2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
- William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
- Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
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Reported by Lauren Neidigh.
MEN’S 1500 FREE:
- World Record: 14:31.02- Sun Yang, 2012
- American Record: 14:39.38- Connor Jaeger, 2016
- Championship Record: 14:45.54- Peter Vanderkaay, 2008
- U.S. Open Record: 14:45.54- Peter Vanderkaay, 2008
- GOLD: Jordan Wilimovsky– 14:48.89
- SILVER: Robert Finke- 14:55.34
- BRONZE: Zane Grothe– 15:00.85
- FOURTH: Nick Norman- 15:08.81
Open water World Champion Jordan Wilimovsky was 3 seconds over his best to win the race in 14:48.89. He was under U.S. open Record pace until the last couple of hundreds, when he fell off, but still won by nearly 7 seconds. Junior distance star Robert Finke swam to #2 all-time among the 17-18 age group, posting a lifetime best 14:55.34 for 2nd.
Indiana’s Zane Grothe, who set the American Record this season in the sort course mile, had the lead through the front end of the race, but faded to 3rd in 15:00.85. That was a best time by 5 seconds, as his previous best was a 15:05.31 from the Indy Pro Swim Series. That bodes well for his races later on, since the 400 and 800 free are probably his best races.
Nick Norman‘s 15:08.81 from the afternoon heats landed him 4th and puts him in Pan Pacs contention. True Sweetser, who swam at 2017 Worlds in this race, wound up 5th in 15:10.65, while World Junior Champion Andrew Abruzzo was 6th in 15:11.97.
