The anti-sandbag law:
"if a swimmer enters an event with a time significantly slower or faster than that swimmer's recorded time in the past two years, the meet director may, after a discussion with the swimmer, change the seeded time to a realistic time" (104.5.5.A(10)).
Concerning my Auburn nationals entry, I confess, when faced with a 7 hour 2 stop flight and 3:45 nonstop at an earlier time, I did what any warm-blooded middle-aged American swimmer with low self-esteem would do--sandbag my entry so I could catch the earlier flight, thus diminishing the possible time spent sitting next to a 400 pound Alabama slammer with sleep apnea wearing nothing but overalls and body odor. Of course, I was caught in my bold fabrication and my time was "fixed."
USMS seems to have an identity problem. Are we hard core with rigid qualifying times? It would seem not as 2 of my not-so-speedy family members were allowed to swim four events last year in Puerto Rico. If we are not hard core, why does anybody care that I sandbag? More to the point, why can one person enter a crappy time and another cannot? Just wondering.:)
My 2 cents worth...
I am a meet director for a relatively small, one day meet. We offer all events from 50 to 1650. I have no problem with someone entering NT in order to swim in the first heat of one event in order to get some rest for back to back events. I'd rather have them do that then constant complaining about the order of events.
For distance events seeded slow to fast, I have a different view. To enter NT in order to swim back to back events is okay with me. But in a distant event at the end of the meet, to enter NT just so you don't have to sit around a little longer is not okay with me. I feel that is selfish. It seems to be saying that your convenience is more important than anyone else's.
Nationals is a different matter because the time line is so tight. Swimmers should always enter a time at least close to their expectations, but it doesn't have to be the best time for the last 2 years.
It's a fine line.
My 2 cents worth...
I am a meet director for a relatively small, one day meet. We offer all events from 50 to 1650. I have no problem with someone entering NT in order to swim in the first heat of one event in order to get some rest for back to back events. I'd rather have them do that then constant complaining about the order of events.
For distance events seeded slow to fast, I have a different view. To enter NT in order to swim back to back events is okay with me. But in a distant event at the end of the meet, to enter NT just so you don't have to sit around a little longer is not okay with me. I feel that is selfish. It seems to be saying that your convenience is more important than anyone else's.
Nationals is a different matter because the time line is so tight. Swimmers should always enter a time at least close to their expectations, but it doesn't have to be the best time for the last 2 years.
It's a fine line.
