Revamped system has swimmers in groove
HEAD coach Jacco Verhearen has complete faith in Swimming Australia’s new trials system, with the method having already paid dividends at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.
Australia’s best swimmers had a turnaround of just over four weeks between the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 and the Pan Pacific Championships on the Gold Coast, where they reached even greater heights.
Sprinter Cameron McEvoy beat US Olympic champion Nathan Adrian; Emily Seebohm set an Australian all comers record to beat Olympic gold medallist Missy Franklin; and Cate Campbell won the 100m freestyle in a time faster than her Commonwealth Games winning mark.
And the efforts came despite atrocious conditions, with rain bucketing down on the open-air venue for four days.
“The conditions then weren’t great – it was really cold and raining and quite a bit of wind but we had some sensational times there,” Verhearen (pictured) said.
“What that showed as well is that the team are pretty resilient and really able to perform under basically any circumstance.
“We wanted to select our athletes closer to the meet so that they can capitalise and benefit on the form and shape they’re already in.
“It’s obviously the first time (we’ve attempted it at trials) but it’s definitely a proven concept that has worked in the past.
“I have no doubt it will succeed.”
The system is one America has used with great success for years and will be trialled by Swimming Australia leading into the Tokyo Commonwealth Games as officials look at ways for athletes to reach – and preferably surpass – their trials benchmark.
That hasn’t been the case at recent major championships, where a significant proportion of the Australian team failed to replicate their trials performance.
“We know from the US that they have an incredibly high progression from their trials to the benchmark event,” Verhaeren said.
“So I have no doubt that it will work out but we’ll know in five or six weeks.”
To generate the type of pressure that athletes face at major international meets, Swimming Australia has condensed its trials into a four-day meet and with Verhaeren confirming nobody would be missing from the national titles starting tomorrow, the heat will be on.
“It will be a very, very strong competition,” he said.
“Nobody is missing from the entry list, so that gives us really exciting races.”
The meet marks the comeback for Olympians Cate Campbell, James Magnussen and Kyle Chalmers, who all missed last year’s world championships.
“All (took breaks) for very different reasons but all for the right reasons.
“And it shows because they’re truly excited to start racing here in two days’ time and they’re all in fine shape as well.
“Even for them it’s going to be a tough competition.
“We shouldn’t underestimate our own trials. We want to replicate and create tough conditions for qualification.”