I just received my tickets for 2 days of this years PanPacs in Victoria, B.C. Aug 17-20. I will be seeing heats & finals day 2:
100 free, 100 brst, 400 IM, 800free relay; heats & finals day 4:
200 IM, 50 free, 200 brst, w800 free, m1500 free, 400 medley relay. I am stoked to see Phelps et al, possible Japanese-American clash 100brst etc. This, I think, will be the signature international meet of the year (except Masters Worlds, of course) and I would urge anyone within reasonable travel distance to consider attending, as it is a great spectator pool & very fast.
I am disappointed though, that Amanda & her wedgie likely won't be there...
I wasn't very impressed with the USA women's 50 free times. That has to be encouraging news for Dara Torres. I read last week in USA Today that she is coming out of retirement to train for the 2008 Trials. She mentions a relay berth but actually I think that she has a better shot in the 50. She went a 25.98 just 3 months after giving birth so I would think that she could get down into the low 25's relatively easily. How exciting if a swimmer over 40 could make the US team!!!
Originally posted by Peter Cruise
1500 was enthralling, at the 600 the first 6 were within 3 tenths or so- then Vendt started to pull away from everyone but the Korean kid Park, who while not drafting Vendt did seem to sit on him (in retrospect), 'cause at the 1450 Park just lit up the afterburners and pulled away. I was sitting directly above his lane at the start end of the pool & when Park would come directly at me I was amazed at his absolutely quiet nonresistive stroke; it was beautifully frictionless looking & no wonder he had lots left for a finish.
It was amazing watching the 1500 on the Omega site. It was so close for so long. What really impresses me about Vendt is the fact that he has only been back in the water for 3 months after a 2 year lay off. I don't know how anyone can go close to 15:00 for the mile with that little time getting back in the water. He is a true animal in the purest sense. Someday I am taking a trip to Ann Arbor just to watch that grop workout. Talk about competition.
Vendt - "Michael why don't you lead this set of 30X100M on the 1:05?"
Phelps - "Ok Eric, but Klete better not draft this time"
Keller - "I won't draft as long as Peter won't leave 3 seconds behind."
Sandeno - "You wusses shut up, I'll go!"
I just wonder is the Park guy a long lost relative, my great Grandfather was a seaman and was all through that region and had a few wives on his trips to the orient.
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. Do you think he knows who Cullen is now???
Originally posted by geochuck
I just wonder is the Park guy a long lost relative, my great Grandfather was a seaman and was all through that region and had a few wives on his trips to the orient.
There's a joke in there somewhere....
:D
Talking about the Korean kid park-its nice to see someone from a different asian country than Japan which is the richest and China which has a strong state system like Russia use doing good in swimming.
