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The 2010 National Championships Preview
The 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships, held August 3-7 in Irvine, California, will be the most exciting swim meet of the year. Every superstar in American swimming will attend: Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin, Ryan Lochte, Aaron Peirsol, Rebecca Soni – just to name a few. After months of grueling and vigorous training, swimmers will taper, painstakingly prepare every fine detail, and put everything they have into one week of intense and thrilling swim competition. The swim meet will be covered extensively by Swimnetwork.com, with exclusive interviews, blogs, prediction articles, swimming race coverage and behind-the-scenes commentary.
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Pan Pacific Roster
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2010 Pan Pacific Championships Team Roster
Women
Allison Schmitt
- 200m free, 400m free
Amanda Beard - 200m breast
Amanda Weir - 50m free
Annie Chandler - 100m breast
Ariana Kukors - 200m IM, 400m IM
Caitlin Leverenz - 200m IM, 400m IM
Chloe Sutton - 10K, 800m free
Christine Jennings - 10K
Christine Magnuson - 100m fly
Dana Vollmer - 100m free, 200m free, 100 fly
Elizabeth Beisel - 200m back
Elizabeth Pelton - 100m back
Emily Brunemann - 10K
Eva Fabian - 10K
Hayley Anderson - 800m free
Jessica Hardy - 100m free
Kara Lynn Joyce - 50m free
Kate Ziegler - 800m free
Kathleen Hersey - 200m fly
Katie Hoff - 400m free
Katy Freeman - 200m breast
Madison Kennedy - 50m free
Mary Mohler - 200m fly
Missy Franklin - 100m back, 200m back
Morgan Scroggy - 800m free relay
Natalie Coughlin - 100m back
Rachel Bootsma - 100m back
Rebecca Soni - 100m breast, 200m breast
Teresa Crippen - 200m fly
Men
Aaron Peirsol - 100m back, 200m back
Alex Meyer - 10K
Andrew Gemmell - 10K
Arthur Frayler - 1500m free
Chad La Tourette - 1500m free
Charlie Houchin - 400m free
Chip Peterson - 10K
Cullen Jones - 50m free
David Plummer - 100m back
Elliott Keefer - 200m breast
Eric Shanteau - 100m breast, 200m breast
Fran Crippen - 10K
Garrett Weber-Gale - 50m free, 400m free relay
Jason Lezak - 400m free relay
Mark Dylla - 200m fly
Mark Gangloff - 100m breast
Michael Klueh - 400m free
Michael Phelps - 200m free, 100m fly, 200m fly
Mike Alexandrov - 100m breast
Nathan Adrian - 50m free, 100m free
Nick Thoman - 100m back
Peter Vanderkaay - 400m free, 1500m free
Ricky Berens - 800m free relay
Robert Margalis - 400m IM
Ryan Lochte - 400m IM, 100m free, 200m free, 200m back
Scott Spann - 200m breast
Sean Ryan - 1500m free
Timothy Phillips - 100m fly
Tyler Clary - 400m IM, 200m back
Tyler McGill - 100m fly
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The final day of the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships was Saturday. During prelims Mike Gustafson looked at some of the big names, like Grevers and Hardy, who have not made the Pan Pacific Championship team. Ryan Lochte puts up another big night to close out the meet, but perhaps the surprise of the competition was Amanda Beard.
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Day four at the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships saw a surprising Jason Lezak qualify first in the 100m freestyle. Will the 34-year-old veteran have success during Finals? Mike Gustafson discusses the Lezak Phenomenon. Plus Swimnetwork's Bob Schaller talks about some of the early storylines from Irvine. The biggest highlight of the night was the fantastic swim and big upset by Ryan Lochte, who beat Michael Phelps in the 200m IM. Read the full recap here.
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Day three at Nationals was another day of packed competition. Casey Barrett points out that the times are slow at this year's meet - slower than expected even without the suits. Meanwhile Mike Gustafson discusses Josh Schneider's big opportunity. Josh was DQ'd, but protested and was allowed to swim. Nathan Adrian is your 2010 50m freestyle champion, but Josh's status is still up in the air. Meanwhile Michael Phelps won his 50th national title, proving that he is, truly, The Greatest. And Rebecca Soni turned in a great time, too.
