Nice!

As most folks know, I am a big fan of women’s swimming. I hpe that we can get some interesting conversation going on this thread. Now, that all the D-III teams have had at least one meet, who are the new arrivals who have a good chance to make the final eight at NCAA’s this year? Let me nominate two from the NESCAC teams: Ellen Ramsey of Williams and Kendra Stern of Amherst. Lauren Brady and Kaitlyn Meirs of Kenyon look very strong. Molly Evans of CMU is making waves in the backstroke. Who are the others? Will these newcomers put pressure on the outstanding group of defending champion seniors: Michelle Coombs, Emily Lesher, Kaitlyn Orstein, Marika Ross, Brittany Sasser and Jaime Straub?

Which of the D-III women, if any, will swim in the Olympic Trials this summer. I am pretty sure that Kaitlyn Orstein will. Any others?

There are womens’ teams?

@Nescacfan wrote:

Which of the D-III women, if any, will swim in the Olympic Trials this summer. I am pretty sure that Kaitlyn Orstein will. Any others?

Not a current D3 swimmer, but Payne will be competing in both breastroke events. Perhaps 1 or more of the foreign swimmers (Ertel maybe?) will be competing for their home countries?

Nice to finally see some focus here on the women swimmers. Overall they are the vast majority in the pool these days. But you wouldn’t know it from all the men’s discussion. Having been a parent of a female swimmer who is no longer swimming (at least not in college), I really didn’t care as much about men’s swimming as I never really could relate to their times.

@swimkin wrote:

Nice to finally see some focus here on the women swimmers. Overall they are the vast majority in the pool these days. But you wouldn’t know it from all the men’s discussion. Having been a parent of a female swimmer who is no longer swimming (at least not in college), I really didn’t care as much about men’s swimming as I never really could relate to their times.

There’s a roughly 10% difference between men and women. So if you’re a woman and want to understand a man’s time, multiply by 1.1 – if you’re a man and want to understand a woman’s time, multiply by .9

I figured this out last year b/c I had the reverse of your problem – couldn’t wrap my head around women’s times.

Thanks, Chris for that information. It will be helpful in the future!

@Chris Knight wrote:

@swimkin wrote:

Nice to finally see some focus here on the women swimmers. Overall they are the vast majority in the pool these days. But you wouldn’t know it from all the men’s discussion. Having been a parent of a female swimmer who is no longer swimming (at least not in college), I really didn’t care as much about men’s swimming as I never really could relate to their times.

There’s a roughly 10% difference between men and women. So if you’re a woman and want to understand a man’s time, multiply by 1.1 – if you’re a man and want to understand a woman’s time, multiply by .9

I figured this out last year b/c I had the reverse of your problem – couldn’t wrap my head around women’s times.

Here is another comparison in addition to the 10% rule for males/females at a particular age and level of swimming; when my boys were in high school (well above average swimmers but not world beaters) their times were equal to the best D1 women.

Oh and my daughter is 110% tougher than 90% of the guys.[/list]

@openwater wrote:

Oh and my daughter is 110% tougher than 90% of the guys.

90% of statistics are made up on the spot.

@The Treat wrote:

@openwater wrote:

Oh and my daughter is 110% tougher than 90% of the guys.

90% of statistics are made up on the spot.

Maybe everywhere except d3swimming.com, but here 93.7% of statistics are made up on the spot.