Is everybody ready for the races tonight. Tune in to the excellent live webcast that USA Swimming is providing over at there USA Swimming site at 6:00 EST for some great races.
Last night I was very impressed with Catlin Leverenz in the 400 IM. The way she went from last to first on the *** leg was very impressive. I think Amanda Beard has her work cut out for her to make the Olympic team the way Soni and Leverenz are swimming now in that 200 ***. The Men's 400 IM was a good race and Lochte swam well but not his best. The Mens 100 Free was a big suprise and I don't think people picked David Walters to win. I don't ever remember recently a swimmer coming from 8th postion to win like that. In the Women's 100 Free you have to be impressed with Dara Torres winning at the age of 40 regardless of the people like Scott Busfield who believe she is a drug cheat. I noticed she had a great start and was out in :25.79 and was .63 ahead of the field at the 50. I think with this swim, I pick Dara to win the 50 Free later in the meet. Katie Hoff continues to impress and improve every time out in new events and I expect this will continue until Olympic Trials.
The big race I was excited to see last night lived up to its expectations. I am very impressed with both Michael Phelps and Chris DeJong in the 200 Back. Chris DeJong took a year off and had almost a 2 second drop from his best time. In fact he outsplit Michael Phelps in the last 100 and 50 of the race last night. And of course Michael was excellent and I expect him to challenge for more World Records during the meet. Ryan Lochte did not swim very well in this event as his first test after setting the World Record. I was very suprised that he did not challenge at all. I didn't think he would beat Phelps and I think he better swim better than this or he will get beaten by Phelps in the 100 Back later in the meet.
Tonight we have some classic races. Starting with the rematch of the 800 Free we have Ziegler and Hoff going at it. I am tending to pick Ziegler here because of the year she is having but I would not be surprised if Hoff were to upset and win. I don't think 4:03.85 will be approached. In the Mens 400 Free we have a classic race here with half the field being from Club Wolverine. This is the first big 400 Free race that Michael Phelps has swam since his perfromance at the 2005 Worlds in Montreal where it was the only time in years that he failed to qualify for the finals and make a top 16 time. I look for him and PVK to slug it out. It will be interested to see what kind of turns he does tonight and if they are like the ones he did in the 200 Free at Worlds. If he is attempting to go for a World Reocord he will have to be out in 1:50 at the slowest and bring it back the same or negative split. I know he has gone 3:47 this year and I believe he will go either a high 3:43 or low 3:44 and be close if not break the American Record of 3:44.11 and PVK will be close at a high 3:44 or 3:45 for second.
In the Women's 100 Fly I will go with Dana Volmer with Rachel Komisarz as having an outside chance. In the Men's 100 Fly its the classic match between Phelps and Crocker. This is a pick him race but Michael is swimming very well and the way Crocker swam the 100 Free last night I have to go with Phelps as a slight favorite to win. However Crocker will keep the World Record at :50.40 because MP will not swim as fast.
Skip I pretty much agree with your picks. I take Crocker though partly because Phelps is swimming the 400. No WR or even close though. I'll pick a big upset, too - Wildman-Tobriner for 2nd.
I am surprised at Vendt's 400 free. I think of him as a mile guy. Maybe the Club Wolverine style and guys are making this a better event for him. I pick Phelps there though.
I think Vollmer will nab the 100 fly title.
I'm stoked for the Hoff vs Zeigler face off in the 400 free. I pick Katie in that one in another close battle. I think Kate will win but I'll go with another upset here.
My predictions for 08 - no Beard on the team, no Komisarz in fly. I think the two fly spots will go to Coughlin & Vollmer in the 100 and Hersey and Vandenberg in the 200. I think Dara makes in individually in both the 50 (with a win) and 100. The other 50 spot to Kara Lynn (where is she?) and the other 100 spot to Coughlin or Weir.
Last night was the first time I'd seen Phelps swim live. It almost didn't seem real. He said in the on-deck interview after the 200 that he heard the split at the 150 but just didn't have anything left in the tank to push it further.
Watson's face when he finished the 100 was priceless. He looked like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He said he was just "swimming it".
I mentioned Dara's swim on the other thread. She was quoted in the Indy Star today saying that her swims were for master's swimmers everywhere. I thought that cool (of course, the writer said that master's was for 25 and older...sigh).
My daughter and I are headed there for tonight's finals as well. Looking forward to more amazing swims.
Last night was the first time I'd seen Phelps swim live. It almost didn't seem real. He said in the on-deck interview after the 200 that he heard the split at the 150 but just didn't have anything left in the tank to push it further.
Watson's face when he finished the 100 was priceless. He looked like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He said he was just "swimming it".
I mentioned Dara's swim on the other thread. She was quoted in the Indy Star today saying that her swims were for master's swimmers everywhere. I thought that cool (of course, the writer said that master's was for 25 and older...sigh).
My daughter and I are headed there for tonight's finals as well. Looking forward to more amazing swims.
Too bad there has to be such a cloud of suspicion surrounding her right now.
I'm stoked for the Hoff vs Zeigler face off in the 400 free. I pick Katie in that one in another close battle. I think Kate will win but I'll go with another upset here.
Risky to pick against Kate these days! She has a wicked fast last 50. Katie Hoff really is a fabulous all around swimmer though, and having a very good meet.
Crocker got deeked for flinching on the start. He said it was due to flash photography. Looked like it could have been. The flinch was very obvious. His last 5 meters were unbelievable, outtouched again by Phelps. From one angle, it looked like he could hardly get his arms out of the water the last two strokes. Did he beat Phelps head to head when he set the WR?