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Day two at the 2010 National Championships was full of big races and big stars. Mike Gustafson took a look at the first races for Coughlin and Phelps. But the surprise of the night was David Plummer, who slayed three big Goliaths to take the 100m backstroke national title. Catch up on all of the action here, and remember to stay tuned on Swimnetwork.
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Night one concluded at the 2010 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships on Tuesday. Ryan Lochte and Christine Magnuson turned in top times, while Mike Alexandrov and Katie Hoff also picked up big wins. Swimnetwork's Mike Gustafson discusses Magnuson's secret weapon while Lochte's secret is his bright green shoes. The action continues Wednesday at 9am PT.
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Swimnetwork's Mike Gustafson will be covering the 2010 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships from Irvine. Read about the five questions he wants answered.
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2010 National Championship Psych Sheet
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This year’s National Championships are important on three levels levels. First, it is the most prestigious long-course swim meet of the year. It is the midpoint between Olympics; athletes will use this meet as a gauge for the next two years leading up to the 2012 Olympic Trials. Second, it is the selection meet for the Pan Pacific Championships. “Making a team” is a goal mantra of nearly every elite swimmer competing in this swimming meet. The Pan Pacific Championships will also take place in Irvine, California this year – making the meet a huge draw for United States swimmers to compete in front of their home fans. Third, it factors into the selection for the 2011 World Championships which will be held next July in China.
Everything has been building up to this meet. Or, as the saying goes, “All Lanes Lead To August.” It is the focus of every swimmer throughout the long and laid-back summer months. There are no other championships to worry about – no NCAA championships, no Grand Prix meets, no World Cup competitions. It all comes down to this.
For young swimmers, it is a chance to truly make a statement. Dagny Knutson, the budding superstar-in-the-making, looks like she could have a breakout meet. She’s been swimming fast all season. Elizabeth Pelton is another young swimmer looking to make an international team. She’s only 16, but could challenge the Olympic swimming establishment. Teenage phenom Chloe Sutton has emerged as the queen of distance swimming (as well as the Grand Prix series) in 2010. On the men’s side, NCAA champion Josh Schneider will make his emergence as the next big contender. He’s not a household name… yet. But he’s taken down big names in the swimming world in some head-to-head races, and he’s ready to show the world what he’s all about. For many young and emerging swimmers, this is an opportunity to win in front of a national audience, when it counts, and with all eyes upon them.
For the veterans, the ConocoPhillips National Championships is a chance to validate their reputation as swimming’s elite. Michael Phelps hopes to continue his clinic and emphasize his reputation as World’s Greatest. Natalie Coughlin is back in the pool and seeks summer success. Other Beijing Olympic heroes like Ryan Lochte, Aaron Peirsol, Matt Grevers, Margaret Hoezler, Katie Hoff, Ariana Kukors, and Cullen Jones will dive back into competition-form, aiming to test their bodies and attempt to win a national title.
It’s time to deliver.
Much has changed since last year. For one, FINA’s regulations on suits and suit materials have drastically changed the sport – some say for better, some say for worse. The 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships will be a litmus test for many observers to compare swim times and gauge just how much of an impact the suits had on the two previous years. For swimmers, it’s a clean slate. Everyone is in the same suits. Everyone has the same equipment. Times might be slower, but we’ll see some amazing races.
Races like the 100 backstroke. On the men’s side, we might see the fastest field in the world. Depending on what Michael Phelps decides to swim, we could see Michael Phelps vs. Ryan Lochte vs. Matt Grevers vs. Nick Thoman vs. Aaron Peirsol. You’re talking about the best swimmers in the world, all in one event. On the women’s side, the 100 backstroke looks as competitive as ever. Natalie Coughlin, Hayley McGregory, Elizabeth Pelton, Margaret Hoelzer, Elizabeth Beisel, and Missy Franklin could all contend for a national championship.
And this is just one event.
Virtually every single event features Olympians of the past, present, and future battling it out for swimming supremacy. The top two in each event will go on and represent the United States at the Pan Pacific Championships two weeks later in Irvine. It is a major step for every swimmer, novice or veteran, and Swimnetwork.com will be there, poolside, leading the way with exclusive coverage for swim fans everywhere.
Be sure to follow along in the weeks leading up to the meet and remember to watch Swimnetwork, Universal Sports & NBC in August.
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