LONG BEACH, Calif., July 14. LESS than two hours before tonight's 1500-meter freestyle final, two of the finalists have dropped out. Since one of the alternates had already left, the 11th-place prelim finisher was moved into the final.
Fourth place qualifier Peter Vanderkaay, the 2004 NCAA champion in the 1500 meters, and fifth-place qualifier Ryan Lochte both withdrew from tonights' final without explanation.
Ninth-place (15:39.18) prelim finisher John Koehler, 18, of the Dayton Raiders, was elevated to the final, but officials learned that 10th-place finisher, Chris George, had already left Long Beach.
The result is that 11th place prelim finisher, Chris Thompson, of Club Wolverine, has been inserted into the final. Unfortunately, Thompson, the American record-holder in this event and the bronze medalist in Sydney, broke both his arms while training last May, and is unable to swim up to his capability.