hall was singlehandedly getting the American swimmers involved in their compatriot's races; leading cheers, yelling congrats after swims etc. When the officials were led ceremoniously into the pool tonight, some wag played "Who let the dogs out?" on PA... I am very tired, had two hour drive home after finals ended. Rowdy seemed to get to the NBC booth late, after a swim during warmups, they put a shirt on him, but as far as I could tell he was wearing his wet trunks still while on air... Met the father of Jessica Hardy, had a good chat with him that caused me to watch his daughter's swims very closely...watch out, Lethal Liesel. More after finals Sunday.

Originally posted by knelson "summer is for sweating," I'm tired of sweating, it's been brutal this summer and football season hasn't begun yet.

Originally posted by gull80 Very sportsmanlike conduct by Schoeman after the 50 prelims (reported in the New York Times): American Cullen Jones was fastest in the men's 50 free preliminaries, touching in 22.14. Roland Schoeman of South Africa was second. Jones was part of the U.S. team that broke South Africa's 2-year-old world record in the 400 freestyle relay Saturday night. ''Cullen who?'' Schoeman said after the 50 preliminaries. By the way, Cullen Jones is African American. Gull: There is more to the story than that and I linked it here - www.nytimes.com/.../AP-SWM-Pan-Pacific-Swimming.html What I would like to ask Roland is why he is standing on the sidelines watching this for 2 years instead of swimming and challenging the Americans. He complains that it has taken 2 years to break this record but at least the USA swims in the relay at big international meets and does not duck its competition. Last year the only swimmer they did not have was Darian Townsend and they had a replacement that was just as fast. They didn't even field a relay in Montreal. This year they are mssing Ryk Neethling but so what, put a relay out there and see what you can do. Yesterday I said that the USA had a chance to break the World Record if they could match the intensity of the 800 Relay. They did that and more and with Piersol being hot from last night they have a chance to break 3:30.68 from 2004 in the Medley Relay tonight. Aaron will go for the World Record tonight and the key legs in my mind will be Hansen and Crocker (assuming Crocker swims and not Phelps). Jason Lezak had a great pressure split last night and I expect him to do the same tonight. He comes thru on those relays when he has to. Benndan Hansen has the 200 *** tonight and it will be the first time he will face Kosuke Kitajima in this event since 2004 Olympics. Kosuke did not qualify last year for this event when Hansen won in Montreal so this will be the first time Hansen could win head to head in this race. I didn't give Kosuke a chance judging from what he did in the 100 and a rumor of him being sick and off. His prelim swim suprised me but maybe he went all out because he had to beat two Japanese swimmers to get in the final. I pick Hansen here for a close win and maybe not a World Record. Just as the pressure is on Hansen to win there will be pressure for Megan Jendrick to win and make the World team. I am predicting she will win and have enough to make the time standard to qualify for the World team. What happen to Jessica Hardy in the 200 ***? Going 1:06 in the 100 and then 2:37! The 50 Free in both the Men and Women look good tonight. I am going to pick Cullen who to win and beat Rolland even though he just set a SCM World Record. I think Cullen can take last nights momentum and win. He is capable because he has already gone :21.94 at Nationals. I pick Kara Lynn in a close one with Natalie but it could go either way. In the 200 IM Katie Hoff is going to win and maybe hit or break 2:10.00 but I am not sure if she has enough for the World Record. The Mens 200 IM is the race that everyone is looking forward to. Ryan Lochte stratched the 200 Back yesterday to get extra rest that he will need if he is going to win tonight. You would think that Michael would be tired from all the swimming he has done and this would be the time for an upset. Not likely. I just can't pick against Michael the way he is swimming in this meet. He seems to feel how to seal the deal when he is on the last 50 of his IM. The last time he was challenged in an IM was against Vendt in 2002 and it will take an even greater effort by Lochte than that to get the win. I pick Phelps by .50 but I don't believe he has enough in the tank for a World Record. I am going to take the winners of last nights 400 Free in the Womens 800 Free (Shibta) and the Mens 1500 Free (Park) because they are swimming well but its really anybody race and it will come down to who has energy left after a long meet.

The 50m final should be pretty good lots of 22+ finalists.

Originally posted by craiglll@yahoo.com Does anyone know when NBC is going to televise the program? I looked in our local newspaper's TV section and nohting was listed. Or at least I couldn't find it. According to TiVO, Sat at 2 pm and Sun at noon, ET.

Very sportsmanlike conduct by Schoeman after the 50 prelims (reported in the New York Times): American Cullen Jones was fastest in the men's 50 free preliminaries, touching in 22.14. Roland Schoeman of South Africa was second. Jones was part of the U.S. team that broke South Africa's 2-year-old world record in the 400 freestyle relay Saturday night. ''Cullen who?'' Schoeman said after the 50 preliminaries. By the way, Cullen Jones is African American.

great IM race between Lochte and Phelps Lochte has made huge improvements also how about last nights world record 4 x 100 free relay phelps lezak jones and walker it's likely to take a 48 mid 100 free to make the US olympic team i was glad to see jones finally let it rip in his 100 free on the relay he's been way too reserved taking it out, going out in 23.5 - 7 but his 22.2 is impressive ande

Originally posted by aquageek NBC is showing the meet next weekend. I guess I'm just happy they are televising it at all. Does anyone know when NBC is going to televise the program? I looked in our local newspaper's TV section and nohting was listed. Or at least I couldn't find it.