Jack Bauerle, Braden Holloway Reflect On 800 Free Relay Reschedule

By Michael J. Stott

Day one of the 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Championships is over, and so is the 800 free relay. Admittedly it’s early, but it is also fair to ask coaches what the event’s switch from the end of competition of Day Two to beginning of Day One meant for swimmers and coaches.

Swimming World polled Jack Bauerle, whose national champion women won the 800 free relay and men’s top men’s seed coach Braden Holloway of NC State. Bauerle’s Bulldog quartet of Hali Flickinger, Kylie Stewart, Meaghan Raab and Brittany MacLean blazed their way to a pool record 6:51.80 last Wednesday night. Tonight, the Wolfpack’s foursome of Simonas Bilis, Ryan Held, Justin Ress and Soeren Dahl clocked a blistering 6:09.58 to notch second place behind Texas’ NCAA, US Open record of 6:08.03.

Bauerle’s take was that the time switch “did not affect the placement of any swimmers that we were going to use no matter when it was swum.”

Holloway agreed suggesting that where before a coach might hold a swimmer out of an event for the relay he would now be inclined to use them.

“I don’t think it really changes the thinking of how best to use them,” Holloway said.

The switch clearly affected Saturday swims says Bauerle “allowing swimmers to be a bit fresher.”

Also, Bauerle said “the biggest effect was how fast the many relays were, at least nine teams under seven minutes” he recalled, when everybody had fresh bodies.

“Faster and way deeper,” said Holloway ”especially the relays with the top 200 freestylers on it.”

The jury is still out in terms of how swimmers felt about the change said Bauerle, noting that his athletes accepted it as the current rules of engagement. He did believe, however, it was not good for the athletes who had to swim six times the next day as it made for seven swims in the span of 26 hours.

A good change? Bauerle has mixed emotions.

“Part of me likes that you can get a good performance on that relay; part of me likes the fact that it is a gut check on Friday night. It is not for the faint of heart,” Bauerle said. “You have to be in great condition and it is a tough relay particularly after so many have swum three 200 frees that day. I do get a little bit worried as we try to make this a little bit easier on the athlete. I don’t think it makes us as tough in the long run and I think sometimes that might have an effect on how we do internationally. College swimming is hard for the athlete and particularly the one that works hard and is also very successful. Last weekend, we had some swimmers with 13 and 14 swims.”

Holloway applauds the switch for three reasons.

“As a timed final, it makes sense to move it up. Guys are more fresh and may make it a more quality event. Also it makes finals on Friday night a tad shorter – although I believe they should move the 200 medley to the first event on Friday,” Holloway said.

On to Day Two.

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