mens 200 free...

[DonCheadle]

Bazzel from kzoo had his cap fall off. He was 2nd overall at the 150 but came home in 26.69 Anyone could win this race tonight.

[LordJeffFree]

I think its really only the top three seeds with a legitimate chance to win tonight. All three should drop down to around 137 high or 138 low, and (obviously biased) I think Fraser takes his second win of the meet.

[RhymeAndReason]

I think Vernoia takes it.

[Sir Carl]

I'll go with Fraser. Really tough call though. I also think it'll be among the top three seeds.

[DonCheadle]

I think its really only the top three seeds with a legitimate chance to win tonight.

implication it would be an upset if do notl go 1-2-3 in some order. I'll take that bet! But yeah, I think Frase will win too. I think 5-6 guys will be within .5 of the winning time

[silentp]

I think Vernoia takes it.

+1 on that call

[swim5599]

Yeah I think Fraser wins it because he has the best closing speed. I fully expect him to be home in about 24.5

[Mac of the MIAC]

I am 0-1 in predictions, but I will take Z Turk in an upset.

[swim5599]

We should be taking bets on How fast Turk is going to take that puppy out tonight. I will say 45.8

[RhymeAndReason]

We should be taking bets on How fast Turk is going to take that puppy out tonight. I will say 45.8

Funny you mention that - I noticed that and thought - "If he takes it out reasonably tonight and actually has people to race... he could win this thing."

I'm still going with Vernoia - I think he is one of those special 200 free swimmers. I think Stewart-Bates is too, but I don't think this is his year yet.

I think if Turk does take the race out in 45.8, he won't win : ) But it would be fun to see him do that!

[FranklinPearce]

from collegeswimming's 'ranking the classes' for Minnesota:

"Add in transfers Nathan Jobe (North Dakota) and Mike Veronia (TCNJ) and Minnesota has the best homegrown 200 free relay in the country without even including Sandy Whitaker or Kyler VanSwol. "

[DonCheadle]

Of course the D3 Champ results are no longer available (so lame). What did Vernoia end up going this year? 1:37.9 I seem to recall. Is there any way that Vernoia is getting money out of this? He is pretty solid, but he only has two years left so its not like UM is hoping to lure him in, get him committed to the team, and then yank the scholarship. That typically takes two years.

Of course if he lives in Minnesota he is saving big bucks just from in-state tuition so to his parents it will feel like a scholarship even if he didn't get one.

[openwater]

1:38.80 after a 1:38.94 prelim.