Championship Meet Format

Some have asked how this championship meet format works. Let me do my best to explain.

First a reminder of tonight's schedule

• Though my responsibilities for the middle school meet have changed, I think the schedule for today works well.
• Swimmers will stay at the High School to work on homework, etc. until 4:00 or 4:30
• After that swimmers can go to the pool with clippers etc. to clip any long hair. Unfortunately, due to a change in facility policy, swimmers are no longer allowed to shave down at the facility. Shaved down MUST be done at home.
• At 5:00 State Swimmers and all divers will begin practice with Conference swimmers joining them at around 5:20.
• Practice will be done by 6:30
• Pasta will be at the Faith Church Fellowship Room beginning at 7:00.

Friday, February 21st : Swimming Prelims

ALL Swimmers participate in the prelims on Friday.

The goal is to make the finals when finishing place equals points.

Here is where things get a bit confusing. 

A maximum of 4 from each team can qualify to be one of the 16 swimmers to swim in the scoring heats in Saturday's finals (2 heats of 8).

However, there is a bonus heat of 8 made up the next 8 fastest swimmers. These swimmers don't score. 

Example: In the 50 Free, Zeeland ends up with 6 athletes that make the top 16. Their fastest 4 can swim in the consolation finals (places 16-9) or the championship finals (places 8-1) depending on where their time places them. Athlete 5 and 6 would end up swimming in the Bonus heat (17-24) even though they may have been faster than the 16th place swimmer.

Diving Prelims
All the divers dive in the prelims on Friday evening. 

Divers will dive 8 rounds on Thursday night after which, cuts will be made so that only the top 16 will dive in the finals on Saturday.

Since there are only 13 divers in our conference, they should all dive Saturday.

Saturday, February 23rd : Swimming & Diving Finals

ALL swimmers and divers should plan on participating in the finals.

These are the races that actually score.

Here is the catch. Those that make it into the consolation heat (places 16-9) following Friday's prelims, can't place any higher than 9th place even if they swim faster than every other swimmer. Also, those in the championship heat following Friday's prelims, s can't drop any lower than 8th place. 

Though the points are scored in Finals, it is Prelims that matters FIRST.

The same system is in place for State, except that there isn't a bonus heat. 

Hope that helps you understand a little better how things work for Championship Swim Meets. 

I'm looking forward to some great performances over the next couple days.

Thanks in advance for everything you are doing to make this meet happen.