Warning: This Post Discusses a Swimming Only Event. Simply Reading About It May Cause You to Bike & Run Slower.
The Missouri Grand Prix meet takes place this weekend. This should be one of the fastest meets leading up to Olympic Trials. Last year, Phelps broke the world record in the 200 fly…swimming with a short beard. This year, Phelps and a few others (Vanderkaay comes to mind) have a shot at some pretty amazing performances.
If you check out the psych sheet, you can get an idea of just how quick these people are in the water.
The meet starts at 4:30 Central this afternoon, when they’ll have live results available.
It’s worth noting that this meet is following the Prelims in the afternoon, Finals the next morning format that they’ll have in the Games this summer in order to maximize viewership outside of East Asia.
First morning finals session going on right now. Big news so far:
Event 5 Women 200 LC Meter Backstroke
World LC: ! 2:06.62 8/25/1991 Krisztina Egerszegi - HUN
American LC: $ 2:07.16 3/31/2007 Margaret Hoelzer - USA
US Open LC: # 2:07.83 7/25/1996 Krisztina Egerzegi - HUN
Mizzou Pool: P 2:15.32 2/17/2007 Mary E Descenza
MO GP Meet: M 2:15.32 2/17/2007 Mary E Descenza
2:17.99 OLY
2:19.09 OPN
Meet Qualifying: 2:29.99
Name Age Team Prelims Finals
I’ve got a world of respect for Kirsty, and it was great to see her claim possibly the toughest world record on the books.
Phelps turned in a US Open record in the 20 fly. He was faster than he was setting the WR here last year, but the 1:52 he went in Melbourne is just sick.
Katie Hoff won the 100 free in a nice time, and I’m wonderinf if it’s a signal there’s something bigger ahead in one of her main events.
katie hoff continues to amaze me. i hate to jinx it, but i think she has now proven she has the ability, determination and will to pull off a spitz-ian performance in beijing (7 golds in the 200-400-800 free, 200-400 IM and 2 relays?). it’s also promising that she seems to be able to adapt to the prelims at night/finals in the morning format that is being used at the grand prix.
i thought janet evans’ 800 free WR would stand post-2008, but after katie’s 4:02 400 free this morning and the sick 9:10 1,000 yd free she did in december, i think it’s going to go down.
will be interesting to see what she pulls off in the next few days in missouri.
also think natalie coughlin’s 100 back WR is in serious danger after kirsty coventry’s 200 back this morning. too bad for natalie, but good for kirsty.
Jill, yesterday the announcer said the format of the MO GP (i.e. prelims in the afternoon, finals the next morning) is unique. Is this true? I would think that this meet would be on the calendar of swimmers looking to shoot at ARs and WRs since they get a night of sleep between races.
I was going to post last night that it seemed likely Katie Hoff would break at least the AR in the 2 Free today…she was under AR pace at the 100 & 150 marks in the prelims yesterday but eased up in the last 50. Not to mention how strong she looked in the 100 & 400 finals.
What an exciting day. Can’t wait to go back up next year.
Like the last poster said, they are modeling the P/F schedule after the upcoming Olympics - but only because of that - according to most of the thought out there, you swim faster later in the day, and there has been quite an uproar in the swimming roar over having finals in the morning.
I know in my own personal case, I swam faster at night 95% of the time.
2008 is shaping up to be a great year to be a swimming fan. Third world record of what looked to be an ordinary February weekend.
Event 25 Women 100 LC Meter Backstroke
World LC: ! 59.44 3/27/2007 Natalie Coughlin - USA
American LC: $ 59.44 3/27/2007 Natalie Coughlin - USA
US Open LC: # 59.58 8/13/2002 Natalie Coughlin - USA
Mizzou Pool: P 1:00.13 2/19/2007 Natalie A Coughlin
MO GP Meet: M 1:00.13 2/19/2007 Natalie A Coughlin
1:04.59 OLY
1:04.69 OPN
Meet Qualifying: 1:09.99
Name Age Team Seed Prelims
Just back from the meet today…what a fun time! Katie Hoff can fly…Phelps was never pushed in any of his Finals this morning…Dara Torres is a classy lady (not to mention HOT!) and the Mens 50 is insane! That event nearly emptied the pool with the amount of wakes they were churning up!
One observation…how is it that M. Phelps can move that fast in the free and not have any faster turnover? He seems to be in a middle gear turnover-wise but is covering immense ground with each stroke?