Reported by Mitch Bowmile.
MEN’S 400M FREESTYLE
2016 Top seed: Connor Jaeger (3:44.81)
World record: 3:40.07 – Paul Biedermann (Germany)
American record: 3:42.78 – Larsen Jensen
U.S Open record: 3:43.53 – Larsen Jensen
U.S Nationals record: 3:43.53 – Larsen Jensen
JR World record: 3:44.60 – Mack Horton (Australia)
2012 Winning Time: 3:47.67 – Peter Vanderkaay
Zane Grothe took it upon himself to lead the way in the prelims of the men’s 400m freestyle by taking the top seed with a heat four win in 3:47.03. Grothe managed to hold on for the win, taking down Townley Haas and Michael McBroom who were with him for most of the race.
McBroom ended up touching behind Grothe in 3:47.70 to take the third seed overall heading into tonight’s finals. Haas was third with a 3:48.09 performance that currently ranks him fifth overall.
Assuming nobody from the “b” flighted heats betters their performances, all three swimmers are locks for tonight’s final.
Conor Dwyer won heat five of the 400m freestyle with a very similar time to Grothe’s, clocking in at 3:47.15 to beat 1500m freestyle American record holder Connor Jaeger. Jaeger was second in 3:47.97 for fourth overall.
True Sweetser, Clark Smith, and Grant Shoults make up the remaining top eight.
TOP EIGHT AFTER ‘A’ FLIGHT HEATS
- Zane Grothe (3:47.03)
- Conor Dwyer (3:47.15)
- Michael McBroom (3:47.70)
- Connor Jaeger (3:47.97)
- Townley Haas (3:48.09)
- True Sweetser (3:48.20)
- Clark Smith (3:48.86)
- Grant Shoults (3:50.52)
Shoults is also due for a drop in the 1500. He last swam it in November and is one of the fastest 1000 yard freestyler of all time.
Stanford, you lucky blokes.
Not hating on Grant at all, (how could you?) but True Sweetser was even faster! They will be next to each other tonight and it will be a great preview of the next 4 years of training for them.
Indeed. I mean that twice. I’m sure Kostoff will do a great job with these guys.
Way to go Grant! The future of USA Swimming mid-distance freestyle.
Sweetser is only 18 and might be in that conversation considering he’s two seconds faster this morning and should have been 3:47 but coasted on big time on the finish.