Just days before official event lineups are due to FINA for the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, Scott Spann has been removed from USA Swimming’s original roster and replaced by recent Ohio State graduate Elliott Keefer in both swimmers’ signature event: the 200 breaststroke.
At last year’s USA Swimming National Championships, Keefer finished 3rd in the final in 2:12.68 (though he had the 2nd-best American time overall of the season at 2:12.09 from prelims of Nationals). Trojan Aquatics, and Spann’s former Longhorn Aquatics teammate, Eric Shanteau will headline the American 200 breaststroke group in Shanghai. Keefer first revealed the move in his personal blog last week.
Spann was 6th at the 2008 Olympics in this race, though no word has come out about the reason for the move. Spann is still active, and has recently done some swim clinics with 2000 Olympic Champion Misty Hyman. There is, however, no indication as to whether or not he’s been training, and Keefer characterized the switch as Spann withdrawing from the competition.
As the dominoes fall, Keefer (who was previously on the World University Games roster) moves up into Spann’s dropped spot, and Tucson Ford’s Clark Burckle takes Keefer’s spot in the 200 breaststroke.
USA Swimming has also begun to fill-in spots for the 50m races for the World Championships, though they still haven’t announced who will get the 2nd spot, if anybody, in the women’s 50 breaststroke between Jessica Hardy and Amanda Beard.
Mark Gangloff (breaststroke), David Plummer (backstroke) and Nick Thoman (backstroke) earned extra, 50m swims on the women’s side. Rebecca Soni (breaststroke) and Liz Pelton (backstroke) are the extra swims added on the women’s side.
For the latest roster from USA Swimming, click here.
Summary of Breaststrokers for this summer’s major meets:
World Championships:
Mark Gangloff (50, 100 breaststroke)
Mike Alexandrov (100 breaststroke)
Eric Shanteau (200 breaststroke)
Elliott Keefer (200 breaststroke)
World University Games:
Clark Burckle (100, 200 breaststroke)
Curtis Lovelace (100 breaststroke)
Adam Klein (200 breaststroke)
The 50s stroke on this list are not complete. Todd Schmitz confirmed on the Morning Swim Show that Missy Franklin is swimming the 50 back, and I definitely expect Alexandrov in the 50 breast. I think McGill and Cullen Jones will get the 50 fly spots, and Vollmer and Magnuson will swim the 50 fly.