Chip Peterson Goes For Spot On Olympic Team Sunday
April 30, 2008
SEVILLE, SPAIN -- The 2008 Open Water World Championships are in Seville, Spain May 3-8 with UNC sophomore swimmers Chip Peterson of Pine Knoll Shores, N.C. and Joe Kinderwater of Lancaster, Pa. amongst the competitors. Peterson, who is a past U.S. and World Champion in open water swimming, is competing for one of the 10 spots in 10k open water swimming for the 2008 Olympics in China this summer. Thirty-nine countries are represented by 55 men and 55 women swimmers. The swimmers will race in 5km, 10km, and 25km events. The top 10 men and women swimmers in the 10km races will qualify for the 2008 Olympic 10km open water event. Peterson races this coming Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Seville. Kinderwater races in the five-kilometer world championship event from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6. UNC assistant coach Catherine Vogt is serving as coach of the United States team during its stay in Seville.
The event will take place in the river Guadalquivir in Seveille, along a 2.5 Km course (two or four laps depending on the event 5 or 10 Km). The course will increase from 2.5 Km loop to 5 Km loop for the 25 Km competition on 8th May 2008. Competitors will swim in anticlockwise direction, keeping the turn buoys off their left shoulder. Water temperature will be approximately between 24-25º C. Start & finish will be adequately marked in the Rowing-Canoeing High Performance Center. The course is between 3 and 8 meters deep. Automatic timing equipment from OMEGA Swiss Timing is to be used for the timing of the competition. In accordance with FINA Rule SW11, microchip transponder technology has been added to the equipment. It is mandatory for all competitors to wear microchip transponders on their wrists throughout the race. If a competitor loses a transponder the coach will immediately inform the referee who will instruct the responsible official on the water to issue a replacement transponder. Any competitor who finishes the race without a transponder will be disqualified. The dive start will be the official start for all events at the 5th FINA World OWS Championships Seville 2008. There will be one feeding pontoon for the 10 Km event, located in the center of the course and allowing support staff to feed the swimmers on both sides. Coaches pontoon accreditation bracelets (only one per participant swimmer) will be given to access onto the feeding pontoon during the competition. Transportation will be given by boat, and support staff will not be shuttled back to shore until the race is completely finished. |
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