Session 1 - Our depth is ridiculous in this meet:

500 free - 8 girls under 5:00 with 7 making top 8 at 4:54 or faster; McLaine already at 4:45 in prelims...a couple of years ago that would have been the A cut.

200 IM - 1:58.1 for Wilkinson (beats Beck by 2 plus seconds); 5 in the top 8 plus 9th and 11th; nice swim for Dodds in there too at 2:00

50 free -- Only three ladies in the field under 23: Sommer 22.67, Wilkinson 22.80, Woods 22.97

Complete domination. It seems like not all that long ago the Ags could NEVER beat SMU had had to fight tooth and nail against LSU...It's nice to see how things have changed.

[This message has been edited by Look Out Below (edited 11/20/2009 3:55p).]

Was the Beck walking around with her ankle all taped up?

I think in hindsight this could've been a good meet for the guys, because the UNLV boys are actually pretty good.

SMU lost some big guns, but we are definitely head and heels above the competition at this meet.

No idea on Beck. I agree on the UNLV comment. They are ranked really lose to the Ags if memory serves correctly.

Thanks for the updates. Here in SA at South Zone TISCA. How are the finals turning out?

Kristen broke the school record in the 500 Free and picked up an A Cut. Julia beat Mary Beck in the IM by about 2 seconds. Other than that nothing too exciting. Beck seems to be wasting away at LSU, she's wasting her time there.

SMU's 4Medley pushed ours, which was surprising.

Finals at 6PM? Thinking of taking my son. See ya there!

Yessir. 6PM tonight, 4:30 tomorrow. Free admission.

That 500 free swim by Kristen Heiss is just plain SICK. The number of people that have ever gone that fast without the new suits you can count on two hands. That was one RIDICULOUS swim.

GREAT 200 free battle between Wilkinson and Heiss. A pair of 1:45's in Nov. is super-impressive. SO glad to see these two rocking it. February and March can't get here soon enough. I would have loved to have seen this race tonight. Wilkinson's 200 IM and 100 back were baller as well. To battle through all they went through and to come back as good and better speaks volumes to their work ethic and character.

Also, tonight Alia Atkinson's first ever in-season sub-one minute breaststroke. The freshmen, McClaine, Chernoff, Kontrimas, and Sweeney in particular are looking solid too.

We are pantsing SMU and LSU. If SMU and LSU were combined, we would still have the lead. LOVE IT.

The ladies were dominant tonight. Very impressed and it its always good to beat the hell outa LSU. Our depth is incredible.

Wonder what would've happened if Chernoff had swum the 100 backstroke. Could've been a good race. In the prelim, she and Mary Beck tied in the backstroke, and had the same splits!

Great, great stuff.

goblu - I don't understand your note abot Chernoff. She DID swim prelims of 100 back. She finished 22nd with a 59.02, way off the pace of Beck and Wilkinson.

http://www.uhcougars.com/livestats/w-swim/index.htm

[This message has been edited by SpicewoodAg (edited 11/22/2009 9:48a).]

Goblu,

Tried to look around and see if I saw anyone that looked like a Blue Wolverine. I was the guy with the blond haired ten year old future olympian sitting on botton row next to the glass.

Spice- They must've changed it. Originally, Kendra was listed as having tied with Mary Beck for first, with the exact same split. Should've known it sounded fishy...I just wanted to believe it was really really cool and they split the same times.

Beretta-I saw you ;-) I was sitting behind you and to the right. I'd tell you who I was, but I don't want to divulge my identity. Are you guys going tonight?

Not tonight I'm teeing off at 1PM. Too much beer on golf course to drive after

Cheer them on.

WOW! More great swimming.

Rita broke the school record in the 200 fly. She looks so effortless when she swims.

Alia got her A-cut in the 200 breast.

400 free relay swam a pretty good time with no real competition.

Kristen Heiss dominated Mary Beck in the 200 backstroke.

Julia didn't have an amazing time in her 100 free, (48.24 individual, 48.21 relay lead off) but still very good for this time of the season.

Mary Beck just doesn't seem like she's getting very good coaching or training at LSU. I bet that after this weekend she wishes she had gone to A&M. She's only a Sophmore though, so she may still have a few transfers left in her...

Beck = damaged goods

Not physically, although she got "large" last summer. I hear she had few options after leaving Cal.

Aggie matic, hadn't heard that, but I believe it since you've said it. Was it due to her mental state or the hyperthyroid?

Seems odd that she'd move to Austin to swim with Randy Reese and then end up anywhere but t.u. Definitely noticed the weight loss.

I mean, let's not pretend like she's not still a very, very good swimmer. But after breaking highschool national records, one would expect much more success than she's having.

Its not like she's the first female swimmer to peak at 17. Just saying.

I tend to agre with Aggiematic. I don't think Beck's issues are as much as physical as they are mental. You don't commit to one school, de-commit to go to another school then transfer to yet another school all in an 18-month stretch if all the sandwiches are in the picnic basket.

GREAT meet by the ladies this weekend. They won every freaking race. Can't ask for more than that. I remember when SMU was SO much better than us. Not any more (to say the least).

Blu - re: wilkinson, you're getting spoiled...48.21/24 is legit and right at what she was going at this point in the year as the year when she got second at NCAA's; keep in mind no suits too...she'll likely be top 5, if not higher, once all the invites are complete in the 100...she has as much talent as anyone in the country in that 100...I wouldn't bet against her for anything.

of course your wouldnt LOB. but let's not fool ourselves into thinking that the fs-pro is akin to a practice suit...

