2011 Eric Namesnik Grand Prix Preview

I looked over some recent Grand Prix results from Minneapolis, Austin, Missouri and Indianapolis to get a feeling for what type of times I'll be up against.  Like any competitor, I feel it would be quite an accomplishment to swim fast enough in the "Preliminaries" to earn a spot in the evening to swim in the "Finals".  It's been quite a while since I swam in a prelims/finals meet like this.  It was probably 2009 World Champ Trials.  I'll be going up against plenty of great swimmers this coming weekend.  Here are my best guesses regarding what times will make the top 24 in the meet:

100 Fly: 55:70 (This is certainly of my reach, I've been a 59.87)
50 Free: 23.90 (I might actually make this one, I've been a 23.96)
100 Back: 59.30 (I will give it my all but I think this is slightly out of my reach, I think I'll be a 1:00.xx)
100 Free: 51.80 (This is definitely out of my reach, I've been a 54.96)

It's going to be a tough meet.  I think my best shot is the 50 freestyle.  The 100 back is looking like sort of a long shot.  I'll do my best though.  Unfortunately the 100 Back is probably only 30 minutes after the 50 freestyle.  Without a solid training background, it's tough for me to double into another event like that.  Regardless, it will be a blast to compete at this level again!

On a side note, I actually think I'm much better in the 100 Fly than I'm swimming.  I actually think I could go a 55.xx someday.  I have some work to do before that happens!