2019 Pan American Games: Brazil Seizes Men’s 800 Free Relay Win, U.S. Earns Second

Jul 15, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Luiz Melo of Brazil in the men's 4x200 freestyle relay preliminary heat during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Pan Am Aquatics UTS Centre and Field House. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Erich Schlegel/USA Today Sports Images

In the penultimate day of the 2019 Pan American Gams, Brazil pulled a win from lane five in the men’s 800 free relay with its deadly combo of Luiz Melo, Fernando Muhlenberg, Joao De Lucca, and Breno Correia. All splitting under 1:49.00, the men put forth a cohesive effort that was good enough to better the United States’ mark by a decisive four-second margin. Despite impressive performances from Drew Kibler, Grant House, Samuel Pomajevich, and Christopher Wieser, the U.S. was unable to sustain its seemingly unstoppable momentum from the past three nights, ending the penultimate day with an upset.

Mexico’s Ricardo Vargas stopped the clocks at 7:19.43 after an impressive anchor leg. The Michigan University junior was joined in celebration by his teammates Jorge Andres Cesar, Long Gutierrez, and José Angel Gomez, as the men put the country on the international radar, standing alongside two swimming powerhouses in the medal ceremony.

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