On the final day of pool swimming at the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships, the scratches are starting to come in a little faster. Most notably, it seems some of the Open Water entrants have dropped the 800 or 1500 to rest up for the 10K event to take place tomorrow.
Among those scratches are American Becca Mann out of the women’s 1500 and Canada’s Eric Hedlin from the men’s 1500.
Ous Mellouli has also scratched the 800 free, which is expected – he’s scratched the entire meet after complications with his travel visa kept him from making the trip to the Gold Coast. Canada’s Evan White is another full-meet scratch-out in the men’s 200 IM.
A number of multi-event swimmers have dropped the 200 IM on the meet’s final day. That includes American backstroker Liz Pelton and butterflyers Hali Flickinger and Katie McLaughlin.
Also out of the meet is Australia’s Emma McKeon, who was the 11th seed in the 50 free. McKeon had four Australian teammates ahead of her and would have needed a substantial drop to make the final here.
Melanie Margalis has scratched out of the 200 breast for the USA, which leaves just two swimmers in the event. That’ll take away the fight for the A final spots, plus ends the battle for spots on the World Champs team in that event, leaving Micah Lawrence and Breeja Larson as the two World Champs qualifiers. That guarantees Larson a spot on the team – she hadn’t yet been officially added to the team.
Prelims begin at 10AM local time, which is 8PM for those on the U.S.’s East Coast.
Day 4 scratches:
Men’s 800 free:
- Ous Mellouli, Tunisia
- Eric Hedlin, Canada
Women’s 200 IM
- Elizabeth Pelton, USA
- Hali Flickinger, USA
- Katie McLaughlin, USA
Men’s 200 IM:
- Evan White, Canada
- Simon Thiago, Brazil
Women’s 50 free:
- Emma McKeon, Australia
Women’s 200 breast:
- Melanie Margalis, USA
Men’s 200 breast:
- Jake Packard, Australia
Women’s 1500 free:
- Becca Mann, USA
Anyone have any idea why Ryan Lochte is struggling so much? Fully expected him to dominate the 200m IM heats.
And Missy, is her back worse than we think? Should we be concerned?
Both good questions, and I’m no more an authority on the subject than you, but I’ll tell you what I think:
1. In my opinion, Lochte has done very well and gotten into creditable shape for this meet, considering that his preparations were complicated by a knee injury, knee surgery, and a re-injury of the knee due to, perhaps, trying to race full-speed too early post-surgery. This accounts for his slower times, especially in longer races like the 200 free and 200 IM; although it didn’t stop him from qualifying to swim those races individually at the 2015 World Championships.
He decided to drop the 200 back from his program at Worlds, according to SwimSwam, because it conflicted with the… Read more »
Margalis is also swimming the 200 IM today, so scratching the 200 breast means she can stay rested for an event where she currently has the leading qualifying time from US Nationals.
Thank you, I didn’t know that. I’m glad to hear she has a good reason. But my point is, you only get so many chances like this in life, so make the most of them, and if you really want something you better work hard to get it and believe in yourself because if you don’t it’s unlikely to be given to you.
I certainly see your point on Pebley. Margalis carries a 2:10.20 from Nationals, but that time will come under threat from Dirado, Leverenz and Beisel.
Well, I think this highlights a flaw in the selection process. Melanie’s best event was the 200 IM on the last day, but she had to try and qualify before that instead of putting all her eggs in 1 basket. So, she made the Team in the 200 IM; both she and the coaches knew the 200 breast was on the same day. Nobody apparently went back and said, hold on, Melanie qualified in the 200 IM now, so who was next on the list for the 200 breast? So I think somebody potentially lost a chance!
It’s none of my business and many people will be annoyed with me, but I guess I need to vent. I think that If you don’t really want to fight to make the World Team and to help Team USA at a big international meet like this, then you should give your spot on the Team to somebody who does!
The 200 IM is a great race for Pelton; she almost made the Olympic Team in it! By not swimming it she’s not hurting anybody but herself, but if you don’t believe you can do it, then you’ll never be able to do it. You have to take every opportunities and do what you can with them!
The 200 breast… Read more »
While I understand the sentiment and frustration, I’m going to defer to the athletes regarding what’s best for them. For a number of swimmers, that’s scratching events.
Margalis scratching the 200m breast means Lawrence and Larson are the only 2 Americans left in the event, and ensures both girls will swim the event at the 2015 world championships. Lawrence was already on the team so this will guarantee Larson’s plane ticket to Russia.
Evan White has scratched out of all 5 events he entered. Hopefully, the injury/illness or whatever it is, isn’t too serious.