I admired Beck because she went toe to toe with Randy Reese - a complete *ick. But I hear she (and her mother) is difficult to please. She is still a fine swimmer, but it doesn't seem likely she will attain the promise she had as a high school junior.

I agree with LOB about the suit and Heiss' 500. An FS-Pro kneeskin is nothing like a LZR, B70, or Jaked full body.

I am impressed with Medrano. She continues to develop. Freshman Maclaine is also very impressive this early. Chernoff is getting steadily faster and I look forward to her times tapered.

I'm not saying the suits the women wore were as good as a lzr a b70 or a jaked full body. But based on the comments made you would think they swam with parachutes dragging behind. Having said that, let me say, for the record, the women's team is talented beyond belief. And lest someone accuse me, I am not rooting for the downfall of either team nor am I trying to start controversy.

[This message has been edited by outside smoke (edited 11/23/2009 9:22a).]

I think we can agree a 4:38 is damn fast now.

tu's fastest so far is 4:48 (Gingrich). Their invitational is coming up.

"Beretta-I saw you ;-) I was sitting behind you and to the right. I'd tell you who I was, but I don't want to divulge my identity. Are you guys going tonight?"

Why would you want to hide your identity? You know everything what do you have to worry?

quote:

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Why would you want to hide your identity?

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Coming from a Texags poster with the name "Anonymiss?"

why don't we all play nice and make a pact to reveal our identities at once? We can make a secret handshake and code word as well.

Anonymiss, go away. Can't we have even 1 thread about swimming without you bozos trying to start drama?

Moving on...

I know, I know. It wasn't like they weren't really good swims. You're right, I probably was spoiled by the A-cuts that people were hitting.

I don't remember if Alia was suited up in finals, but in prelims she really was wearing what amounted to a practice suit.

Is there a chance that Beck's Hypothyroidism (hyper?) is limiting her training? And how is she allowed to take the hormone pills without violating the substance rules?

I think her career as an elite swimmer is over. At least she's at LSU, where she probably would've gone had she not been an athlete, so good for her in that respect.

BTW, this year's fast suit is going to be the LZR Elite Pro. They're not out yet, but shipment is expected at the end of December. I believe they are only being produced in a very limited run, so expect to have to preorder them to get your hands on one. I know Lane 4 (Stores in Houston, Austin, also they ship) are taking preorders. I'm sure other ones are too. Just know that one is for a fact.

The freshmen really were impressive. There's a very good chance that all of the school records go down this year, even without the suits. What do you guys think are the odds of us filling up all 16 of our NCAA spots? Given the amazing depth we've shown, I think it's pretty good (last year I think only Cal did it.)

It's too bad Triin couldnt've found a reason to redshirt last year with Julia and Kristen. Add her to this squad, and they're a darkhorse candidate for national champions.

http://www.collegecoaches.org/pdf/Top%20100%20Female.pdf

Women's top 100 time rankings in every event as of November 7thish. Haven't been updated after this past weekend yet, but notice that the Ags seem to have gotten most of the top times, and it wasn't even close.

Just off a quick survey:
Rita beat Hersey's time in the 200 fly (is anyone going to get an A-cut in this even this year???)
Alia beat the top time in 2 breast by 5 seconds, just barely in 1 breast
Heiss beat the 500 top time by about 5 seconds

Obviously, a small rest week helps, but that's good stuff.

Alia did suit up for finals on each night. She swam lights out each time as well.

As for Beck taking medication, as long as you have a valid doctors record stating that you need your medication, be it ADD or asthma or hypothyroid meds, you can legally take them so long as they are reasonably dosed and not abused.

Had Triin used a redshirt last year, the team would be in a hurt financially and would not have been able to carry as large of a freshman class as it does.

[This message has been edited by outside smoke (edited 11/23/2009 1:37p).]

Goblu - I don't think the LZR will be a clearcut winner over everyone else.

I know Blue Seventy has told its fans that their 2010 suit is near ready - but is awaiting final FINA specs before they release them. I imagine every manufacturer is waiting on FINA now.

I just don't see how the new suits will be that different from each other - especially for men. All the suits have to be permeable fabric. No trapped air. Less coverage. Far less skin covered now so the differences should be small.

As for 200 fly - I saw Lily Moldenhauer (SA Churchill) swim a 1:57 this weekend in San Antonio. She crushed her own 2008 pool record (Josh Davis Natatorium). She swam 53.7 100 fly, 53.9 100 back, and a 1:57 200 back. Much like Cole Cragin she has incredible underwater speed and distance.

Go away? Is thread all about you? You can dish out the criticism but can't handle the retort. Just as always.

Spice...my name is obviously a pun on peoples anonymity. Read Bill Byrne's Wed Weekly about the internet and the anonymous basher syndrome.

I find it amusing the GoBlu always wants to run the show. Perhaps he/she/it should chill out or I guess just acting their age!

You've only made 19 posts on texags. And I'm pretty sure that at least 15 of them have been attacking other posters.

Why don't you try contributing something useful for a change?

oh I have other SN. This name was put up to challenge those who hide behind screennames and bash, which you have in the past no doubt, seem to be geting better. I just thought the hide your identity was funny. I am sure those in the program could careless who you are or what you have to say. But it still doesnt give reason in my mind to bash what you know obviouslt nothing of. Perhaps you have been an athlete somewhere somehow, but I guess you forgot what pride in a team means, and if you attack its reason or design, they will defend. You however, seem to feel noone can go after you? funny funny....keep me entertained please!

Anyone know how often they update those NCAA top times? I'm really excited to see what they look like after last weekend's invites.

Also, I'm surprised at how many errors there are in the list...Pretty weak quality control there.