will opening a meet with a 200 kill my other events?

I agree with Allen. Back in a SCM meet in early December, I swam the following: 100 *** 200 Free 50 Free 50 *** 100 Free My conditioning was weak because our pool had been closed for 6 weeks, re-opening mid-October if I remember correctly. The 200 free was my focus event, and I went after it hard. After a couple of prior 200's with splits all over the map, my goal was to evenly split the last 3 50's. I split the last three x.36, x.49, and x.78, and it hurt like nothing I'd ever done before. This was a very small meet, with 83 swimmers and 301 entries, so it went by very quickly. I swam the 50 free 6 heats later, and my time was off by about .5. I got some rest before the 50 ***, and that time was only off by about .1. But I was exhausted by the time the 100 free rolled around, and that time was off by 1.2. I really felt it on the back 50 in that race. I am swimming the 200 first at our Association meet this Saturday, and it is one of my focus events. I expect it will take its toll on my other times for the day. If you do decide to swim the 50, with that much time between events I'd probably swim it as long and easy as possible (I realize that's difficult in a 50 -- maybe think of taking it out at your 1st 50 pace for the 100) and really work your start and turn to keep you warmed up and to get you ready for the 100. My 200 turns feel a little, well, shall we say less urgent than my 50/100 turns. If you go hard in the 50, I think you'll be pretty baked by the time the 100 rolls around. Whether it's due to lactic acid or whether it's just because a 50 is all out, I don't know, but they definitely take their toll.

I agree with Allen. Back in a SCM meet in early December, I swam the following: 100 *** 200 Free 50 Free 50 *** 100 Free My conditioning was weak because our pool had been closed for 6 weeks, re-opening mid-October if I remember correctly. The 200 free was my focus event, and I went after it hard. After a couple of prior 200's with splits all over the map, my goal was to evenly split the last 3 50's. I split the last three x.36, x.49, and x.78, and it hurt like nothing I'd ever done before. This was a very small meet, with 83 swimmers and 301 entries, so it went by very quickly. I swam the 50 free 6 heats later, and my time was off by about .5. I got some rest before the 50 ***, and that time was only off by about .1. But I was exhausted by the time the 100 free rolled around, and that time was off by 1.2. I really felt it on the back 50 in that race. I am swimming the 200 first at our Association meet this Saturday, and it is one of my focus events. I expect it will take its toll on my other times for the day. If you do decide to swim the 50, with that much time between events I'd probably swim it as long and easy as possible (I realize that's difficult in a 50 -- maybe think of taking it out at your 1st 50 pace for the 100) and really work your start and turn to keep you warmed up and to get you ready for the 100. My 200 turns feel a little, well, shall we say less urgent than my 50/100 turns. If you go hard in the 50, I think you'll be pretty baked by the time the 100 rolls around. Whether it's due to lactic acid or whether it's just because a 50 is all out, I don't know, but they definitely take their toll.