Work that 100m Free Ryan!!!

It's been a while, but I was thinking ahead about 2015 Worlds in Russia, and it occurred to me that Ryan could swim 5 events:  200m free, 200m IM, 800m free relay, 400m free relay and 400m medley relay.

The first four events are givens.  But the 400m medley relay?  How would he be able to swim this?

The top 7 swimmers in the 100m free at 2014 U.S. Nationals all qualified for 2015 Worlds.  Those swimmers are:

Nathan Adrian:                48.31
Ryan Lochte:                   48.96
Jimmy Feigen:                 48.98
Conor Dwyer:                  49.06
Anthony Ervin:                49.08
Matt Grevers:                   49.12
Michael Phelps:               49.17

The Pan Pacs top 100m free swims are:

Nathan Adrian:                 48.30  - A Final
Michael Phelps:                48.51 -  A Final
Anthony Ervin:                 49.20 - B Final

Pan Pacs Prelims:

Ryan Lochte:                   48.90
Jimmy Feigen:                 49.14
Conor Dwyer:                  49.19
Matt Grevers:                   49.76
Cullen Jones:                   50.68

If you combine the two meets and take the fastest times for each swimmer, the rankings are:

Nathan Adriam:              48.30
Michael Phelps:              48.51
Ryan Lochte:                  48.90 (or 49.96 if you don't want to count prelims)
Jimmy Feigen:                48.98
Conor Dwyer:                 49.06
Anthony Ervin:               49.08
Matt Grevers:                 49.12
Cullen Jones:                  50.68

Here's how the 400m medley relay comes into play.  The top two swimmers in the 100m free usually get the spots on the morning and evening relays, i.e. Michael Phelps would swim the free leg in the morning and Nathan Adrian would swim it in the evening.  But, Michael Phelps qualified the fastest in the 100m fly and will be swimming that leg in the evening.  It is doubtful he would swim the free leg in the morning.  Who is the next fastest qualifier?  Ryan Lochte.

Could he be put on the free leg of the 400m medley relay for the prelim/morning swim?  It's a definitely possibility.  Because it is the coach's choice, it will depend on several factors:

1. How does he do in the 400m free relay which is usually earlier (the 400m medley relay is typically the last event of the meet).
2. What coach makes the decision.
3. Is someone else hot that week, or during training camp.  For instance, if Jimmy Feigen or Anthony Ervin are swimming super fast that week either one could be put on the free leg of the prelim swim because both are freestyle sprinters.

I just thought it was an interesting way to swim in a 5th event and qualify for the 400m medley relay after the somewhat disappointing 100m fly swims at Nationals and Pan Pacs.