Granted, she's not going to drop 4 seconds every year...her huge improvement has a lot to do with her getting involved in full-time, club swimming. But still, even if she doesn't drop another 10th of a second, she'll be huge for this team for the next 3 years.

Then again, why not dream a little? Let's shoot for records next year!

Larson is obviously a gifted swimmer. But no one should think she has only been swimming competitively since she was 17. She started CLUB swimmming at 17. Her 1:02 before A&M would have medaled at the Texas 5A state championships.

I watched Youtube video of her race at SMU. Learning the modern breaststroke isn't easy. She must have instinctively developed the rhythm required at an early age (summer league?) - and had good streamlining early on.

Her development since coming to A&M has been unbelievable. The coaches have done a fantastic job - and Larson must have worked very, very hard.

Has A&M ever had a freshman swimmer earn a 2nd at NCAAs (other than Cammile!)?

Cammile was fast in high school, but I still am amazed at her development too. She was injured and didn't start training for real until October??? She dropped 10 secs in the 500. And more than that in the 400IM.

Great point about Cammile Spice. We knew she'd be good in the 200 fly, but how far she's come in those other events turns her from a one-race-wonder to a great piece of a future top-5 program.

Hey, and ya know who else we get as a "bonus recruit" next year? Caroline McElhaney! That, in theory, could be another huge addition.

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Larson is obviously a gifted swimmer.

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No doubt this is a big part of this. She is not only a tremendous athlete but she is also a great listener who corrects the little mistakes that the coaches have pointed out to her. That is rare. She is open minded! I am accustomed to young people being very stubborn so this shocks me.

Maybe Larson's lack of year round swimming is a hidden asset for her. She hasn't been swimming for an idiot age group coach telling her stupid things for ten years. She has a gift, and is the perfect candidate for refinement by Steve and Tracy!

Great point and an interesting observation.

Our kid was in a circumstance where the age group coach was wrong about almost all of the little things (looking back now)and some big things too.

New head coach arrives from a highly respected club team and EVERYTHING improves.

Bogus - I think half of the USA-S coaches are borderline idiots. The biggest problem with most of these idiots is they have no scientific background for physiology. They have no idea what the difference is in training impact between 15x100 on 1:15 vs 5x100 on 4:00.

But...but...they both take about 20 minutes!!

changing gears ... how could the A&M relay be DQd for taking off 0.01 early? Is that a fact? Was there a video to confirm or did the officials just give way to the machine?

I thought we nailed down the rules on this the other day?? There was at least one instance where a DQ was overruled by video (a Florida relay on protest) so I imagine that they at least consulted the video.

I think the scary thing (in a good way) is that it's possible to watch Larson swim right now and pick up quite a few area which she can work on, change or improve.
Swimmiing the times she is, with that in mind, is what's most unreal to me...

Cammile (aside from obviously having some talent) seems to be a damn hard worker, she reminds me a lot of KHeiss in that way. I'm interested to see where Steve and Tracy take her from here regarding what events she focuses on and does.....

Do they focus on her main event in an effort to breed an international swimmer? or do they try to get the best overall performance (i.e:best when combining her 3 events) for a team points perspective?
Whats best for the swimmer Vs. the team?

I missed that discussion (DQs). -0.01 is close. I hope they protested.

In years past our roster showed the height of each swimmer. Not any more. How tall is Larson?

Breaststroke is the most technical of the four strokes (my opinion). It has the most room for tweaking - everything from head position, elbows, timing, etc. I think we can guess that Larson's 100 improved most from technique changes over the last year. Her 200 time dropped 14 secs from pre-A&M. That gigantic drop could be most due to a stepup in training volume and intensity.

If she can avoid injury it is hard to NOT believe that she can continue to get much faster her remaining time at A&M.

Larson has the fastest 100 breast SCY time by an American this year (Tyler of Minnesota is a Canadian). Only Jessica Hardy in 2010 had a faster 100 time. In the 200 only Soni was faster in 2010.

WOW ... not looking ahead to next season but getting to London!

all this discussion begs the question: How good is she or can she be Long Course?

i cant remember off the top of my head how her walls were when watching her swim, and LC certainly takes a whole different level of training/endurance to be successful that most "new-to-club/college" swimmers have trouble adjusting to. it will be very interesting to see how she does this summer, or especially next summer after a LC season under her belt

In all fairness, most elite breaststrokers don't swim much yards-tapered breaststroke after their out of college. I guarantee you she couldn't beat Soni in a 100y breaststroke...

BUT, with that being said, she does have a good shot at London (this has already been discussed by some big swimming names). She won't make it if Hardy decides to swim the 100 breaststroke/is allowed to compete. If Hardy chooses not to swim the 100 (or if Larson continues to advance in the 200), the chances are wide open. Going to be fun to watch her in meters this summer and see what happens! I assume she'll probably spend the majority of the summer training in College Station, which will be great for her.

To answer your question Spicewood: TALL.

LOB - Triin was 5'11 and I have been amazed for some time how tall some of these girl swimmers are. Amazing!

not to downgrade what Larson and Adams did, it was spectacular but give props to some of the other girls, mostly freshman who put it on the line. Henry, Miller qualified in the A final... as freshman! These two girls are some of the hardest workers on the team, and if they keep it up its going to be ridiculous what they do over the next few years.

FYI - Heard a rumor Schmitt is redshirting next year

Wouldn't be a surprise at all. She oughta. Will be interesting to see who all redshirts, especially on the women's side, where Olympic spots are very wide open.