Hoff's comparison to the WR was against Stephanie Rice's splits. Rice's front half of the IM is her strength where Hoff is better at the back end. Obviously Hoff's breaststroke leg was outstanding. The next comparison against WR will be against Hoff's splits. Great race no matter what.

That is what I love about the IMs. The race has some real character because of each swimmer's strengths and weaknesses.

What happened to Kristin Heiss in the women's 400? She was seeded 28th and apparently scratched.

She's only racing the 200 free and 200 back

Christine, Looking forward to the semi-finals!

http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2008/Omaha_b_2008/C74A_ResSummary_11_Heats_Women_200_Free.pdf

Great swims from not just Marshall but Heiss and Mahoney too...3 of the top 25 American 200 freestylers are Aggies...nice job!

Can't wait to see what Marshall does tonight

Marshall definitely in the hunt for the 200 free - 5th fastest going into semis tonight. Mahoney, Heiss, and Hansen swam well in the 200 free. Mahoney's IM looked tired.

Go Christine!

Saw Christine this morning. Great race and lots of support for the aggies. Even the announcer boasted about how well the aggies typically do in the 200 m. Hope she does well tonight and tomorrow!

Christine did it!!!!tied for seventh so she will be in finals tomorrow! Great races!

GO CHRISTINE GO!!!!! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

shes less than .2 behind 3rd! talk about a close field

Unbelievably close and fast times! In some semi-finals the top 16 times were better than the time that got you on the team four years ago. A fast pool and the new suits are helping. GO Christine GO!

Tonight's final will be a dogfight. Most of the girls in finals have not yet done their best times. Christine has not yet beaten her time from a month ago. Christine has finished strongly in each of her races - which scares me to watch. She was 8th at the 100 split to finish 4th in her heat. It's exciting, but scary to watch races like that!

http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2008/Omaha_b_2008/C51A3_SLFinal_111_Finals_Women_200_Free.pdf

WOW!!!!!!

Considering the circumstances, I don't think she could have asked for a better draw next to her. Vandenberg (Lane 2) has only recently (read this year) been swimming the 200 free at this level level and this may be Smit's (Lane 3) first ever big-time 200 free race (she didn't swim it at NC's). Those of us that have followed swimming know what Vollmer and Kara Lynn are capable of out in Lanes 7 & 8.

Whoever made the comment on the suits, yes they are definitely helping the swimmers, but I believe and I read an article saying that the sudden improvement in swimming is linked more directly to the swimmers improvement with their dolphin kick. They have begun to focus more on their kick and have realized that they are fastest in the water when they are off a turn using their dolphin kick. That is the reason why michael dominates every time he hits the water, and it is why he beats everyone off the turns.

Here is the article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/20/ST2008062001158.html

Another major note on Vandenberg in Lane 2: she had to swim prelims in the 200 fly (her signature event) this morning...she will have to swim a 200 free and a 200 fly tonight...that would be 5 200's in two days (and the 200 fly is one of the most physically demanding races there is)...I think if it doesn't look good for her at some point in the 200 free, she mails it in so she can prepare for her bread and butter race (which is only two races after the 200 free)

To exhibit just how hard that double is, just ask the coach of the greatest swimmer of all-time:

'Bowman said Phelps wasn't tempted to continue on in the 100 free because his 200 butterfly final is about 20 minutes later Wednesday night.

"That double is cruel and unusual," Bowman said. "He could do it, but I wouldn't ask anybody to do it."'

...and that's a 100 free/200 fly double...Vandenberg is doing a 200 free/200 fly double in back to back events...ouch

I'm thinking all Christine's got to do is pick one of the other six off and she's got her golden ticket...

[This message has been edited by Look Out Below (edited 7/2/2008 2:15p).]

How does it factor into how many swimmers will be taken for the 800 relay considering that Natalie Coughlin is not in the 200 free, but will likely be on the relay since she has gone 1:56, which I think is faster than all the girls except Hoff?

It won't affect the number taken bcs that decision won't be made 100% until the team is already in Beijing...No way Coughlin or Hoff swim the relay in prelims either...Chances are 5 of the 6 will actually swim the relay in the Olympics

The athlete selection is actually more complicated than the 2 fastest individual and 6 fastest 100 and 200 free. It is really controlled by the winner of an event automatically goes plus a 26 athlete limit.

It ends up being 2 fastest individual and 6 fastest freestylers because the USA has Phelps, Lochte, Hoff, Coughlin, etc. who qualify for multiple events - which creates room on the 26 athlete roster to take the 2nd fastest and the other freestylers.

Christine could finish 6th, go to Beijing, and not race. Not likely, but the coaches have discretion on relay selection.

Vandenberg has to hold back a bit on free to save for fly - her signature event. Christine must beat two people.

If Vandenberg holds back at all, she'll be eighth...no question

I cant see vandenberg holding back too much, considering her 2fly is only a semi, and she is seeded very well in it.

1:58.16! Sixth place! Is she in?

yup. Christine Marshall is officially a US Olympian

I am so happy for Christine! Great job and congrats! As to the suits...the fact that so many world records are being set with them-I think they are a factor..even mentally. The pool in omaha is super fast as well..built by a manufacturer known for world breaking fast pools. I think it will go somewhere in Virginia after this week.

I wondered why the swimmers wear two caps...My guess is that it holds the goggles on..not sure..not every swimmer does it.

nah a lot of them wear two caps b/c the one on top esp for the ones sponsored is a harder one with that like spike thing on top (prolly for aerodynamics--- dont know if its aero maybe hydro) and so u dont have to wear two but it may just be more comfortable.

The bottom cap is latex and thinner and the top cap is silicone and is more streamlined. It also has to do with sponsorships, the committee overseeing trials said that no one was allowed to display brand/company names on there caps during the race, but the atheletes already had contracts. So what they do is wear th sponsors cap underneath there club team or other cap and then pull the top cap off as soon as the race is over thus revealing the sponsor without breaking rules.

makes sense.

Dang, did everyone see the 200 breast? Scott Spann did work, he came back the last 50 2 seconds faster than anyonelse and went from 4th to 1st in the last 50. One of the best races I have ever seen.

I'm not shocked Spann made the team - he was 2nd at NCAAs in the 200. But I'm shocked Hansen bombed.

Men's 50 free prelims today....

It will be interesting to see whether Gary Hall Jr. can make the team in the 50 Free.

Heiss (4th) and Neal (14th) make it to tonight's 200 back semis...Gardner almost made it back in the men's 50 free as well (20th)