Photo by Peter H. Bick
PHOENIX, Arizona, September 17. THE official rosters for USA Swimming’s squads headed to the big international meets next year haven’t been released yet, but in this age of social media, several athletes have jumped the gun and publicly announced their selections after getting the call from USA Swimming.
Darian Townsend celebrated his first time on Team USA’s international racing roster Tuesday with the following Tweet:
Extremely proud to be selected to represent the USA at the Pan American Games next July in Toronto! Preparation starts today! #cantwait
— Darian Townsend (@dariantownsend) September 16, 2014
Almost two months after becoming an American citizen, Darian Townsend will travel to Toronto next year to swim in his first Pan American Games. Townsend was a gold medalist for South Africa in the 2004 Olympics in the 400 free relay and represented his home country in 2008 and 2012 as well. It’s likely that Townsend will see more relay action at Pan Ams in the 400 free relay, since his highest finish at nationals was 10th in the 100 freestyle.
The Pan American Games team will be the second-tier of American athletes racing internationally next year. The world championships, set for July in Russia, will feature the best athletes based on times from this year’s nationals and Pan Pacific championships. The Pan American Games roster is picked from swims done only at nationals, according to USA Swimming’s selection procedures.
The University of Tennessee is also celebrating a bit early, issuing a press release about the swim team’s current and graduated Volunteers who will swim internationally in 2015. Brad Craig, the 2013 short course national champion in the 200 breast, will swim at the Pan American Games next year after finishing fourth in the 100 breast at the long course nationals last month. Before that, he’ll make his senior-level international racing debut this December at the short course world championships.
Molly Hannis, a perennial presence in the finals of the NCAA championships for Tennessee, will swim at the World University Games next summer in South Korea. The World University Games features athletes who are currently studying in college – as well as a few incoming freshman and recently-graduated athletes. Hannis was fourth in the 200 breast at nationals and seventh in the 100 breast.
The international representation doesn’t stop there for the Tennessee Volunteers. Associate coach Tyler Fenwick posted the following on Twitter:
Found out today that I'll be headed to Hong Kong with the US National Team for the FINA World Cup in October! Couldn't be more pumped!#goUSA
— Tyler Fenwick (@UTCoachFenwick) September 16, 2014
USA Swimming has beefed up its presence at the World Cup this season, funding eight postgrad athletes and a coach for the opportunity to get in some international racing and earn a lot of prize money. Several members of the junior team travel to the World Cup as well for some international exposure.
All of USA Swimming’s international rosters will be announced no later than October 1.