American Women Discuss Chaotic Scene Before 400 Freestyle Relay (SW Radio)

abbey weitzeil
Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

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The women’s 400 freestyle relay prelims at the FINA world championships featured lots of confusion for the United States team in the call room, but they rallied to post the fastest time and get lane four in the final.

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After the swim, three of the ladies stopped to talk about the strange turn of events that had them nervous about missing their swim, then trying to calm their nerves for their actual race. According to Shannon Vreeland, Abbey Weitzel and Margo Geer, the relay (which included Lia Neal) believed they were in the second heat in lane nine. But the monitors in the call room showed that the United States was lining up in lane five of heat one.

“Margo just takes off running (to get to the blocks for the first heat), and I said ‘Guys, they’re not going to start without us,'” Vreeland said.

Being in lane nine was an unusual place for an American relay in the heats of a major international competition. Officials told Swimming World that FINA used a “lottery” system for seeding the women’s and men’s 400 freestyle relays at the meet, the first time this has happened at the long course championships.
It was a unique way for Geer and Weitzeil to make their world championship debuts, and both said the confusing situation behind the scenes added to their jitters.

“I was definitely shaking before the race,” Geer said.

“I was very nervous, especially with the mix-up,” Weitzeil said. “It threw me off a little bit, … but it was fun.”

The bright side of being in an outside lane was having rival Australia in lane eight. Both teams were using athletes that will not be swimming in tonight’s final, but Vreeland said the Australians were still the ones to beat in prelims.

“That made it a lot better,” she said.

All four of the American women were not only racing the Australians, but swimming fast to get one of two open spots on the relay for finals. With Simone Manuel and Missy Franklin expected to participate tonight, all four had the thought of swimming in finals in the back of their minds. For Vreeland, it was not the major driving force in the prelim relay.

“For the most part, that’s not something you think about while you’re racing,” she said. “It’s kind of like if you aim for a time in a race, you’re probably not going to go that time. Whoever’s on the relay tonight … is going to do a great job.”

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Mariana Gabriela Adria

Fijate el agarre y la mano p entrar al agua

Nicki Jackson
8 years ago

Lottery system, sounds intriguing Connie, lets not introduce that here….

Kelly Dunbar Kelly
8 years ago
Reply to  Nicki Jackson

Go Hong Kong!

Nicki Jackson
8 years ago
Reply to  Nicki Jackson

Marshalling decided to have a bit of fun, didn’t tell the recorders!

Niles Keeran
8 years ago

Having the fastest qualifiers in the prelims does not always guarantee they will PRODUCE in the finals. Two of the four went SLOWER in the finals when another two who did not swim could have PRODUCED! A novice swimmer on a relay causes confusion for the lack of experience. Put the experienced producers on the relay, not rookies….

James Hooper
8 years ago

“Chaotic Scene”? Easy…

Michael Perkins
8 years ago

Aussies where to good….,

Tammy Lee
8 years ago

Leave it to the women to get the job done! Do it one more time in the finals, girls!!

Connie Jackson
8 years ago

Nicki Jackson

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