tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129413601619768638.post204659758556130124..comments2023-10-07T05:14:00.107-04:00Comments on DR549: Janet Evans Invite/LA Grand PrixDavid Riederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00037990522293462619noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129413601619768638.post-23286590696846575302010-07-08T18:23:59.372-04:002010-07-08T18:23:59.372-04:00Sano's a short course swimmer. Long course, h...Sano's a short course swimmer. Long course, he's never been sub-1:56, and he didn't make the Japanese National Team. Bollier (1:55) and Clary (1:53) have been much faster. Both of them, though, are swimming with Jon Urbanchek, and he does not like to rest his swimmers in-season. Both struggled to go very fast at Mission Viejo. We'll see.<br /><br />Houchin was 3:48 last summer in the B-final at Nationals, which was the third-fastest time of the meet, and he swam well in Mission Viejo. He ended up as fourth-fastest American in the world last year, behind Vanderkaay, Madwed, and LaTourette. Really, it's a toss-up behind Mellouli, but I picked the guys who have swum the best so far this year.<br /><br />200 free to Shapira Bar-Or because he swam great in Santa Clara: 1:49-mid and 49.4, while most of the Arizona guys were not too competitive, very beaten down. That got him second in both, behind Monk in the 200 (and ahead of Berens, Lochte, P. Murphy) and behind Adrian in the 100 (ahead of Oliviera and Walters).<br /><br />Agree about Soni. Morozov swam pretty well in a local meet a few weeks ago, 22.47 in the 50 (5th in the U.S.) and 50-something in the 100. Should probably have him second to Adrian, but...<br /><br />No clue with Hardy; she swam the 100 IM once at World Cup, but she didn't stick with it since she had other events to do. Probably the same reason as 200 breast (though, no, her backstroke isn't great).David Riederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00037990522293462619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129413601619768638.post-73141154904319778972010-07-08T13:14:41.740-04:002010-07-08T13:14:41.740-04:00Nice predictions. Only a couple of differences of ...Nice predictions. Only a couple of differences of opinion...<br /><br />I like Hidemasa Sano on the 200m Fly.<br /><br />What was the rationale for picking Charlie Houchin on the 400m Free and Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or on the 200m Free ahead of the likes of Basson, Klueh, Clary, Meichtry & Rogan?<br /><br />I think Meichtry will do well here. He's swimming in California and has European's coming up soon so should be in pretty good shape at this point.<br /><br />Also looking forward to see whether Rebecca Soni improves on her 2:21.4 200m Breast ahead of US Nationals and seeing Vladimir Morozov go at it LC.<br /><br />One final point - I can't quite figure out why Jessica Hardy doesn't try her hand at 200m IM at these Grand Prix's. She's down to swim the 200 Free so the distance can't be the reason. She is world class at 50 Breast and 50 Free. Her 50 Fly is close to world class. No idea about her backstroke but I would have thought it was average at the very least. Granted a 200 IM is not the sum of 4 x 50m sprints but its not like she is too shabby at the 100m versions of the events mentioned above either. Any insight/thoughts into why she doesn't attempt the 200 IM?Speed Endurancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14365062789141117207noreply@blogger.com