Ryan Cochrane (CAN) and Andrew Gemmell (USA) cleaned up for a 1-2 finish in the 1500 free, and third went to Brandonn Almeida (BRA) with a new national record for the young Brazilian.
Almeida posted a personal best time of 15:11.70 for his second medal, a bronze, of these Games; he won gold in the 400 IM. His time clears his own Brazilian record of 15:12.20, done this April at the Maria Lenk Trophy. Almeida, only 18 years of age, broke Gunnar Bentz’s World Jr Record in the 400 IM in his win earlier in this meet, and is a growing talent for Brazil. His time in the 1500 nearly eclipsed the South American record of 15:10.24, set by Argentina’s Martín Naidich back in 2013.
Marcelo Acosta of El Salvador did away with his own 1500 free Salvadorian record, finishing fourth overall at these Games with a time of 15:16.26. His old record stood at 15:22.43; he broke that by over six seconds in this race. Acosta is still young; the rising University of Louisville sophomore set a school record in the 1650y free this year in 15:02.00 as a freshman. Acosta holds national records in every freestyle event save for the 50.
Finishing in 8th in the third timed final of the 1500 free, as well as 8th overall, was Colómbia’s Mateo De Angulo. He set the old record at the CAC Games in November of 2014, which was a 15:26.71, and his time of 15:24.27 in finals cleared that by over two seconds. the 25-year-old set a new national record in the 400 free earlier in this meet as well.
