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INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, July 11. NASHVILLE's Jackson Wilcox earned the men's 1500 free top spot on the World Championships roster for the U.S.
Wilcox finished the marathon swim in 15:11.98 for the victory. The performance beat his personal best of 15:13.72 set during prelims yesterday.
"I finally did what I had to do to break away the final 200," Wilcox said. "I just tried to stay with Joe [Kinderwater] and some of the other guys until the last 200. I just had to put my head down and finish."
North Baltimore's Brennan Morris should join Wilcox in Rome after a second-place time of 15:13.47. That swim cleared his previous best of 15:17.39. However, Morris' spot on the team was in question as his time missed the FINA A cut of 15:13.16. Standard rules for qualifying for international events usually require two swimmers to clear the A cut for a country to send two participants in a particular event. USA Swimming, however, told Swimming World that this year's qualification for Worlds does not require specific time cuts.
Delaware's Andrew Gemmell placed third in 15:15.62, but is already headed to Rome as part of the open water squad. Kinderwater, of WSY Swimming, faded to fourth in 15:17.35.
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July 11, 2009 This just shows how bad the US needs PVK to swim the mile, Latorrette here and Jensen back. Also, losing Vendt hurts as well. Submitted by: WUswimmer
July 11, 2009 How can the US enter two people in the 1500 at Worlds if Brennan Morris' time failed to beat the FINA A standard of 15:13.16? Submitted by: dcswimguy
July 11, 2009 Good question. Let me check into that, DCswimguy. Submitted by: Jason Marsteller
July 12, 2009 I think they need to allow the WUGS swimmers times to be considered. They are at a meet representing their country so skipping to go to WCT's shouldnt be a choice they have to make an option..LaTourette is 20 seconds faster then one of the kids that made the team.and faster then the WCT 2nd place 400 swimmer.
BTW, it seemed like a few of the NCAA top finishers were MIA at this meet.Where were McClean and Spansail Submitted by: senko
July 12, 2009 senko, as I understand it, everyone who went to WUGs did so full well knowing that it meant they would not be eligible for selection to the World Championship team.
USA Swimming seems to like to maximize the number of people who get exposure to international competition (Worlds, Pan Am Games, WUGs team are completely separate even if there's no overlap in the championship dates).
It is unfortunate the LaTourette isn't going to Rome, but he made that decision and it is what it is. Submitted by: dcswimguy
July 12, 2009 Margalis chose the wrong meet to swim the 200 breast and 200 back. He could have made this team if he had swum the 1500. It's a shame, as he has been a near miss on so many teams in the past. Submitted by: halfbreed
July 13, 2009 Is this the first time the US have had trouble making the A cut times in the 1500?? No disrespect to the winners at trials but really these times at not really competitive at the elite level. After all they wouldn't have made the team for Montreal '76 would they? At least Brian Goodell and Bobby Hackett were way faster than this over 30 years ago in the olympics. Considering the greater opportunity for improvement in this event it is certainly rather a surprise. Faster pools, better training techniques etc but times still not really progressing as much as they should. Submitted by: scotswim
July 13, 2009 Yes, the times were slow, but give these guys a break, they are out there busting it trying to get better. If you took the time to look at results, half of the guys are still in HS with only one older than 20. Goodell and Hackett were otherwordly, you can't compare everyone to them. That would be like expecting another Phelps. Everyone in that final heat did a best time either in prelims or finals. If that continues through the next 3 years, We'll be more than alright in London. Submitted by: swimfan007
July 13, 2009 Swimfan, you make some good points but I don't think scotswim means any disrepect to the current finalists, particularly the younger ones. But being in a position where the US top two can't even make the A final is very unusual. Yet it is part of a larger pattern of lack of depth in the distance events in general. With Katie and Kate not up to par, both the women's 400 and 800 are also relatively weak right now, and other than PVDK, (whose slower time is likely attributable in part to recent illness) even the men's 400 is relatively weak right now. And relatively speaking, they were weak events at the Olympics for us last year as well.
If you compare this pattern with the overall times for other events, it's clear our depth is thin. Perhaps there needs to be some centers of excellence for developing distance swimmers similar to Mission Viejo's emphasis, but maybe with a Gary Hall Sprint Club format to make it more fun and appealing. The training is harder than the shorter events and there is no chance to parlay into potential relay spots, so there needs to be more motivation for both coaches and swimmers to focus on them. The Ozzies have had a strong tradition in the 1500 because that's considered the glamour event there, as the sprints are here. Submitted by: liquidassets
July 14, 2009 Hi Guy,
I certainly don't mean any disrespect. Anyone swimming a 1500m in the times of the trials finalists are still pretty amazing.
However as you mention there is definitely a lack of depth in these events at this time. Submitted by: scotswim
July 18, 2009 I think it is the opposite. 5-10 were just as fast as trials last year, and faster than any other meet, ever! It's just top end speed that is missing. Submitted by: swimfan007
Reaction Time responses do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions
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