Liz Pelton Scratches 100 Back Final

T2 Aquatics’ Liz Pelton has scratched the 100 backstroke final, according to the start lists.

She was not swimming well in the first two rounds, but was still the number-four seed coming out of prelims with a 1:00.31 coming out of the semifinals. She has been under a minute in her career.

She will instead focus on her 200 IM (the opposite tact of fellow Cal Bear Natalie Coughlin). The likely reason for this swap is seeing fellow high school swimmers Missy Franklin and Rachel Bootsma. The races are separated, but at this point Pelton’s better shot at the team seems to be the 200 IM.

In This Story

16
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

16 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
eating your words
12 years ago

That was the best decision for Liz! I hope you all are eating your words! She didn’t have the chance in 100 back. Now she has a chance in 200 im and 200 back. Make Towson and T2 Aquatics proud!!! We love you Liz!!

ZYNG43
Reply to  eating your words
12 years ago

Considering Bootsma went slower I think she had a chance… She has been under 1:00

aswimfan
Reply to  ZYNG43
12 years ago

I agree with you Zynga.

also, look at the schedule:

women 100 back final was the third event, and the women 200 IM was the last event. there’s plenty of time for recovery, and Pelton is still young anyway.
Even if Pelton goes all out in the women 100 back final, all she had to do was swimming 2:13 to be in the 200 IM final, which is very easy for her.

Korn
12 years ago

T2 seems to be struggling and they are grasping at this point!

Jean Michel
12 years ago

I follow same thinking ! Missy is made for the 200 free ! what she did on that first lef of the relay last year was stunning ! she blew the field and gave usa a wide lead ….She has to swim that 200 free to see where she is this week .

bobo gigi
12 years ago

Finally a good choice from a swimmer who can make many races. She has no chance in the 100 back so it’s smart to focus on the 200 IM and the 200 back but she could have thought that sooner. Megan Romano should do the same thing to focus on the 200 free and the 100 free. Natalie Coughlin had no reasons to swim the 100 fly. Missy Franklin has no reasons to swim the 200 free. Yes I continue my lobbying about Missy. The goal isn’t to swim in the biggest number of races but is to qualify and to win gold medals at the olympic games.

John Sampson
Reply to  bobo gigi
12 years ago

Bobo- I know you don’t want her to swim it, but she had the fastest time in the world last year! No way she sits it out. If she had someone to push her last year she would’ve been under 1:55. If anything she should do the 200 free and drop the backstroke.

Luke
Reply to  bobo gigi
12 years ago

It is important for Missy to at least get a good time in semi’s and then scratch finals so she will be on the relay. However, she would probably still be on it (because of what she is capable of) if she scratched and was not a top 6 swimmer in that event.

aswimfan
Reply to  Luke
12 years ago

Luke,

I don’t understand your logic. Why would she want scratch the 200 free final when she has nothing else to swim on day 4, except for 200 free final?

All this suggestion that Franklin should not swim 200 free is ridiculous.
Bobo, I know that Franklin is the biggest threat to your countrywoman Muffat in the 200 free, but no need to keep telling Franklin to not swim it 🙂

Justin Thompson
Reply to  aswimfan
12 years ago

In London it’s going to be a 1-2 finish for Schmitty and Franklin in the 200fr. The French can fight it out for the bronze!

Rafael
Reply to  Justin Thompson
12 years ago

Muffat showed the biggest consistence of all swimmers.. and she is still “experimenting” for her perfect race..

gosharks
Reply to  bobo gigi
12 years ago

Bobo,

I understand your position on Frankllin and the 200 free, but she finished 2011 ranked #1 and is certainly a medal threat. I wouldn’t say she has “no reason” to swim it…

Craig H
Reply to  bobo gigi
12 years ago

I understand Pelton’s reasoning, but she has the ability to be 59-low and make the team in the back. Bootsma and Franklin are swimming out of their minds right now, but it’s not out of the question for one of them to slip up in finals. I guess if they do, we’ll all be saying “she should have swum it.”

aswimfan
Reply to  Craig H
12 years ago

Craig H,

I agree with you.
I REALLY don’t understand why Pelton scratch the 100 back.

The 100 back comes BEFORE the 200 IM semis, and if pelton is concerned she wouldn’t be able to final in 200 IM after swimming 100 back, well, maybe it IS 200 IM which she should abandon.

Whoever advised Pelton to drop the 100 back or think it is a good decision is not very smart.

thomas
12 years ago

Georgia girls had a great 200 ranked 1,4,5 and 6. Hope they keep it up.

beachmouse
Reply to  thomas
12 years ago

And if you’re going to try that kind of double, it’s a lot easier to recover or deal with a short turnaround when you’re 17 than when you’re 27. Kids seem to bounce back well.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

Read More »