The qualifying times for the XII FINA World Masters Championships to be held in Perth Australia have been posted:
www.wasct.wa.gov.au/.../grabdoc.php
They are not particurally difficult - I had to check to be sure that I was looking at the men's times and not women's times - a 14:10.00 for the 800 - Yes!!!!
michael
Wow! I know the times are in meters but even still...I could swim anything I wanted except the Fly events.
I wonder if they figure it will be unaffordable for many people to go to Austrailia so they are making it easier to go swim?
It was said before the Stanford meet that the times were set high to encourage people to swim. Remember the meet is spread out over many days, unlike our Nats which are four days, and therefore have an incentive to make it harder to qualify. The diff is that you have to meet qual times at Worlds, or be DQd, but our Nats let you swim three even if you don't qualify.
The Perth organizing committee is trying to work with the airlines for a special rate for swimmers who will be traveling to compete at the championships. Right now if you wanted to travel between San Francisco and Perth, the price would be between $1400 and $2000 USD - and it is a long long flight.
For those who are going - it takes about 24 hours to get there - try to sleep on the airplane and then you have jet lag. If you can leave a few days early to see the sights. Melbourne (which is about 2500 miles away) was delightful and the aussies are great fun.
If you are thinking about going, now is the time to start putting away a few dollars (besides working on your training).
michael
They are not particularly difficult - I had to check to be sure that I was looking at the men's times and not women's times - a 14:10.00 for the 800 - Yes!!!!
michael
Mike,
You got the correct gender but I think not the correct age group. I think your correct goal time is 11:30? :joker:
Wow! I know the times are in meters but even still...I could swim anything I wanted except the Fly events.
I wonder if they figure it will be unaffordable for many people to go to Austrailia so they are making it easier to go swim?
Getting the time off of work, travel, lodging, probably all play a factor.
Much as I would love to go (I loved Australia in '88) if I had the time, money etc., having them in April, I think ensures most US and Cdn swimmers will choose their own champs of various levels to attend. Just think, with all the money saved, what a grand forum posters blowout we could have in Austin. Yes, if things work out (a very big if) I would aim to go.
Much as I would love to go (I loved Australia in '88) if I had the time, money etc., having them in April, I think ensures most US and Cdn swimmers will choose their own champs of various levels to attend. Just think, with all the money saved, what a grand forum posters blowout we could have in Austin. Yes, if things work out (a very big if) I would aim to go.
I'm waiting for the grand forum posters blowout too.
Perth is definitely out for me. Taking 2 weeks or so off in the middle of the elementary/middle/high school year?! Yeah, that ain't happening.
