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Auburn, Alabama meets represent difficult opportunity

In swimming, there is more to timing than you might think.

Sure, the results of a meet are based solely on the swimmers' times in all the events but that's not the whole story.

While the Michigan women swimmers have been working on their times in their respective events, every once in a while they become victims of timing.

Take this weekend's meet as an example. Saturday, the Wolverines are facing Auburn and Alabama. On any given weekend, Michigan would have little trouble dispatching with either of these teams. However, as fate may have it, these meets could prove to be exceedingly difficult.

It's all in the timing.

The problem for the Wolverines is that they are still in the thick of their training schedule while both Auburn and Alabama are tapering for their Southeast Conference Championship that will be held in two weeks.

Interestingly enough, coach Jim Richardson sees this weekend as a prime opportunity for his team.

"I think we'll be ready to swim and it will be interesting to see how we respond," Richardson said. "If we can step up and get the job done I think it'll be a really good challenge for us."

So maybe Michigan can use the timing to it's advantage. After all, the Big Ten Championship will be coming up in a little over a month and Richardson needs his swimmers to start thinking about swimming fast.

"I want us to be swimming faster at this point," Richardson said. "It's showing in workouts but I want us to be able to make the transition at the end of a solid week and put in swims that are reflective of the work we've done."

Another key for the Wolverines will be its ability to step up and compete even if they are a bit fatigued after their practice week. With the postseason fast approaching, this weekend's meet could provide Richardson with an opportunity to see just how good his team is. Beating the Tigers and the Tide will be no easy task.

Auburn is currently ranked 12th and boasts one of the nations top young teams. After losing a good portion of their squad to last year's graduation, a group of sophomores has recently stepped up, making for a bright future for the Tigers.

Alabama, meanwhile, recently broke into the top 15. The No. 15 Crimson Tide boast two of the country's top swimmers in the butterfly. Senior, Stacy Potter and junior, Karen Jones should challenge Michigan butterfliers Anne Kampfe and Talor Bendel. Potter will also compete in the backstroke.

So, while timing might hurt Michigan by forcing them to swim top 15 teams that are in postseason form, it nevertheless provides them with a stiff challenge. And with the Wolverines' postseason coming up quick, Richardson might just be willing to trade off a win for this type of meet.