FYI: The time line and heat sheets are available! :bliss:
Just wondering, though... Can anybody out there explain how I (Elaine Krugman) got placed in Heat 3 of the 100 Yd Breaststroke (Lane 8). Based on my seed time and age, shouldn't I have been placed in Heat 7? If anybody out there has a clue, will you please explain it to me? Check out the seed times and ages in Heat 7 and see if I'm on the right track with my thinking...
Hey, Anna Lea, it looks like we'll be next to each other in the 100 and have one between us in the 50 Yd Breaststroke. :D You should have joined me in the 200 Yd Breaststroke! :agree:
The biggest problem, I think, is that in a true trials/finals meet, you need to have a championship final heat for the top 1-8 (or 1-10) qualifiers. Since masters is scored by age group, you would need to have a finals for each separate age group! Otherwise, there is no real fair way to establish points.
If you do prelims/finals just by time (no age group), then consider the following scenario:
* For the example, only the top 8 return at night for finals. No consols, bonus, etc. Just top 8.
* In the 30-34 age group, there are swimmers A, B, and C.
* Event is the 50 free. In prelims, the following times are performed:
- Swimmer A: 30.00 (qualifies 7th overall)
- Swimmer B: 30.01 (qualifies 8th overall)
- Swimmer C: 30.02 (qualifies 9th overall, does not make finals)
* Then at night in finals, only Swimmer A and Swimmer B swim, since Swimmer C did not qualify. In finals, the following times are performed:
- Swimmer A: 30.50
- Swimmer B: 30.40
How do you score the event? Who won? Swimmer A had the fastest time overall, but it was from prelims. Swimmer B was faster in finals. Swimmer C was slowest in the morning, but was still faster than Swimmer A or B swam in finals.
It would also mean that you'd, practically, never get any 70+ swimmers ever qualifying for finals.
All in all, it creates a scenario where, as an expectation, there are different parameters for scoring points depending on your speed and age group. I.e., not a level playing field.
-Rick
The biggest problem, I think, is that in a true trials/finals meet, you need to have a championship final heat for the top 1-8 (or 1-10) qualifiers. Since masters is scored by age group, you would need to have a finals for each separate age group! Otherwise, there is no real fair way to establish points.
If you do prelims/finals just by time (no age group), then consider the following scenario:
* For the example, only the top 8 return at night for finals. No consols, bonus, etc. Just top 8.
* In the 30-34 age group, there are swimmers A, B, and C.
* Event is the 50 free. In prelims, the following times are performed:
- Swimmer A: 30.00 (qualifies 7th overall)
- Swimmer B: 30.01 (qualifies 8th overall)
- Swimmer C: 30.02 (qualifies 9th overall, does not make finals)
* Then at night in finals, only Swimmer A and Swimmer B swim, since Swimmer C did not qualify. In finals, the following times are performed:
- Swimmer A: 30.50
- Swimmer B: 30.40
How do you score the event? Who won? Swimmer A had the fastest time overall, but it was from prelims. Swimmer B was faster in finals. Swimmer C was slowest in the morning, but was still faster than Swimmer A or B swam in finals.
It would also mean that you'd, practically, never get any 70+ swimmers ever qualifying for finals.
All in all, it creates a scenario where, as an expectation, there are different parameters for scoring points depending on your speed and age group. I.e., not a level playing field.
-Rick
