The NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship is still almost three months away. But this past weekend, at the Miami Invitational, that was all the Michigan women's swim team thought about.
The meet itself was a rout. Everybody knew it would be Michigan running away with the event. But while the Wolverines were happy to win the meet, that's not why they travelled to Oxford, Ohio. They went to qualify for the NCAA Championship.
And qualify they did.
Freshman Shannon Shakespeare stole the show, qualifying for two individual events, the 200 yard freestyle and the 50 free. She was also a member of both the 400 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay, which both qualified. In addition, Shakespeare swam consideration times in the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke.
"It's good to get those qualifications out of the way," Shakespeare said. "I was expecting to swim better at this meet than at the dual meets because I was more rested for this one. I was happy with how I did."
Senior Ann Kampfe explained the difference between a qualifying time and a consideration time.
"If you make one automatic cut, you can swim any two consideration cuts you get (at the NCAAs)," Kampfe said. "If you don't earn an automatic cut, but your consideration time is fast enough, you can still make the NCAAs."
The reason for these rules is that there is a limit to the total number of swimmers allowed in the NCAA Championship. But if a swimmer makes one automatic cut with a qualifying time, then the other events she swims will not count against that limit. She would therefore be allowed to swim the maximum three events, as long as she had consideration times in those events.
Sophomore Jen Eberwein also had a good meet for the Wolverines. Eberwein qualified for the NCAAs in the 50 free, and was also a member of the 400 free relay. Eberwein swam a consideration time in the 100 free.
While the Wolverines earned NCAA qualifying times in only five events, 15 swimmers earned 28 consideration times in individual events, and two relay teams also earned consideration times. Last year, the Wolverines sent 17 swimmers to the NCAA Championship.
The relays have been very strong for the Wolverines. All four relay teams earned at least consideration times, with two of them getting qualifying times.
"We've got a really strong team, so it gives (coach Jim Richardson) a lot of people to choose from," Shakespeare said. "Qualifying this early in the season should help our relays, because everyone will push harder to be on the teams."
Michigan also looked very good in the sprints, particularly the 50 free, where two swimmers earned qualifying times, and three others swam for consideration times.
Kampfe also swam well for the Wolverines, winning three events, the 200 back, 500 free and 400 IM. While she did not gain qualifying times in any events, she did get four consideration times.
"I wanted to go a little stronger in this meet, because I was well-rested and thought I could do really well," Kampfe said. "I didn't qualify, but my times should be good enough to get me into the NCAAs."
Other standout Wolverines were Melisa Stone, who swam four consideration times, and Linda Riker and Talor Bendel, who each had three consideration times.