Former N.C. State swimmers and Olympic participants Cullen Jones and Dan Velez will compete at the FINA Swimming World Championships this week in Rome, Italy. The event will run from Sunday, July 26 through Saturday, Aug. 2.
Jones won Olympic Gold medalist for Team USA at the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing in dramatic fashion. His men’s 4×100 relay, which included swimming phenoms Michael Phelps and Jason Lezak, barely touched out France for the win. At Worlds this year, Jones will swim the 50 freestyle and serve as a relay alternate. Two years ago, he earned a spot on Team USA and competed at Worlds in Australia. Pack head coach Brooks Teal was “fortunate enough to go” with him as part of USA’s coaching staff. ”That was a great experience, one I really feel like paved the way for what he was able to do in the Olympics,” Teal said. “It gave him the experience he needed.” Earlier this month, Jones set a new American record with a 21.41 in the 50 freestyle at the 2009 Conoco Phillips National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. Just as he did in the Olympic trials last year, Jones will have to prove himself in order to earn a spot on a relay team. ”He’s in the same situation. He’ll probably swim in the relay in the preliminaries,” Teal said. “They take the top six 100 freestylers. Potentially any one on the team – including Michael Phelps – could be put on the relay. He’ll have to perform there and have one of the fastest times in order to swim in the finals.” Velez, who swam for Puerto Rico in Beijing, will compete in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 breaststroke. He only participated in the 100 in the Olympics. He swam a 1:01.80 to win the third heat and stake a new Puerto Rican record during the 100 breaststroke preliminaries at the Olympics. After completing an internship, Valez returned to Raleigh in the late spring and has been training with his former team in preparation for Rome. ”I’ve had some e-mail correspondence with him,” Teal said. “He’s excited and looking forward to swimming. He’s getting to be a veteran of international experience, so that should pay off.” Though Jones, Valez and fellow Wolfpack swimmer Erica Smith have finished their time with the Pack athletically, Smith and Jones are still working on earning their degrees. According to Teal, Cullen “still has a couple of classes to go” and Smith will graduate in December, though she has completed her eligibility. As for the women’s team, State senior Erica Smith also participated in World Championship trials in Indianapolis in early July, helping her relay team to an eighth place finish. She also participated individually in the 100 and 200 backstroke. A few short months ago, Smith thought her swimming career was over. ”She had never qualified for national-level meet until her senior year, and that was what really motivated her to continue her career,” Teal said. “She decided after ACC Championships that she wasn’t ready for her career to end and trained all spring.” A skateboarding accident two weeks before the meet in which Smith fractured her skull set her training back considerably. A few days before the meet, she received medical clearance. However, Teal insists she was “not at her best.” Smith, along with seven other Pack swimmers, will head to Seattle next week for the U.S. Open championships, which serves as the summer finale for most American swimmers. Seniors Mason McGee, Kevin Woodhull-Smith and Anna Linkenauger and junior Jen Kopenitz and will be among those joining Smith in Seattle. Teal said after strong summers, those four will be the veteran core of the State team moving forward while its former standouts compete for gold.
