…FINA seems to have reaffirmed their decision to invite both the Kazakhstan and Brazilian men’s 400 medley relay to the 2012 Olympics. Despite the revelation (first caught by Alex Pussiledi) that FINA had overlooked the Brazilians’ medley relay from last year’s Pan Am Championships that swam a 3:34.58. They instead awarded a “tie” to Brazil, based on their 3:36.99 from last year’s World Championship prelims, identical to the mark done at a Kazakhstan’s National Championship meet this year. Since the relays were first revealed Tuesday morning, the following footnote has been added: “* Brazil and Kazakhstan had the same time for the 16th ranked team in Men’s 4×100 medley relay”. That seems to imply that FINA, even days after the error was pointed out, has either still missed it, or chosen not to make the fact. Brazil’s #10 ranking in the men’s 400 free relay also ignores their 3:34 at that same meet, which would have ranked them ahead of both Belgium and Great Britain…
…The CIF may not award a state-wide high school championship, the California Coaches Association does hand out statewide awards. Steve Yancey, coach of the Capo Valley High School boys team, was given the California Coach of the Year award. The Cougars have had an impressive run, where the boys have won three of the last four CIF-Southern Sectional Championships and 5-straight South Coast League titles…
…The World Triathlon Corporation, the owners of the Ironman series, has suspended superstar cyclist Lance Armstrong, after the US Anti-Doping Association (USADA) announced that it will be filing doping-charges against the record-setting 7-time Tour de France Champion. This decision, following long-standing WTC rules, would prevent him from competing at a planned Ironman event in France on June 24th, and possibly derail his hopes of competing at the World Ironman Championships in Hawaii in October. Ironically, Armstrong’s LiveStrong foundation recently launched a parternship with the Ironman triathlons. Since retiring from professional cycling, Armstrong has taken up both triathlons and competitive swimming. He is a USA Swimming registered swimmer, and swam a 5:08.11 in the 500 free at a meet in Austin in January. Until the USADA investigation is complete, this shouldn’t affect Armstrong’s status with USA Swimming, but a request for comment was not immediately returned…
Rogers is a legend. One of the best coaches ever in any sport at any level. All you have to do is look at the history of championships. The proof is in the pudding. See wiki for detail. I hope he writes a book so the rest of the world can learn from his success.
If you used NISCA and their top 10 All American rankings as a proxy for a California state championship, than Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose would have been the state champion and Larry Rogers should have been coach of the year. It’s not a perfect scoring system since swimmers can be placed in more events than they could in an actual meet (other AA times).
Bellarmine has won the CIF Central Coast Section for an state-record 28 times in a row. The competition is some of the strongest in the country.
1. Bellarmine-CCS 180.5
2. Campolindo-NCS 156.5
3. Capistrano Valley-SS 134.5 3.
4. Corona del Mar-SS 106
5. Loyola-SS 101
http://www.niscaonline.org/Portals/0/Zones/Zone7/11-12%20CA%20Top%2016%20Swim.pdf