World Cup Stop in New York Ready to Roll

EAST MEADOW, New York, February 3. THE FINA World Cup kicks off in New York this morning and the field for the only series stop in America is stacked. More than 50 Olympians are scheduled to compete. Here’s a quick glance at some of the storylines that could emerge from the races at the Nassau County Aquatic Center, which was the site of the 2004 NCAA Championships.

**No man has ever cracked the four-minute mark in the short-course version of the 400-meter individual medley. But, if anyone is going to do it, Michael Phelps is the obvious choice. The eight-time Olympic medalist is scheduled to contest the 400 I.M. and could give three-and-change a go.

**The men’s freestyle sprints are shaping up to be dynamite. In the 50 free, France’s Fred Bousquet returns to the scene of his world-record swim from the 2004 NCAA Champs. Meanwhile, Italy’s Filippo Magnini, the reigning world champ in the 100 free, will clash with South Africa’s Roland Schoeman in that event. Schoeman claimed silver in the 100 free at the World Championships but took gold in the 50 free.

**One year after breaking the American record in the 800 freestyle at the World Cup in New York, Kate Ziegler will give it another shot. Last week, Ziegler posted a pair of victories at the National Catholic Championships, taking the 200 and 500 freestyles in high school competition. This weekend, it’s time to battle with the Big Girls.

**The world-record holder in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes and the reigning world champ in both events, Brendan Hansen will be the class of the men’s breaststroke field. It will be interesting to see how Hansen compares to the times that won him gold at the NCAA Champs two years ago, when he was racing for the University of Texas. It will also be interesting to see how Ed Moses performs in his first major meet in some time.

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