USA Swimming Announces Changes to National Junior Team Selection Process

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, May 18. A number of changes have been made to the operational plan for the USA Swimming National Junior Team. The changes are as follows:

The program, formerly known as the National Youth Team, will now be called the National Junior Team to fall in line with the naming standards recently instituted by FINA and other countries.

The selection process for the National Junior Team has changed. The top six times swum in Olympic Events at the 2011 ConocoPhillips National Championships by males and females aged 18 and under at the start date of the qualifying competition will be selected for the 2011-2012 National Junior Team. The 2011 ConocoPhillips National Championships is the only qualifying competition for the 2011-2012 National Junior Team. Relay lead offs and time trials will not be included. Times from Prelims and Finals (A, B and C) only will be used. Athletes who have attended a higher level competition as part of a USA Swimming National Team (Olympic Games, Long Course and Short Course World Championships, Japan Grand Prix, World University Games, Pan American Games [not including 2011] and Pac Pacs) are not eligible.

Those who are selected for the National Junior Team at this summer's Nationals and satisfy the age requirement set forth by FINA qualify to compete in the FINA World Junior Championships, Aug. 13-21 in Lima, Peru. (The complete qualifying criteria for the FINA World Junior Championships can be viewed here). Athletes starting University in Fall 2011 are eligible to make the FINA World Junior Championship Team.

The top three finishers at the 2011 USA Swimming Open Water 10K National Championships, held June 10 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will be considered for the National Junior Team.

The top three place finishers at the 2011 USA Swimming Open Water 10K National Championships held June 10, 2011 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., by males and females under the age of 18 at the start date of the qualifying competition will be named to the Open Water National Junior Team, provided that they finish within 15 minutes of the first-place overall finisher. Athletes entering university in Fall 2011 are eligible to make the Junior Team.

Other opportunities will be announced.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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