Do any of you guys who follow college swimming have a sense yet about the impact of the FINA tech suit ban is having on elite swimming times?
I tried looking up results this year and last year--I know the Championships haven't taken place yet for the top tier, but some big meet started Feb 17th (and is presumably over now)--but I just couldn't figure out how to find the data necessary to make a preliminary comparison.
Thanks.
Are we making the assumption that the top masters swimmers can also improve at the rate of the top NCAA, USA-S and age group swimmers? Just curious on this one. . .
Well, the question of the OP was about NCAA times, not masters. Most will find out about the latter soon enough.
Also, I believe that -- with the notable exception of one university (causing bitter accusations of cheating from some forumites, as I recall) -- colleges did not use the latest and greatest suits: Jakeds and the like. Their last championship season was last Feb/Mar, after all; in other words, eons ago. I know the UR women all wore LZRs at A10s last year. Heck, they were practically obsolete by then.
College swimmers generally do not improve anywhere near the rate of age-groupers. I know of many (very fast) college swimmers who did not improve at all over their HS times, or only barely did so.
Are we making the assumption that the top masters swimmers can also improve at the rate of the top NCAA, USA-S and age group swimmers? Just curious on this one. . .
Well, the question of the OP was about NCAA times, not masters. Most will find out about the latter soon enough.
Also, I believe that -- with the notable exception of one university (causing bitter accusations of cheating from some forumites, as I recall) -- colleges did not use the latest and greatest suits: Jakeds and the like. Their last championship season was last Feb/Mar, after all; in other words, eons ago. I know the UR women all wore LZRs at A10s last year. Heck, they were practically obsolete by then.
College swimmers generally do not improve anywhere near the rate of age-groupers. I know of many (very fast) college swimmers who did not improve at all over their HS times, or only barely did so.
