Streamlined News

PHOENIX, Arizona, December 1. THE USA Swimming nationals began today in Atlanta. Camill Mufatt is the clear frontrunner for the women’s 400 freestyle posting a time of 410.03 this morning. It is a very different story for the men as the top 6 finishers clocked in at 3:52, all within tenths of each other with Yannick Agnel and Jean Basson tying for the top position with a time of 3:52.27. Elizabeth Pelton touched out a competitive field in the 200 IM posting a 2:12.41. On the men’s side, world record holder Ryan Lochte will be seated 8th in an outside lane going into the 200IM. Leading the way is Sebastian Rousseau at 2:00.57.

Swimming World is bringing you live coverage of each finals session on swimmingworld.com. And be sure to come back to us shortly after each finals session for “The Warm Down Show,” when we offer up analysis and commentary on each night’s races.

The USA Swimming nationals won’t be the only meet to watch this weekend. Starting today in Austin, Texas, is the Texas Invite, where many of the top college swimmers post fast times. The University of Arizona typically uses this meet to qualify most, if not all, of its swimmers for the NCAAs, but expect Texas to be strong as well.

Just a few miles west of Atlanta, the Georgia Bulldogs will host the Georgia Invite. Cal and Auburn will be the top teams there, sending both their men’s and women’s teams. Cal has been known to taper many athletes in December, so we could see some quick times from the Golden Bears. Also someone to watch for is Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace of Auburn, who was recently bumped off the top spot in the 100 free among college swimmers. So expect the reigning NCAA champion to make a statement in that event.

This weekend’s Southern Pacific Masters’ annual short course meters meet will be highlighted by Laura Val, who has already broken more than a dozen Masters world records this year, and Steve West, who qualified for the Olympic Trials this summer at age 39 in the 200 breaststroke. This meet typically has more than a dozen world records broken each year, so expect at least that many to fall over three days.

Australia will announce its swimmers of the year in a lavish ceremony on Saturday in Sydney. The Aussies certainly had a successful 2011, with 13 medals in the world championships, two of which were gold. James Magnussen was responsible for both of those gold medals, winning the 100 free and giving Australia a great leadoff leg in the winning 400 free relay. He should be a lock for male swimmer of the year. On the women’s side, Alicia Coutts left Shanghai with two silvers in individual events and three overall, the most of any female Aussie swimmer.

Finally, today, the swimming community is mourning the loss of Olympic champion Carl Robie, who died yesterday at age 66. Robie won a silver medal in the 200 fly in 1964, then returned in 1968 to win gold at age 23, which was considered past prime for most swimmers in that era. Robie went on to a successful career as a lawyer and raised two children in the sport, Mandy and C.J.

Thanks for watching us on Streamlined news. We’ll be back on Monday.

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