Split requests seem to be all the fashion lately. I know they're perfectly legal, though I haven't read the rule itself. I'm wondering about them though ... It seems oddly unfair, for example, that a person never (or rarely) swimming open 50s could hold world or national records or #1 rankings in those events. (I'm just saying it's odd, while recognizing it could be perfectly legal.) But, aside from that and further, what if someone really played the system. What if, for example, someone was after a 50 free record. They entered a meet in the 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 free and led off free relays and requested split requests in each event to try to set a record. Is this legitimate or legal? Would a meet director be bound to accept split requests for all these events? Is there a limit? Do meet directors have discretion to deny multiple split requests? I can see a situation where multiple attempts at a 50 might result in a better time ...
The rules clearly state that the swimmer (or swimmers if a relay) must finish the entire prescribed race - 105.3.7 - D. If Paul got out, or had a Rutgers-esque situation (God forbid), then while we all know what he did in his split, he did not finish the race and is therefore DQ'd and his WR Split effort goes down the toilet.
This precice rule is keeping people from swimming 200 fly's for 50 times and then getting out of the water.
What's interesting is that USA Swimming and USMS rules differ on initial distances for relays. In USA Swimming, as long as the lead-off swimmer completes his/her leg legally without being disqualified, the time counts for an initial distance split. It's OK if the relay is DQed due to another swimmer infraction. In USMS, it is required that the entire relay complete the event without being disqualified.
-Rick
The rules clearly state that the swimmer (or swimmers if a relay) must finish the entire prescribed race - 105.3.7 - D. If Paul got out, or had a Rutgers-esque situation (God forbid), then while we all know what he did in his split, he did not finish the race and is therefore DQ'd and his WR Split effort goes down the toilet.
This precice rule is keeping people from swimming 200 fly's for 50 times and then getting out of the water.
What's interesting is that USA Swimming and USMS rules differ on initial distances for relays. In USA Swimming, as long as the lead-off swimmer completes his/her leg legally without being disqualified, the time counts for an initial distance split. It's OK if the relay is DQed due to another swimmer infraction. In USMS, it is required that the entire relay complete the event without being disqualified.
-Rick
