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A&M pool length could affect records
12:45 AM CDT on Thursday, May 22, 2008
By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
In swimming, centimeters matter.
In this case, they could prevent some swimmers from records and Olympic and Olympic Trials dreams. And they're causing Texas A&M embarrassment.
The university hosted a Texas Senior Circuit meet at its Student Recreation Center Natatorium last Friday through Sunday, completing five of six sessions before meet organizers determined bulkheads in the pool were incorrectly placed and the course was three centimeters too short – measuring 49.97 meters instead of 50.
USA Swimming said Wednesday its Rule Committee will review whether times from the meet – including those fast enough to qualify swimmers for the Olympic Trials in June and July in Omaha, Neb. – will count.
A&M is hosting the men's and women's NCAA national championships in March 2009. It previously hosted national NCAA meets in 2001 and 2004 and the FINA World Cup in 1998.
"We feel awful," said A&M women's swim coach Steve Bultman. "We're embarrassed it happened at our pool. We have a world-class facility; we run a great meet."
Bultman said "a handful" of swimmers who qualified for the Trials for the first time were affected. Others improved their Trials times or qualified for elite junior events. Bultman said about 350 swimmers participated in the meet.
Aggies swimmer Christine Marshall swam an Olympic Trials cut in the 400-meter freestyle. At least she might have recourse.
Alia Akinson, an A&M swimmer and Jamaica native, would have qualified for her country's Olympics team in the 100-meter breaststroke. Alejandro Jacobo, a male A&M swimmer, swam a time in the 200-meter breaststroke that would have given him a good chance to qualify for the Mexican team.
The international swimmers may have no recourse through FINA, the sport's governing body, Bultman said.
The problem was discovered Saturday after a masters world record was broken. American and world records must be confirmed.
Bultman, with A&M since 1999, said this hasn't happened before. The A&M swimming program rents the pool from the rec department, which sets up for the meet.
While courses are confirmed before major meets – such as the NCAA championships – it's not always standard to measure first.
But that will change at A&M and it could be a wakeup call for other facilities, Bultman said.
Bulkheads, made of fiberglass, are moveable, but have designated spots to be anchored, allowing pools to set lanes to varying distances. Bultman said the guess is that the lane ropes were tightened and shifted the bulkheads.
Swimmers have remaining chances to set qualifying times, including the next Texas Senior Circuit meet June 5-8 in Austin.
12:45 AM CDT on Thursday, May 22, 2008
By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]
In swimming, centimeters matter.
In this case, they could prevent some swimmers from records and Olympic and Olympic Trials dreams. And they're causing Texas A&M embarrassment.
The university hosted a Texas Senior Circuit meet at its Student Recreation Center Natatorium last Friday through Sunday, completing five of six sessions before meet organizers determined bulkheads in the pool were incorrectly placed and the course was three centimeters too short – measuring 49.97 meters instead of 50.
USA Swimming said Wednesday its Rule Committee will review whether times from the meet – including those fast enough to qualify swimmers for the Olympic Trials in June and July in Omaha, Neb. – will count.
A&M is hosting the men's and women's NCAA national championships in March 2009. It previously hosted national NCAA meets in 2001 and 2004 and the FINA World Cup in 1998.
"We feel awful," said A&M women's swim coach Steve Bultman. "We're embarrassed it happened at our pool. We have a world-class facility; we run a great meet."
Bultman said "a handful" of swimmers who qualified for the Trials for the first time were affected. Others improved their Trials times or qualified for elite junior events. Bultman said about 350 swimmers participated in the meet.
Aggies swimmer Christine Marshall swam an Olympic Trials cut in the 400-meter freestyle. At least she might have recourse.
Alia Akinson, an A&M swimmer and Jamaica native, would have qualified for her country's Olympics team in the 100-meter breaststroke. Alejandro Jacobo, a male A&M swimmer, swam a time in the 200-meter breaststroke that would have given him a good chance to qualify for the Mexican team.
The international swimmers may have no recourse through FINA, the sport's governing body, Bultman said.
The problem was discovered Saturday after a masters world record was broken. American and world records must be confirmed.
Bultman, with A&M since 1999, said this hasn't happened before. The A&M swimming program rents the pool from the rec department, which sets up for the meet.
While courses are confirmed before major meets – such as the NCAA championships – it's not always standard to measure first.
But that will change at A&M and it could be a wakeup call for other facilities, Bultman said.
Bulkheads, made of fiberglass, are moveable, but have designated spots to be anchored, allowing pools to set lanes to varying distances. Bultman said the guess is that the lane ropes were tightened and shifted the bulkheads.
Swimmers have remaining chances to set qualifying times, including the next Texas Senior Circuit meet June 5-8 in Austin.