National championships get under way at Stanford next week
National championships get under way at Stanford next week
by Palo Alto Online Sports/Bank of the West Classic.com | Palo Alto Weekly Staff
While the top swimmers in the world are competing this week at the FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China, the fields nonetheless will be filled with talent when the 2011 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships get under way Tuesday at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center.
Top swimmers from around the nation, including nine U.S. Olympians, are expected to compete during the meet, which concludes Aug. 6. Prelims begin at 9 a.m. each day with finals beginning at 6 p.m. National champions will be named each and every night.
Olympic gold medalists Jason Lezak, Ryan Lochte and Peter Vanderkaay lead a field of U.S. National Team members that includes Ariana Kukors, Katie Hoff, Dagny Knutson, Missy Franklin and others. Hoff is the defending champion in the women's 400 free.
Lochte, Vandeerkaay, Kukors and Franklin are currently in Shanghai. Lochte won the gold medal in the 200-meter free on Tuesday, beating longtime rival Michael Phelps. Lochte won the 200 back, 200 IM and 400 IM at last year's national meet in Irvine.
In addition to the top national swimmers, the local area will be well-represented by the Stanford men's and women's teams along with athletes from Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics (PASA). Stanford Olympians Julia Smit and Elaine Breeden are expected to compete in their specialties while current Cardinal competitors like Maya DiRado, Andi Taylor and Sam Woodward hope to improve upon last year's finishes.
Along with selecting the year's USA Swimming national champions, the event will serve as the selection meet for the 2011 Pan American Games, set for October 15-22 in Guadalajara, Mexico, and the 2011 FINA World Junior Championships, set for August 16-21 in Lima, Peru.
Following the senior national meet, the Junior Nationals will take over Avery Aquatic Center from Aug. 8-12.
Universal Sports will carry the competition live on Aug. 2-3, beginning at 6 p.m. (PT). The event will be packaged and broadcast on NBC on Aug. 6, from 1-3 p.m. and Aug. 7 from 2-3 p.m., with re-airs each night on Universal Sports, beginning at 5 p.m. (PT). All sessions also will be webcast live on www.usaswimming.org/nationals.
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