University of Tennessee Athletics
Craig, Kredich Begin Qatari Competition Wednesday
December 02, 2014 | Swimming & Diving
Dec. 2, 2014
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--In the midst of the holiday season, a pair of Vols are spending part of their December in the sunny Middle East.
Wednesday marks the first day of the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Doha, the capital of Qatar, a small country jutting off of the Arabian Peninsula. About 900 competitors will compete in 46 events--34 individual and 12 relays--for a grand total of 138 medals. Among the roster representing Team USA are several Olympians (Natalie Coughlin, Ryan Lochte, Darian Townsend) and a pair of Vol representatives in UT Head Coach Matt Kredich and former Vol swimmer Brad Craig.
The Midland, Mich., native found out about his spot on the roster in mid-September, around the same time he found out about his placement on the USA roster for the 2015 Pan-American Games. Craig will compete in the 50 and 100-meter breaststroke.
The 100 Breast prelims will take place at 9:30 a.m. Qatari time (1:30 a.m. EST) with the finals starting at 6 p.m. Qatari time (10 a.m. EST). Meanwhile, the 50 Breast will take place on Saturday at the same times.
"It's been a whirlwind the past 36 hours," said Craig back in September. "I got the email yesterday that I made Pan-Ams and I just sat there and had this big massive grin on my face. I just had this real sense of euphoria, being able to go to someplace like Qatar (for Short Course) and be surrounded by the other top Americans. It's been a massive trail of good news and I've been smiling non-stop since yesterday."
Kredich was named an assistant coach to Team USA back in November, shortly before he was named to the coaching staff of the 2015 Pan-American Games. He will be joined on the staff by fellow assistants Coley Stickels (Canyons Aquatic Club), Bruce Marchionda (Western Kentucky University) and Chris Plumb (Carmel Swim Club), as well as men's coach David Marsh (SwimMAC Carolina) and women's coach Ray Looze (Indiana University).
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