Now that the 2007 FINA World Championships are in the books, focus shifts back to the USA Swimming Grand Prix circuit. The 3rd stop on the 2007 calendar will take competition back to Ann Arbor, MI for the Eric Namesnik Memorial Grand Prix, May 17 – 20.

In its second year, the grand prix is held in honor of Olympian and former University of Michigan standout Eric Namesnik, who passed in the aftermath of a car accident in January 2006.

This grand prix is the first major USS competition to feature morning finals. Shortly after the announcement that the Olympic Games in Beijing would adapt that format, Michigan and Club Wolverine head coach Bob Bowman indicated that he would alter the meet format of the Ann Arbor grand prix to match the new mandate.

Day 1 prelims get underway on May 17 at 4:30 PM in Michigan’s Canham Natatorium. Finals will take place promptly at 9AM.

We will be on deck in Ann Arbor to cover the meet just as we did for the Missouri Grand Prix back in February. We have some new ideas we are hoping to try out and as always, we welcome your feedback.

So stay tuned!

hello hello. again, sorry that i have not written in quite a while. the past couple of weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions, and i have been a bit caught up. i’m sure if you’re taking the time to read this, you also took the time to follow the meet..so i’m sure you already know how that went.
i struggled a bit in the 100 breast, and i am not exactly pleaseed with a 4th place result and swimming over a second slower than my best time. i could tell myself that i am exhausted from ncaa’s and the whole collegiate season before world champs, but i don’t like excuses. it was a humbling experience and i now have extra motivation going back into training. i did have the opportunity to swim the 50 breaststroke also at worlds, an event that i am very pleased with the outcome! i went a lifetime best time, and broke my own american record…and even beat the infamous leisel jones!! it was my first international gold medal, and i was so proud to hear the national anthem on that podium for an event that i won all by myself. an experience i will never forget. the only thing i am bummed about is that i didn’t have any grillz to wear like ryan!!
after world i had to go directly to sydney for the duel in the pool. that was another fun event. a few more team members were added to our usa roster for the duel, and 2 out of the 3 women were breaststrokers, so we definitely had our breaststroke events loaded! so i didn’t have to swim the 200 breast like the coaches were threatenening all week (thank god!); however, i did get the rare opportunity to swim the 50 free. i went a lifetime best (26.0), even though i finished last in my heat (whoops)! but i was just happy to be in the race. when we were in the ready room before the event, libby lenton came up to me and jokingly said “i wouldn’t have made you out to be a freestyler!” it’s a lot more fun to swim events when there’s no pressure.
i then had to come straight back to berkeley, cali to get back to school. i have already missed almost two months of school combined with the dates missed from all of the duel meets, pac 10s, ncaa’s, worlds and duel in the pool. my professors have been supportive, but i definitely have a lot on my plate with makeup work. wish me luck!!
tomorrow is easter sunday! i am going to go to my friend’s house who lives close to campus to celebrate with an easter brunch and some egg hunting. then it’s back to work in the library!
i just wanted to take the time to thank you all for reading my blog! i appreciate all of your support and enthusiasm. keep looking at the swim stars website – they never cease to have tons of fun pictures and articles to look at
cheers, jessica