US TRIALS DAY 1 PRIMER

Time for some new content, as sure as I am that you have been riveted by Justin Bethel's kick ass box jump skills, let's look at the immensely exciting US Olympic Trials.

DAY 1 EVENTS
M 400IM
W 100FL
M 400FR
W 400IM
M 100BR

Men's 400IM:  Phelps vs. Lochte Round 1
Here we go... Lochte's best time of 4:07.13 and recent brilliance in the IM events on the world stage versus the greatest of all time Phelps who still holds the 400IM world record of 4:03.84.  As long as Phelps doesn't scratch then I'm going to take Phelps until Lochte proves he's actually the MAN.  Left out in the cold is the 3rd best 400IMer on the planet and the unluckiest swimmer of all time, Tyler Clary.

Women's 100FL: California Girls
Dana Vollmer and Natalie Coughlin are the likely stars in this event with Christine Magnuson not to be overlooked in the fly mix.  Vollmer is the lady to beat.

Fun note...  The head coach of powerhouse SwimMAC in North Carolina is David Marsh.  Marsh's 14 year old daughter is entered in the 100FL... ranked 161 out of 167.

Men's 400FR: Peter Vanderkaay & ...........
Peter Vanderkaay is the overwhelming favourite to win the 400FR and unless something totally crazy happens Vanderkaay has one of the spots to London virtually locked up.  After Vanderkaay?  Who knows...  McLean, Houchin, La Tourette, Dwyer, Klueh... even maybe Trayler or Clary?  Whoever has prepared best is going to earn this spot, in the 400FR with 14 men between 3:47-3:52.00... to the hardest work will go the spoils.


Women's 400IM: Three Ladies, Two Spots
Elizabeth Beisel, Caitlin Leverenz, Katie Hoff...  put all 3 names in a hat, drawn out in random and you will likely be more correct then I am at choosing the order of finish.  Leverenz has swam very well all year through the NCAA season, so I'll take Leverenz, then Beisel, and Hoff with a hope that Teresa Crippen is ready to have a brilliant swim and work her way into the mix.  Also beware of rising star Becca Mann from Florida, 14 years old, already at 4:42... a name to know 4 years from now.

UPDATE:  Katie Hoff scratches the 400IM, obviously focusing on freestyle events moving forward.

Fun note... LSU head football coach Les Miles has a daughter Kathryn 'Smacker' Miles entered in the 400IM.  She's ranked 132 out of 136 but it's still cool...

Men's 100BR: The Comeback Is Complete
The top 2 seeds in the men's 100BR are both 30 years old.  This is a grown man's event at this point in time.  Brendan Hansen came out of a short retirement to make a run at the 2012 Olympic team and he's going to be right in the mix.  Mark Gangloff, Mike Alexandrov, and Eric Shanteau are also in the mix.  Watch out for the story of Marcus Titus, ranked 6th going into the meet, with a best time under 1:01, Titus will be a focus story for the fact that he's a deaf swimmer with a wealth of talent and it would be quite a story should he work his way onto the Olympic team.

Fun note... Legendary breaststroke talent Ed Moses will compete in the 100BR.  Moses has put together a nice comeback heading into the 2012 Trials.  He's a LLLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGG shot to make the team, which is being deferential to Moses' chances but it's still fun to note.  At 32 Moses will not be the oldest swimmer in the field, that honour would belong to 40 year old Steven West who is entered at 1:04.68... that's simply impressive and it makes West the oldest swimmer to ever qualify for the US Olympic Trials.  Allegedly West trains three times a week for an hour and will also swim the 200BR.  Crazy.