Men In Position For NCAA Qualifying Via LCM Conversions

When the NCAA released its time standards for the 2016 Division I men’s and women’s NCAA Championship meet last August, the announcement noted how long course meter times would also be accepted as a qualifying course.  This was a change from the 2014/2015 NCAA season, whereby then only short course meter-converted times from the 2014 FINA Short Course World Championships were accepted.

You can review the parameters concerning long course meters to short course yards conversion here, within our original post of the Championship cuts, but, bottom line, the caveat comes into play during the college season of an Olympic year.

Earlier this week we took a look at the women’s side to determine if the ability to swim long course meters events has helped anyone in their quest for an NCAA Championships bid. For the women at least, the swimmers who are now in a position to qualify for NCAAs based on long course meters converted times probably would have qualified anyway in yards.And the men? The same result holds true so far this season.  Paul Powers (Michigan) and Simonas Bilis (NC State), for example, are the two men who sit well above last year’s “invite line” in the men’s 50 freestyle via LCM conversions with times of 19.37 and 19.45, respectively. Both men are virtually locks to have qualified for NCAA Championships without these LCM swims.The same can be said for 500 freestyler Matias Koski (Georgia), who clocked a 4:15.74 converted 500 freestyle time at Winter Nationals. The Bulldog senior should also easily arrive at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in March for NCAAs without needing to rely on LCM swims.One possible exception could be that of Alabama’s Christopher Reid, who currently sits with a 46.02 converted 100 backstroke. Last year, Reid’s swiftest SCY time headed into NCAA Championships was a 47.45, which he then lowered to 47.29 in Iowa City. His 46.02 converted time represents the first instance of Reid dipping beneath the 47-second threshold in his career, with is quickest true SCY time of this season being that of the 47.54 he scored at the GA Tech invite last November.Below is each men’s event with last year’s slowest time having been invited to the NCAA Championships. We’ve then listed those men who have achieved at least that time via a long course meters swim once converted to SCY, using the NCAA standard methodology.Note: All times are listed via their conversions below.Men’s 50m Free
Last Year’s Slowest Invited Time: 19.52

• Paul Powers, Michigan – 19.37 (Winter Nats)
• Simonas Bilis, NC State – 19.45 (PSS Austin)

Men’s 100m Free
Last Year’s Slowest Invited Time: 42.94

• N/A

Men’s 200 Free
Last Year’s Slowest Invited Time: 1:34.54

• N/A

Men’s 500 Free
Last Year’s Slowest Invited Time: 4:17.15

• Matias Koski, Georgia – 4:15.74 (Winter Nats)

Men’s 100 Back
Last Year’s Slowest Invited Time: 46.46

• Grigory Tarasevich, Louisville – 45.46 (Winter Nats)
• Matt Traub, Boston U – 45.95 (Colgate vs. Boston U)
• Christopher Reid, Alabama – 46.02 (Winter Nats)

Men’s 200 Back
Last Year’s Slowest Invited Time: 1:41.95

• N/A

Men’s 100 Breast
Last Year’s Slowest Invited Time: 52.97

• Carlos Claverie, Louisville – 52.84 (PSS Minneapolis)

Men’s 200 Breast
Last Year’s Slowest Invited Time: 1:55.04

• Carlos Claverie, Louisville – 1:53.58 (PSS Minneapolis)

Men’s 100 Fly
Last Year’s Slowest Invited Time: 46.37

• Luis Martinez, Auburn – 45.96  (Winter Nats)

Men’s 200 Fly
Last Year’s Slowest Invited Time: 1:43.74

• N/A

Men’s 200 IM
Last Year’s Slowest Invited Time: 1:44.58

• Uvis Kalnins, Missouri St. – 1:44.52 (Winter Nats)

Men’s 400 IM
Last Year’s Slowest Invited Time: 3:45.34

• N/A