2018 Mel Zajac Jr. International
- June 1-3, 2018
- UBC Aquatic Centre
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheet
- Live Results
- Live Stream
The early psych sheets for the 2018 Mel Zajac Jr. International meet have been released, with changes allowed to be made until 11:59 pm on Sunday the 27th.
As we’ve already covered, the Florida Gators will be making the trip to Vancouver for the three-day affair, with the likes of Caeleb Dressel, Ryan Lochte and Mark Szaranek competing, along with Penny Oleksiak, who is currently training in Gainesville. With the psych sheets out, we’ve learned some of the other Gators in attendance include Maxime Rooney, Mitch D’Arrigo, Corey Main and Ben Lawless.
The USA junior team heading over will include Phoebe Bacon, Zoie Hartman, Ross Dant and Katharine Berkoff, while several of Canada’s top swimmers will be in attendance such as Yuri Kisil, Markus Thormeyer, Emily Overholt, Rachel Nicol, Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson and Eric Hedlin.
The Gator swimmers look to be taking on a heavy event lineup for the meet, with Dressel, Lochte and Oleksiak all entered in six events (two per day) and Szaranek in five.
Lochte’s entries include the 400 IM and 200 back, two events we weren’t sure we’d see him in this late in his career. It’s clear he’s simply experimenting to see where he’s at, but it will be interesting to see what event lineup he ends up with at U.S. Nationals in July. He’s also in the 100 free and back, along with his specialty 200 IM. We did see him contest a preliminary heat of the 400 IM at the Atlanta Classic last week, going 4:30.35.
Dressel is entered in a typical event lineup for him, which means all five of the events he swam at last year’s U.S. Trials (50/100/200 free, 50/100 fly), along with the 50 breaststroke. While there won’t be any stroke 50s at the Pan Pacs this summer, the 50 breast is an event he could potentially pursue at Nationals, as the winner will earn a berth on the 2019 Worlds team.
Oleksiak will take on the 50, 100 and 200 of both freestyle and butterfly, while Szaranek is entered in all three flys and both IMs.
Dressel’s braces are off. He means business now
lol
I wonder if Tyr is bothered that Lochte isn’t swimming in their events. Must not be a contract stipulation.
I will be shocked if Lochte makes the team for Tokyo. I like him but I think that ship has sailed. Father time wins again.
Nah
Yep, it has.
Despite his age, 400 IM is probably Lochte’s best shot at the Olympic team in an individual event, especially if Dressel swims the 200 IM. The gap between Kalisz and everyone else is huge, and Lochte was right there for qualifying in 2016 despite a groin pull, a ridiculous pacing strategy, and Marsh’s light training philosophy (especially compared to Troy’s). If the WR curve in men’s marathon is flat up to age 33 (which it is), and LeBron can play every minute of a game better than anyone on the planet at 33, surely a 36-year-old Olympic gold medalist in the event can swim fast for 4 minutes. He won’t medal at Tokyo, but he could make the team just… Read more »
4×200 free relay is also a good shot. Even if it’s just prelims, he can do it.
Agreed. I was talking (and said) individual events.
Even if he’s not in the condition to earn any individual medals, merely being on the team could provide a moral boost for the younger team members.
Yeah Ryan knows a thing or two about how to party! He can show young lads how to celebrate ?
I think he could have a shot at a medal in the 400IM to be honest. Chalisz is 100% at the top, followed by Seto. Hagino is a huge question mark though. His times are on a downward trajectory since 2015(16). Who knows how he’ll be in 2 years time.
Hungarian David Verraszto was the silver medalist ahead of Seto last summer. Kalisz seems untouchable at this point, but behind him many have the opportunity to medal in Tokyo. The Japanese are not the only ones to beat.
Hungarians will be tough in the IM’s
I know how Lochte will be in 2 years time; 36 years old.
Gators going big this summer, training with lochte/dressel has to be inspiring.
Hopefully Rooney can see a break through as well this year.
I’m glad Rooney decided to stay and train in Florida this summer and not go back to Cali. This is a big year for him.
Lochte overmuch events. Old men be able good maximum two event per day. In age 34 is recuperation lower than twentys.
What’s wrong with what Kristina said? It’s basic logic that a 34 year old swimmer is going to recover light years slower then he did when he was 20 or 24. Just like how Phelps and Lochte recovered drastically slower in 16 Olympics then they did in 04 08 12 Olympics
the grammar was atrocious, thanks for interpreting her post.
Nobady kares abowt grammar on the internet.
we care for it – unless u wanna loose your grammar …up to you
Criticizing harshly person who seems to be non-english speaker? What about giving Kristiina some slack?
agreed
It’s a training session for him. He’ll swim slow, like he always has in season, especially with Troy pounding him.
Since he’s swimming everything under ththe sun, I sorta want to see a 200 fly from Dressel.
He would win the 2 fly in tokyo if he decides he wants to. Same with 200 free/ IM and might be the only person in the world who has any shot of upsetting peaty.
He’s good, but no
Milak is going to win the 200 fly in Tokyo
Most likely. He’s already the fastest in that event in years, including post first retirement Phelps.
still he gotta win something Major to be the fastest
Ummm, nope
Sure, lots of people would like to see it, but if he wants to pursue a new event it would have to be 200 IM first priority.
Caeleb is not Michael Phelps. Someone else in the US needs to step up in the 2 fly.
1:47…. dual meet time.. don’t ask for what our minds aren’t ready to see… he could just about threaten any record 200 and below