Thompson Qualifies First in Men’s 1500

By Kari Lydersen
Photos by Michael Collins

The men's 1500 final promises to be a close and strategically interesting race, with several fast swims and good contests already logged in the prelims.
The top qualifier is Chris Thompson, 21 and swimming for Club Wolverine, with a 15:21.71.
In the final heat, Thompson swam with Mark Warkentin and Tyler Painter for about half the race before pulling easily away from the field.
The second qualifier, 21-year-old Jamie Grimes, made a move around the 550 mark to catch favorite Erik Vendt in the second seeded heat. Grimes passed Vendt by the 800 mark and continued to build a lead. Vendt closed the gap toward the end of the race, but still touched second to Grimes, 15:21.73 to 15:22.54. Vendt, who made the team in the 400 IM, is the third qualifier.
Qualifying fourth was Robert Margalis, who won the first seeded heat in 15:25.43. Margalis, 18 and swimming for St. Petersburg, was pushed by 16-year-old Fran Crippen (15:28.03) and Nat Lewis (15:29.28), the sixth and seventh qualifiers.
Painter, 22, ended up qualifying fifth in 15:26.93.
Filling the eighth spot is 17-year-old Aram Kevorkian, who swam a 15:30.65 to easily win an unseeded heat.

For live results feeds check the OMEGA TIMING site

Full results and schedule of events are available from US Swimming site

TV COVERAGE OF THE SWIM TRIALS
Olympic Swim Trials coverage on NBC:
Aug 19, 4-6 p.m. EST

Olympic Swim Trials coverage on PAX-TV:
Aug. 26, 9-11 p.m. ET and PT

Jamie Grimes, 21, of Rockville-Montgomery, tries to see the time after his 1500 Free. He qualified second in 15:21.73.

Erik Vendt,19, of Squids and Trojan, qualified third for the finals in the 1500.

Top to bottom, Paul Kirk, 17, of Lake Erie Silver, Sean Smith, 18, of Kerr-McGee, and Nat Lewis, 22, from University of Arizona, just before their heat of the 1500.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x