Chris Thompson, Meredith Green Take Distance Titles on First Day of Santa Clara International

SANTA CLARA, June 28. OLYMPIC bronze medalist Chris Thompson stroked to an easy 8:06.24-8:08.59 800 free victory over Long Island up-and-comer Brendan Nelligan here this evening in the opening night of the Santa Clara International Invitational.

The meet continues through Sunday at the George Haines Pool.

Thompson swims for Coach Jon Urbancek's Club Wolverine/
University of Michigan team and was Sydney bronze medalist in the 1500 free in American record time. He also set an American-NCAA record en route to the 1650 free (yards) title at the NCAA Division 1 Championships last March in College Station.

Third was Pacific Dolphins' Tim Peterson (8:09.36).

On the ladies' side the only race was the 1500 free, which went to Carson City's 16-year-old Lauren Costello in a pr 16:38.07 Second was North Carolina's Meredith Green (16:46.63) and taking the bronze was local favorite Jessica Foschi of Stanford (16:53.11).

Foschi won the NCAA 500 free this season and will be a key member of Coach Richard Quick's Cardinal team that hopes to stop Georgia's three-consecutive NCAA Championship title streak next season.

— Bill Bell

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