Lochte scratches 200 Free

Did he also know how to get the job done when Lochte got the 200 back WR? ;) Seriously, I think Peirsol is a serious contender and probably favored to win this 100 back showdown, but nobody is infallible. Like you've never lost a race, Matt? It happens. Even to Michael Phelps. Yet, it happens to Aaron Peirsol and everyone acts like it's over for him. The 100 back final should be one of the best finishes of the trials based on what we've seen so far. No doubt, it will be hundredths of a second that separate the top two from the field. IMO underestimating a gold medalist and WR holder is a bad idea. Yes, he could get beat, but why is everyone acting like it's a foregone conclusion?

Like you've never lost a race, Matt? It happens. Even to Michael Phelps. Yet, it happens to Aaron Peirsol and everyone acts like it's over for him. The 100 back final should be one of the best finishes of the trials based on what we've seen so far. No doubt, it will be hundredths of a second that separate the top two from the field. IMO underestimating a gold medalist and WR holder is a bad idea. Yes, he could get beat, but why is everyone acting like it's a foregone conclusion? Trust me, I've lost my share of races. :o Like I said, Peirsol is favored to win in my book...but, I can understand the skepticism that others might have given the events of the past year in Peirsol's signature events.

I predict Peirsol will win in a new world record time. I don't think Bal will be as fast as last night and will end up third or fourth. But really it's anyone's guess. Those top four are all very close and I don't really think anyone was holding back yesterday. It appears that knelson was on his predicting game. I feel bad for Bal, but man Grevers had the go-go-gadget arms at the wall!

Heather, I think a bet can be arranged! Not really, but I'll come back here tomorrow and admit to being wrong if Piersol wins.

I'm so bummed for Bal, more for him than Lochte since Lochte has other events. I'm sad for McGregory too. How crappy to have such great swims in prelims and semis then to get third AGAIN in finals. HOWEVER - did I call the Peirsol thing or what?!?!

Horns are not swimming that well. I think he gets in still though. He owns the event and I don't think he is giving it up. Lochte and Grevers odd men out Bal is in. That was my prediction a week ago and I am sticking to it.

I don't know about Piersol. I am rooting for him, though. He did have a good semi swim. Did I hear correctly that he is not shaved? However, it's going to be one heck of a race no matter who wins. If I understood the interview correctly, he didn't shave for prelims and clipped for semis. Certainly he will shave for finals, way too competitive to do otherwise. Regardless who wins, there will be some long faces after the race. What a brutal meet.

I predict a tie for second and a swim-off! Wouldn't that be incredible?

It should be a dogfight between Peirsol, Bal, Grevers and Lochte. I was actually wondering if Lochte might go for the 200 free. Things might have been different had the 100 back final been first on tonight's schedule.

Olympic Relays top 6 in the 100 & 200 freestyle go to the Olympics the idea is 4 relay members and 2 alternates are eligible to make the olympic team, the Olympic Committee has a selection proceedure document, where they place priorities, 26 men and 26 women can make the team With Phelps and Lochte making multiple events they won't be close to 26 mens members. That's why making to 6 in the 200 free tonight is critical I believe Michael PHELPS and Peter VANDERKAAY, will be first and second, Klete could step up and pop a great one. That leaves Dave WALTERS, Ricky BERENS, Danny BEAL, Larsen JENSEN, and Erik VENDT fighting for the next 3 spots, who ever is 7th and 8th won't be on the Olympic Team for the 4 x 200 relay But remember Larsen Jensen is already on the Olympic Team for the 400 fr, if he has an amazing 200 free in practice at the Olympics they'll consider using him. At the Olympics there's a prelim swim and final swim, anyone who swims in prelims earns the medal if one is won in finals. Olympic coaches test the swimmers in practice and see how well they swim their events at the Olympics. On Relay Day: Prelims: 4 swimmers will be chosen to swim prelims, maybe the 4 slowest, USA has the luxury of swimming the 4 slowest and still making top 8, their instructions will be SAFE STARTS and swim as fast as you can. The fastest swimmers don't have to swim in the morning so they can get extra rest. Usually you see 4 swim the morning 2 rest then the 2 fastest from the morning swim at night along with the 2 very fastest who didn't swim in the morning at this olympics we might see 4 swim in the morning then 4 different swimmers swim at night, BUT coaches will pick the 4 fastest swimmers to swim in finals, whether they were top 6 or not, Lochte is going to let his 1:45.6 time stand. The controversy in 2004 was Michael Phelps didn't swim the 100 free at trials but he had a faster 100 free time. Gary Hall was very vocal that Phelps shouldn't be on the final relay. Eddie said the fastest swimmers swim at night, Gary had a time to beat and didn't. My guess is phelps will swim the 100 free prelims and post a fast 100 time then drop the semis and finals going into 2008 trials before the LZR I believed in the 100 free it was going to take a 48.6 - 48.7 to make the US Olympic team, I now think top 6 will be in the range of 48.2 - 48.5 and top 2 should be under 48 wait, is the 4x200 relay made up based on times or top 6 in finals? some combination of both?