Men's NCAAs, Day 3: Michigan's Vanderkaay Outduels Mellouli for Second Gold -- March 27, 2004
By Phillip Whitten
1500 meter freestyle
EAST MEADOW, New York, March 27. MICHIGAN sophomore Peter Vanderkaay had already won the 400 free, but his best event was the 1500. Just as in the 400, Vanderkaay took command from the start, and never giving up the lead.
After 400 meters, Robert Margalis, swimming in lane 8, began closing the gap, with USC’s Oussama Mellouli right behind him. By 700 meters the lead had been cut to less than two seconds, but then Vanderkaay began to pull ahead again.
After 1200 meters, Mellouli made his move, cutting Vanderkaay’s lead to only three-tenths of a second at 1400 meters. Then Vanderkaay stepped on the gas and touched almost a second in front of the USC sophomore.
Vnderkaay finished in 14:44.53, Mellouli in 14:45.49 with Mgalis finishing 12 seconds later.
Michigan coach Jon Urbanchek called Vanderkaay’s effort “a controlled swim. Peter was just swimming to win. He was budgeting his energy for the relay tonight.”
