Women's 200 Free:
In 2004, 1:59 put you on the Olympic
4x200 relay. In 2008 you needed a 1:59 to qualify in the top 16. The
morning swims today were for the most part fairly uneventful as the
majority of the top competitors swam measured races. Expect more action
from the swimmers who are not Katie Hoff or Allison Schmitt as they
fight for a spot in the finals and the subsequent 75% chance to make
the team.
Men's 200 Fly
Phelps, as expected, swam an effortless
1:55. In an event where only the number two spot is up for grabs, both
Gil Stovall and Davis Tarwater staked their claims for that spot with
divergent race strategies. Tarwater was aggressive from the start,
leading his heat from start to finish in 1:55.15. Stovall looked
relaxed, letting younger competitor Bobby Bollier lead for the majority
of the race before effortlessly gliding past him on the back half for a
1:55.72.
Women's 200 IM:
A big question coming into the meet
concerned whether Natalie Coughlin would stay in this event. She has
always had the potential to be the world's best IMer, and this mornings
swim did nothing to persuade me otherwise. Natalie appeared to be
barely straining when she swam the first 100 under the world record
pace. Ariana Kukors made a strong move to catch Coughlin on her weakest
stroke, breaststroke. Both competitors then appeared to ease up on the
final and were among five women who qualified for tonights semi-final
with 2:12s. Kukors, Whitney Myers (2:12.29) and Elizabeth Beisel
(2:14.58) loom as potential spoilers in an event in which everyone is
expecting Coughlin and Hoff to make it.
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