USA: Eddie Reese went to bed a happy man last night after becoming the only coach to win NCAA titles spanning four decades. Victory in the men's division for the Texas Longhorns granted Reese his 10th overall crown, his treasury now stocked with wins from 1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2010. That gave Reese one more victory than the man he shared the record with, former USA head coach Peter Daland. Texas is now just one title shy of the record number of wins for a programme, Michigan and Ohio State 11 crowns each. The meet this year was affected by a serious outbreak of norovirus, while times were somewhat down on last year across the board, courtesy of a return to textile suits. The points: Texas, 500; California, 469.5 points; Arizona (387); Stanford (369); Florida (364); Auburn (277.5); Michigan (204); Georgia (143); Ohio State (136.5); and Virginia (123). Among outstanding swims was a 14:42.87 over 1,650y free by Chad La Tourette, of California.
France: Alain Bernard undergoes blood tests today to ensure that the fatigue that prompted him to withdraw from the 100m free at the Amsterdam Swim Cup yesterday is not caused by underlying illness. The Olympic 100m free champion believes that his relative weakness three weeks out from French trials for the European Championships is down to hard work. He remains motivated and says he simply needs rest. Last year at nationals he wore the X-Glide for the first time and cracked 47sec, though the time was rejected by FINA on the grounds that the arena suit had not yet been approved for use. Whoever ends up representing France over 100m free in Budapest come August, times will be slower this time round at Saint-Raphaël nationals.
South American Games: Brazil is imposing its regional swim strength at the South American Cames in Medellín, Colombia, with one day to go. Ben Hockin raced for Paraguay and therefore is no longer eligible to compete for Britain, where trials for the European Championships and Commonwealth Games get underway today. When asked about Hockin several weeks ago, British Swimming maintained that it had never received any request for the swimmers to switch nationalities. Under FINA procedures, Hockin would have to have been a citizen and resident of Paraguay for a year ...
Results at a glance:
- Men
- 50m free: Ernesto Acuña (VEN) 22.99; Nicolás Oliveira (BRA) 23.00; Federico Grabich (ARG) 23.10
- 1,500m free: Luis Arapiraca (BRA) 15:41.91; Lucas Kanieski (BRA) 15:43.69
- 100m 'fly: Albert Subirats (VEN) 52.86; Benjamín Hockin (PAR) 54.90.
- 200m medley: Thiago Pereira (BRA) 2:03.16
- Women
- 50m back: Fabiola Molina (BRA) 28.50
- 200m breast: Carolina Mussi (BRA) 2:39.75
- 200m free: Cecilia Biagioli (ARG) 2:03.28
- 200m 'fly: Joanna Maranhão (BRA) 2:13.22
