Some quick, but significant news, is that University of Florida junior Dan Wallace did race in his heat of the 200 free this morning at the Charlotte Grand Prix, though he was far from his best.
The Scottish swimmer was suspended earlier this week by the University of Florida swim team after a violation of team rules involving an arrest in Gainesville for allegedly urinating on a police vehicle and then allegedly resisting arrest non-violently, according to police records.
While any suspensions by Florida’s NCAA program does not have a direct impact on USA Swimming or FINA eligibility, so this isn’t newsworthy from that perspective, there were a lot of people curious as to whether or not Wallace would race this weekend, or if his legal issues would even permit him to cross state lines.
For now, it appears as though they have. Wallace swam a 1:55.73 in the 200 free. While that’s not even close to his best (six seconds away), it’s right around the time, surprisingly, that he usually goes this time of year. It will leave him out of the final, though.
As of now, Scottish Swimming has not been able to tell us if Wallace’s recent run-in with the law will affect his status for the Commonwealth Games, but if he’s still on that roster he’s a probable finalist and a possible medalist for Scotland at the event. That includes medal potential for the Scottish 800 free relay.
Wallace is representing the Gator Swim Club, unattached, at this meet officially. He was not unattached in psych sheets, meaning that he unattached once arriving in Charlotte.
Dan Wallace represented Scottish Swimming in Charlotte not Florida Gators.
It’s laughable to think that his commonwealth games place might be affected. This sort of behaviour is pretty standard in Glasgow. Anyway Scotland can’t afford to drop him, the depth in the 4×200 free relay is just not there.
Well, they did say indefinite suspension…maybe it was just a few days 🙂
My guess is that the charges against him were dropped…
Justafan – fortunately, that is a matter of public record so nobody has to guess. The Alachua County Clerk of the Court website says that the case is still open.
He must have hid in the trunk of the car in order to cross state lines