American Short Course Champs Expected to Sizzle -- February 11, 2006
AUSTIN, Texas, February 11. USUALLY, the American Short Course Championships is a precursor to the NCAA Championships and a chance for some premier names to get in the mix against solid competition. This year, the meet is expected to be lightning quick, thanks to the way the calendar is lined up. With the U.S. Trials for the Pan Pacific Champs and 2007 World Championships scheduled for the summer, that left the spring short of a major competition.
Consequently, several major stars will shave and taper for the American Short Course Champs, slated for Austin, Texas from March 2-4. Included in that bunch will be Michael Phelps and the Texas Trio of Brendan Hansen, Ian Crocker and Aaron Peirsol. With those athletes expected to be in prime condition for the weekend, look for a number of records to experience the eraser.
Here are some possibilities:
**With Phelps, it's still too early to determine what schedule he'll follow, but if he goes after the 200 freestyle and 200 I.M., the times posted will be mind-boggling. It's not out of the realm of possibility to suggest that Phelps could navigate the 200 I.M. in under 1:40.
**Already the American record-holder in the 200-yard breaststroke, Hansen is likely to lower his standard in that event (1:52.62) and is chasing the American record in the 100 breast, the 51.86 of Jeremy Linn from 1997.
**As for Peirsol, he might make a run at Neil Walker's 1997 American record in the 100 backstroke of 44.92 and will also challenge Ryan Lochte's 200 back standard of 1:38.29. For Crocker, he's likely to obliterate his 100 fly American mark of 44.72 and is also staring at some impressive sprint-freestyle times.
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Photo By: © Peter H. Bick
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