Predictions from Across the Pond

Tom Willdridge from the Speed Endurance blog posted some picks for Nationals as well. His picks are fairly straightforward; he predicts Chloe Sutton to win the 400 and 800 free and Katie Hoff to take one win in the 400 IM. He sees NCAA Champion Annie Chandler having a long course breakthrough and getting on the U.S. team. He also has Alex Vanderkaay making the team with a third-place finish in the 400 IM. This is what he has to say about the meet:

US Nationals has for a long time been one of my favourite (Editor's note: this is America...) competitions of the year. The level of domestic competition is in a different league to every other swimming nation on the planet. Coming from Britain my chances in the prediction contest may be written off before the competition gets under way. I hope they are. Whilst I wouldn't dream of damaging the 'special relationship' between Britain and America... it would be awesome to win this thing.

The one advantage I am counting on is my objectivity. I am not clouded by favouritism for swimmers, clubs, universities, states or former glories (try and spot Jason Lezak in my 100m Free picks). Most importantly, I don't have a nickname riding on the result...

(Editor's note: the nickname is safe!)

Women

50m Free

1. Kara Lynn Joyce
2. Amanda Weir
3. Jessica Hardy

100m Free

1. Dana Vollmer
2. Natalie Coughlin
3. Amanda Weir
4. Kara Lynn Joyce
5. Jessica Hardy
6. Missy Franklin

200m Free

1. Allison Schmitt
2. Dana Vollmer
3. Katie Hoff
4. Dagny Knutson
5. Missy Franklin
6. Ariana Kukors

400m Free

1. Chloe Sutton
2. Allison Schmitt
3. Katie Hoff

800m Free

1. Chloe Sutton
2. Kate Ziegler
3. Emily Brunemann

100m Back

1. Elizabeth Pelton
2. Natalie Coughlin
3. Missy Franklin

200m Back

1. Elizabeth Pelton
2. Elizabeth Beisel
3. Margaret Hoelzer

100m Breast

1. Rebecca Soni
2. Jessica Hardy
3. Ann Chandler

200m Breast

1. Rebecca Soni
2. Keri Hehn
3. Megan Jendrick

100m Fly

1. Dana Vollmer
2. Natalie Coughlin
3. Christine Magnuson

200m Fly

1. Mary Mohler
2. Elaine Breeden
3. Kim Vandenberg

200m IM

1. Ariana Kukors
2. Julia Smit
3. Katie Hoff

400m IM

1. Katie Hoff
2. Julia Smit
3. Elizabeth Beisel

Men

50m Free

1. Nathan Adrian
2. Josh Schneider
3. Garrett Weber Gale

100m Free

1. Nathan Adrian
2. David Walters
3. Garrett Weber Gale
4. Jimmy Feigen
5. Matt Grevers
6. Ricky Berens

200m Free

1. Michael Phelps
2. Peter Vanderkaay
3. Ryan Lochte
4. Ricky Berens
5. Conor Dwyer
6. David Walters

400m Free

1. Peter Vanderkaay
2. Michael Klueh
3. Chad La Tourette

1500m Free

1. Peter Vanderkaay
2. Chad La Tourette
3. Michael Klueh

100m Back

1. Aaron Peirsol
2. Matt Grevers
3. Nick Thoman

200m Back

1. Ryan Lochte
2. Michael Phelps
3. Aaron Peirsol

100m Breast

1. Eric Shanteau
2. Mark Gangloff
3. Mike Alexandrov

200m Breast

1. Eric Shanteau
2. Mike Alexandrov
3. Scott Spann

100m Fly

1. Michael Phelps
2. Tyler McGill
3. Thomas Shields

200m Fly

1. Michael Phelps
2. Tyler Clary
3. Robert Bollier

200m IM

1. Michael Phelps
2. Ryan Lochte
3. Eric Shanteau

400m IM

1. Ryan Lochte
2. Tyler Clary
3. Alex Vanderkaay