The Weekend in Review

By John Lohn

CRANBURY, New Jersey, February 26. ANOTHER weekend of quality swimming just wrapped up, and there was something for everyone. The national scene featured several impressive performances at the American Short Course Championships. Meanwhile, Stanford roared to a 26th consecutive Pac-10 Conference men’s title. As for the scholastic front, a handful of national records were established. Here’s a look at what went down during the past few days.

**Although not as quick as last year, when the meet attracted the majority of the country’s big names, the American Short Course Championships were far from disappointing. In particular, Ian Crocker was superb, winning the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle in near-American-record time. After taking the fly in 44.90, Crocker blistered a 41.68 in the 100 free. That outing fell just shy of Anthony Ervin’s American record. He also went 19.11 for the 50 free.

There’s no doubt that Crocker’s amazing underwater ability served him well in the short-course meet, but this is also a guy who can bring a lot to the table in the 100 free on the long-course spectrum. That much was proven at the 2004 Olympic Trials. Let’s hope Crocker continues to work the 100 free into his schedule, thus providing the U.S. with another option in the event on the international scene – individually and in relay duty.

**This weekend, Stanford followed Auburn and Texas by stamping itself as a title contender for the NCAA men’s crown. The Cardinal secured another Pac-10 Conference championship, riding wins from Ben Wildman-Tobriner in the 50 and 100 freestyles to the top slot. Look for BWT to challenge the 19-second barrier in the 50 free at the NCAA Champs.

With the likes of Paul Kornfeld in the breaststroke and Hongzhe Sun in the backstroke events, Stanford has the power and depth to push Auburn and Texas for the NCAA championship. Certainly, mid-March is shaping up to be sensational, with the outcome likely to be decided during the final minutes of the third evening.

**In Philadelphia, the 107th edition of the Eastern Interscholastic Championships was spectacular, with the Peddie School (N.J.) snaring both the male and female titles. The Peddie women, who finished ahead of Germantown Academy, set a pair of national-prep records in Friday night action. After clocking 1:43.38 in the 200 medley relay, coach Greg Wriede saw his 200 free relay produce a time of 1:33.76.

Amrywren Miller and Annie Fittin were members of both relays and also collected two individual crowns apiece. Miller won the 50 and 100 freestyles and Fittin doubled in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. Other highlights on the female side included Germantown Academy going 3:25.74 in the 400 freestyle relay. Meanwhile, Teresa Crippen won the 200 I.M. (2:01.55) and 500 freestyle (4:51.41) and Katie Riefenstahl prevailed in the 200 free (1:47.42).

On the men’s side, Peddie prevailed on the strength of its superior depth, though it did receive a win from its medley relay and from Josh Charnin-Aker in the 100 back. Germantown Academy, which placed second, had a superb meet. The Patriots, guided by the legendary Dick Shoulberg, took first in the 200 freestyle relay and received individual gold from Matt Cox (I.M.), Ryan Peart (50 free) and Reece Chandler (500 free). Delco Christian’s Evan Reed won the 100 and 200 freestyles in 45.52 and 1:39.66, respectively.

Outside of the competition, significant credit must go to the parents from Germantown Academy. Easterns has long been run by the parents of team members and this year’s meet, as always, went off without a hitch. There was also a dynamite atmosphere at La Salle University that added to the first-rate action. Hats off to meet directors Pete Crippen and Brian McMillin and their support staff.

**In other high school action, the Ohio State Champs witnessed a phenomenal showing from Austin Staab. The senior, who is bound for Stanford, tied the national-scholastic record of Nate Dusing in the 100 butterfly by clocking in at 47.10 on Friday night. For good measure, he added a 43.93 performance in the 100 freestyle on Saturday night.

**Due to open-lane racing at the Big 12 Champs and ACC Champs, it is possible that some relays that appeared to qualify for the NCAA Championships will have their qualifying efforts nullified. At some point at those meets, lanes were left open to create smoother water, a violation of a new rule that does not allow for lane-spacing.

What the NCAA plans do will likely be determined relatively quickly, but if relay qualifications happen to be voided, thus eliminating the advancement of some programs to the Big Show, the hammer should drop on meet officials. The referees at these competitions should have had a grasp of the rules and not allowed for the lane spacing. Had they known the protocol, this potential mess could have been avoided.

Other Weekend Headlines:
The Weekend in Review NCAA Division III Conference Championship Resource Center Alfred University Wins UNYSCSA Title New NCAA Rule Causes Havoc for Relay Selections at NCAA Championships SwimmingWorldMagazine.com Rewind: February 1997 Issue NCAA Division I Conference Championships Action Underway UC Irvine Men, UC Santa Barbara Women Take Home 2007 Big West Titles UW-Green Bay Women, Wright State Men Capture Horizon League Titles NCAA Division II Conference Championships Commence Wayne State Teams Capture Second Consecutive GLIAC Championship Stanford Captures 26th Straight Pac-10 Title Williams College Extends Lead at NESCAC Men’s Championships UMass Men, Richmond Women Crowned 2007 Atlantic 10 Champions UNLV Men, BYU Women Win Mountain West Titles Florida State Claims First ACC Championship Title North Dakota Men and Women Earn North Central Championship Titles Coast Guard Extends Lead Into Final Day of NEWMAC Championships Eastern Michigan Takes Home MAC Title Ohio State Men’s Swimming Set Team Record at Last Ditch Meet
West Chester Men and Women Looking to Sweep PSAC Titles Princeton Claims 19th EISL Title Auburn Swimmers Set Two Automatic Qualifying Marks At James E. Martin Qualifier SwimmingWorldMagazine.com Weekly Channel Recap: February 24, 2007 UC Irvine Men Set Three Records On Day Three Of Big West Championship Wayne State Still in First After Third Day of GLIAC Championships Stanford Cardinal Remain In First After Day Three of Pac 10 Championships UNLV Men, BYU Women Lead at Mountain West Championships After Day Three Eastern Michigan Keeps Lead Heading Into Third Day at MAC Championships Williams Men Take Lead at NESCAC Championships Coast Guard Men First After Day One of NEWMAC Championships Princeton Leads After Day Two of EISL Championships Wright State Men Hold Lead, UW-Green Bay Women Move to Front at Horizon League Championships Richmond and UMass Remain In Lead After Day Three of Atlantic 10 Championships North Dakota Continues Dominance at North Central Championships UBC Maintains Lead After Second Day of Canadian Interuniversity Championships Day Three of ACC Men’s Championships Ends in Thrilling Fashion Johns, UBC Dominate First Night of Canadian Interuniversity Sport Championships West Chester Takes Over Top Spots at PSAC Championships NCAA Releases Division III Women’s Psyche Sheet

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