Coaches, Swimmers Talk Race Strategy At CeraVe Invitational

Swimming World is producing the live webcast of the 2015 CeraVe Invitational. Click here to watch the live stream, view video interviews and watch races on-demand from previous sessions!

By Richard Kang, Swimming World intern

PISCATAWAY – At the 2015 CeraVe Invitational at Rutgers University, SwimmingWorld had the opportunity to listen in on the valuable insights coaches gave their swimmers after racing in the senior finals. After nearly screaming themselves hoarse screams of “C’mon!” and “Go!” that rang through the natatorium, the coaches turned it down a couple of decibels to give their athlete some crucial pointers before and after their races.

Dave Ferris, head coach of the Long Island Aquatics Club had this to say to 800 freestyle swimmer Connor Brown before his race:

“We want to make sure we’re forward. Hands low. Fast and forward, stay low.”

Before her 100 breaststroke race, which she would later win, Maggie Aroesty got this advice from Ferris:

“Get your hips up on the second half. The hand speed has to be faster.”

He also told Samantha Gallego before her 100 breaststroke that he wanted “shorter strokes,” and that the two-length race was “all about the turn.”

And this was Ferris’ advice to Dylan Vanmanen before his 100 breast:

“We can’t have a 1.5 (seconds per stroke rate) hand speed before the turn. We need 1.4 speed.”

Cougar Aquatic Team Coach Eric Harse was very vocal as he cheered on his athletes during their races but was one of the more laid-back coaches during the one-one-one conversations with his athletes.

“Just have fun and beat Rizzo,” Harse told Chris Balbo before the 200 IM, referring to teammate Anthony Rizzo.

Rizzo swam his 200 freestyle a bit differently than normal, correcting his bad posture and swimming with deeper pulls in each arm stroke.

“Not a better time, but it was a better swim,” Harse told Rizzo after the race. “I’d prefer that it look better because that will set you up for a better swim.”

Molly Kowal didn’t have a perfect race to place second in the 800 freestyle, but John Carroll, head coach of the Jersey Wahoos, was still pleased with what he saw:

“You did your job. I’ll tell you why. You kept it up, and your back half is a little bit off, but you’re in the four-second range.”

Judy Montalbano, also of Cougar Aquatic, gave Tim Barth a post-race report that every swimmer likes to hear … and every coach likes to tell:

“That two-second drop, that is a better swim. We’re in a good spot right now.”

Photo gallery: Coaches talk race strategy with athletes

John Collins CeraVe Invitational — Photo Courtesy: Heidi Torregroza

CeraVe Invitational — Photo Courtesy: Heidi Torregroza

Jim Wood CeraVe Invitational — Photo Courtesy: Heidi Torregroza

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