Matt,
Perhaps critical isn't the right word to use.
TXLA with 8/22 had 36.4% of the mens team. The four teams with 2+ qualifiers had 15 swimmers, 68% of the team. It is a matter of numbers and stats.
11 clubs qualified one male swimmer for the Olympics. That doesn't tell me that it is CRITICAL to swim for TXLA if you want to go to the olympics. However, the fact that TXLA has 8 swimmers going tells me there is a high CORRELATION with that program and Olympic berths.
I would probably reduce the TXLA swimmer count by one actually. Scott Spann spent the last two years swimming for Bowman and only recently moved to TXLA after Bowman left U of M. Spann did very well under Michigan. He swam for Randy Reese before he went to Michigan.
My impression, based on her interview, was that DT was still planning on swimming the relay, just not the individual. So it would still be just the top 6 needed.
On the team roster on the US Swim site at:
www.usaswimming.org/.../U.S. Olympic Swim Team Roster.pdf
Torres is not listed for the 100 free and no one else has been added.
(this list is not error free, however e.g. Marshall listed for the 100 relay instead of the 200)
I was referring to whoever said the 1500 was too long for him. I don't think it is. :drown: I'm so thrilled he's on the relay though.
14:46, very good. Maybe it isn't too long. He does seem very inconsistent with the 1500. Then again, who wouldn't be in that race. I was just hoping that this time would be different.
Watching the 1500 makes me want to 1500 free in LC. I might have to wait until next summer. My zone Champs only have the 800 which I will sign up for. I won't be able to go to Nationals this summer. If only I had the Dara Torres cash flow right now!
I think Hansen faded in the 200 BR because he had Kitajima on his mind.He went out fast,maybe trying to get his WR back and couldn't hold it.I think if he just swam to win he would have.
Also NBC did there usual lousy job.Poor technical explanations,not interviewing Spann.Some times they even circled the wrong swimmer with their graphics etc.
I think Hansen faded in the 200 BR because he had Kitajima on his mind.He went out fast,maybe trying to get his WR back and couldn't hold it.I think if he just swam to win he would have.
Also NBC did there usual lousy job.Poor technical explanations,not interviewing Spann.Some times they even circled the wrong swimmer with their graphics etc.
Allen,you are right now. I am a Hansen supporter but, the guy who didn't make the team shouldn't have been interviewed. It was Shanteau and Spann's time in the spotlight. But, I have to say that Hansen was very composed in the interview after such a disastrous swim.
Dara's 5O
During the comentator's remarks he said she had improved her dive. He said she had her back foot in the proper position. Dara said I worked on my dives this morning. I looked at it again and she did a very good dive.
Her Back foot was what I had been talking about ealier and pointed out that many of the swimmers had a bad rear foot placement.
Back to work today.........
Day 1 was awesome to sit and watch......my son and I made both prelims and finals!!!!! Right down at pool level!!!! Watching Phelps and Lochte swim that 400 IM was insane.....and then Katie Hoff blasting past Biesel on the Breaststroke and winning in WR pace.....well worth the trip out there!!!!
Katie Hoff announced the other day that she will be coming back to NBAC and assistant coaching at Loyola College in Baltimore, MD....where I will be attending....sweet niblets.
When you have a swimmer who was thought to be locked into an Olympic berth, and then said swimmer fails to qualify, of course he is going to get interviewed. Of course, the interviews of the winners should have come first...ideally.
