Short Course Nationals

This weekend is short course nationals in Federal Way, Washington. Top swimmers such as Rebecca Soni, Eric Shanteau, and Katie Hoff will be there, along Japan's Kosuke Kitajima, and also several collegiate programs such as Michigan (men) and Cal. There promise to be some interesting races in Washington, but it is not the only big meet next weekend. Most college programs are in action at various invitational meets around the country (all short course yards), the most notable being the Texas Invite. The competition this weekend will give us a good idea where the world's swimmers stand going into not only NCAAs in the spring, but also long course Nationals next summer.

It should be noted that all suits worn this weekend will conform to 2010 standards, as required by both USA Swimming and the NCAA. Thus, times in each event from around the country will be comparable and should clearly tell who is the best. However, various swimmers will be at different stages of their training, so that opens another can of worms...

With all of this said, here are my predictions for Short Course Nationals (no relays):

Women's 500 Free:
1 - Katie Hoff, FAST
2 - Dagny Knutson, A.S.K.
3 - Sara Isokovic, Cal/Slovenia

Men's 500 Free:
1 - Peter Vanderkaay, Club Wolverine
2 - Dan Madwed, Michigan
3 - Charlie Houchin, Michigan

Women's 200 IM:
1 - Ariana Kukors, FAST
2 - Katinka Hosszu, Southern California/Hungary
3 - Katie Hoff, FAST

Men's 200 IM:
1 - Eric Shanteau, Longhorn
2 - Tyler Clary, Michigan
3 - Hidemasa Sano, Trojan Swim Club/Japan

Women's 50 Free:
1 - Amanda Weir, Swim Atlanta
2 - Kara Lynn Joyce, Unattached
3 - Jessica Hardy, Trojan Swim Club

Men's 50 Free:
1 - Nathan Adrian, Cal
2 - Cullen Jones, SwimMAC Carolina
3 - William Copeland, California Aquatics

Women's 400 IM
1 - Dagny Knutson, A.S.K.
2 - Katinka Hosszu, Southern California/Hungary
3 - Katie Hoff, FAST

Men's 400 IM
1 - Tyler Clary, Michigan
2 - Thiago Pereira, Trojan Swim Club/Brazil
3 - Hidemasa Sano, Trojan Swim Club/Japan

Women's 100 Fly
1 - Dana Vollmer, California Aquatics
2 - Amanda Sims, Cal

Men's 100 Fly
1 - Jason Dunford, Unattached/Kenya
2 - Chris Brady, Michigan

Women's 200 Free
1 - Katie Hoff, FAST
2 - Dana Vollmer, California Aquatics
3 - Dagny Knutson, A.S.K.

Men's 200 Free
1 - Peter Vanderkaay, Club Wolverine
2 - Dan Madwed, Michigan
3 - Charlie Houchin, Michigan

Women's 100 Breast
1 - Jessica Hardy, Trojan Swim Club
2 - Rebecca Soni, Trojan Swim Club
3 - Annamay Pierse, UCB Dolphins/Canada
*Also watch Katy Freeman, Kasey Carlson, and 2000 Olympic champ Megan Jendrick.

Men's 100 Breast
1 - Eric Shanteau, Longhorn
2 - Kosuke Kitajima, Trojan Swim Club/Japan
3 - Matthew Lowe, Longhorn

Women's 100 Back
1 - Kate Fesenko, Indiana/Ukraine
2 - Margaret Hoelzer, FAST
3 - Cindy Tran, West Coast Swimming

Men's 100 Back
1 - Nick Thoman, SwimMAC Carolina
2 - David Russell, California Aquatics
3 - Guy Barnea, Cal/Israel

Women's 1,650 Free
1 - Lauren Boyle, Cal
2 - Haley Anderson, Southern California
3 - Jessica White, Indiana

Men's 1,650 Free
1 - William Freeman, Swim Atlanta
2 - Tom Koucheravy, Trojan Swim Club
3 - Adam DeJong, Michigan

Women's 200 Back
1 - Kate Fesenko, Indiana
2 - Margaret Hoelzer, FAST
3 - Katie Hoff, FAST

Men's 200 Back
1 - Tyler Clary, Michigan
2 - David Russell, California Aquatics
3 - Patrick Schirk, Unattached

Women's 100 Free
1 - Dana Vollmer, California Aquatics
2 - Amanda Weir, Swim Atlanta
3 - Dagny Knutson, A.S.K.

Men's 100 Free
1 - Nathan Adrian, Cal
2 - Garrett Weber-Gale, Longhorn
3 - William Copeland, California Aquatics

Women's 200 Breast
1 - Rebecca Soni, Trojan Swim Club
2 - Annamay Pierse, UCB Dolphins/Canada
3 - Megan Jendrick, King

Men's 200 Breast
1 - Eric Shanteau, Longhorn
2 - Kosuke Kitajima, Trojan Swim Club/Japan
3 - Sean Mahoney, California Aquatics

Women's 200 Fly
1 - Katinka Hosszu, Southern California/Hungary
2 - Amanda Sims, Cal
3 - Lyndsay DePaul, Southern California

Men's 200 Fly
1 - Dan Madwed, Michigan
2 - Hidemasa Sano, Trojan Swim Club/Japan

Click here to view the psych sheet for nationals.