Jensen, Binder Take Center Stage in Day One of Janet Evans Invitational

LOS ANGELES, Calif., July 13. THE distance freestylers took center stage at the 13th-annual Janet Evans Invitational at the McDonald’s Swim Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., on Thursday night. Adrienne Binder claimed the women’s 800 LCM freestyle crown, while Olympic Silver Medalist Larsen Jensen captured gold on the men’s side of the 800 free in front of a home crowd.

Binder dominated with a solid effort of 8:39.93, during which she out-split the entire field. The Auburn Tiger opened the event with the only sub-1:03 split of the women’s event then maintained a steady 1:05 pace throughout the rest of the race.

"It's a very good time any time I'm under 8:40," Binder said. "I'm very happy with it – so nothing but good things."

Kalyn Keller finished second in front of her home crowd with an 8:44.56, while Chanelle Watson of Laval University in Quebec closed out the podium with a third-place 8:46.09.

No one came close to Jensen during the men’s portion of the evening as the Trojan ripped off a gold-winning 8:03.49. Amazingly, Jensen finished the race faster than he started it as he sprinted home in 57.76 in the last length after notching a 58.18 opening split. Throughout the rest of the race, Jensen maintained an average of 1:01 with his slowest split coming at the 700-meter mark with a 1:02.08.

"It is better than I've been training," Jensen said. "I came back real fast in the last 100."

Fran Crippen of Mission Viejo Nadadores picked up second-place honors with an 8:10.81, while Emeric Courteille of the French National Team placed third in 8:11.12.

The Janet Evans Invitational continues on Friday with the 100 freestyle, the 200 butterfly, the 200 backstroke, the 400 freestyle and the 400 freestyle relay. Preliminaries will begin at 9 a.m., (PDT) with the finals at 5 p.m.

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