Anton Ipsen Swims 2nd-Best 1500 of Career to Win in Columbus (Day 1)

2018 PRO SWIM SERIES – COLUMBUS

  • Thursday, July 5 – Sunday, July 8, 2018
  • McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, Columbus, OH
  • Thursday: Timed Finals 5 PM (US Eastern Time)
  • Friday-Sunday: Prelims 10 AM / Finals 6:30 PM (US Eastern Time)
  • Meet site
  • Meet info
  • Psych sheet

The newly-Olympic women’s 1500 free and the 110-years-Olympic men’s 1500 free opened up day 1 of the 2018 TYR Pro Swim Series – Columbus. This marks the final stop of the 2018 series, and will count for many swimmers as final competitive preparations for the U.S. National Championships at the end of this month.

32-year old Chilean veteran Kristel Kobrich won the women’s 1500 running away in 16:15.72 That put her almost 7 seconds ahead of 15-year old Mariah Denigan of the Northern Kentucky Clippers, who took 2nd in 16:22.50 – a lifetime best on her account by more than 15 seconds.

Cierra Runge, who is transferring to Arizona State from Wisconsin, finished 3rd in 16:24.00, and Becca Mann, who is racing under Arizona State’s banner but has made no formal recognition of a transfer, was 4th in 16:25.59.

Women’s 1500 Free – Top 8 Finishers (Timed Final)

  1. Kristel Kobrich, Chile – 16:15.72
  2. Mariah Denigan – Northern Kentucky Clippers – 16:22.50
  3. Cierra Runge – Arizona State Unattached – 16:24.00
  4. Becca Mann – Arizona State Unattached – 16:25.59
  5. Ashley Neidigh – Indiana Post-Grad – 16:31.47
  6. Sophie Cattermole – Louisville – 16:34.31
  7. Molly Kowal – Ohio State – 16:41.68
  8. Cassy Jernberg – Schroeder YMCA – 16:44.08

The men’s 1500 free was even more lopsided, in spite of having the two most prolific 1650 yard freestylers of the last 6 months – Zane Grothe, who broke the U.S. Open Record in the event in December, and Anton Ipsen, who won the NCAA title in March.

Ipsen, who has until August 3rd before the European Championships begin (he’s Danish), won on Thursday in 15:07.40. While he and Grothe were neck-and-neck for the first 400 meters or so (were they had identical 4:00.70 splits), Ipsen exploded over the last two-thirds of the race.

Comparative splits between the two:

Ipsen Splits Grothe Splits
First 400m 4:00.70 4:00.70
Second 400m 4:02.85 4:08.45
Third 400m 4:02.87 4:11.08
Last 300m 3:00.98 3:09.45

Ipsen’s 750/750 split was 7:33.28/7:34.12, almost an even-split, and his 800s were 8:03.55 for the first 800 meters, and 8:04.41 for the last 800 meters. Note that Ipsen’s swim came after his primary day-to-day coach changed: Gary Taylor, the new Auburn head coach, had been working with the distance program at NC State.

The time is just less than 2 seconds from Ipsen’s personal best, and is the second-fastest time of his career (behind only his Olympic 15:05.91).

Grothe’s swim, meanwhile, was well off his season-best of 15:05 from the Indianapolis Pro Swim Series, which still leaves him as the fastest American so far this season.

Men’s 1500 Free – Top 8

  1. Anton Ipsen – Wolfpack Elite – 15:07.40
  2. Zane Grothe – Indiana Postgrad – 15:29.68
  3. Marcelo Acosta – Louisville – 15:32.29
  4. T.C. Smith – Louisville – 15:54.87
  5. Tyler Jones – University of Cincinnati – 16:01.73
  6. Austin Mortimer – Ohio State – 16:04.84
  7. Toby Van Dyke – University of Cincinnati – 16:10.81
  8. Spencer Tussing – Ohio State Swim Club – 16:12.92

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Polly
6 years ago

Bernardino as Ipsen’s new coach must be working!

Pack Mack
6 years ago

No way Ipsen tapered for a meet a month before the European championships.

Dad
6 years ago

Grothe unsuited

Kathy
6 years ago

Why are we having a pro series meet with a total of 4 guys under 16:00. That’s disgusting and pitiful.

Becky D
Reply to  Kathy
6 years ago

Wow. Maybe have another cup of coffee.

Bruh
Reply to  Kathy
6 years ago

Did you ever ho under 16:00, Kathy?

Hoosier Eli
6 years ago

Why do you not list Grothe and Neidigh with their Mission Viejo affiliations? That is how they are listed on their entries and in the results?

Hank
6 years ago

Any particular reason for Zane dropping back? Is he in heavy training for Nationals still and untapered? Was this a taper meet for Ipsen?

Superfan
Reply to  Hank
6 years ago

I am sure Zane is probably training hard but why would Ipae be rested/tapered when he has Europeans coming up? Let’s not make excuses or rationalize. It is what it is!

ct swim fan
Reply to  Superfan
6 years ago

Why would Ipsen taper for this Columbus meet. In fact, in the video, Ipsen says he just came off a period of hard training.

tammy touchpad error
6 years ago

I hope Williamovsky runs away with the distance events this summer.

Can’t see Zane or Clark Smith ever pushing past 5th place if they happen to find themselves in an international final.

Could MAYBE see Zane getting a Bronze in the 400 in a longshot pick. Field been weeeeek tho.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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