|
|
 |
FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS March 16-19:
Lenny Krayzelburg, Jenny Thompson and Chad Carvin, fresh off record-breaking performances on the FINA World Cup circuit, lead a team of 25 Americans to Athens, Greece. This will be the biggest and most-talented squad the U.S. has ever sent to this event, which should mean a record-breaking medal haul. The team includes six Olympic gold medalists, 17 national champions and 13 National A Team members. Thompson was given the women's Outstanding Performer Award at both the 1997 and 1999 Short Course World Championships.
WOMEN'S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS March 16-18:
The field will include several 2000 Olympic medal hopefuls, including Georgia senior Kristy Kowal, the 1999 NCAA women's Swimmer of the Year. Arizona, Georgia and Stanford will be battling it out for the team title, won by Georgia last year. A win by Arizona would be the team's first championship and it's definitely within their grasp. Arizona added to an already strong team with freshman Amanda Beard and Beth Botsford, both 1996 Olympic gold medalists. Stanford boasts Catherine Fox and Misty Hyman among others. In addition to Kowal, Georgia has freshman standout Maritza Correia as well as upperclassmen Courtney Shealy and Keegan Walkley. Outside of the top three, keep an eye on Cal freshmen Staciana Stitts and Northwestern senior Courtney Allen, as well as Columbia's Cristina Teuscher.
MEN'S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS March 23-25:
Texas will enter as the team favorite, boasting several 2000 Olympic hopefuls, including Nate Dusing, Bryan Jones, Joe Montague and Jon Younghouse. Stanford and USC will also be strong, but Texas looks to have the depth to win at all. From Stanford, keep an eye on Adam Messner, who put up some impressive times at the PAC-10 meet. Stanford also has several freshmen who could score big. USC's big names are distance stars Erik Vendt and Mark Warkentin. Arizona will get big points from some of its foreign stars, including sprinter Roland Schoeman and distance swimmer Ryk Neethling, both of South Africa. The biggest story may not come from the top 5 teams though, as Virginia's Ed Moses will be chasing world records in the breaststrokes. He nearly broke Mike Barrowman's American record in the 200y breast in a time trial at the ACC meet, after being disqualified in the prelims. |
|
|
