U.S. International Team Trials: Bobby Finke Breezes, Charlie Clark Drops Top-10 Time in 1,500 (VIDEO)

Bobby Finke; Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. International Team Trials: Bobby Finke Breezes, Charlie Clark Drops Top-10 Time in 1,500

When most of the world first saw Bobby Finke in a pool, it was in a furious flash of splash in running down gold medals in the men’s distance events.

Tuesday night, he proved pretty proficient in leading from the front, too.

There was no drama from the double Olympic gold medalist on the first night of U.S. International Team Trials, comfortably coasting to the win and a spot in Budapest in the men’s 1,500 freestyle.

USA Swimming International Team Trials

Finke clocked in at 14:45.72. He flirted with American record pace for the first 500 or so meters, but Connor Jaeger’s 14:39.48 from the Rio Olympics will live to fight another day. Finke had gone 14:46.06 at U.S. Olympic Trials last year, then won gold by rallying for a time of 14:39.65 in Tokyo.

The more aggressive approach Tuesday came after a conversation with Kieran Smith, Finke’s Florida teammate and former Olympian, about trusting himself to take it out more aggressively.

“I swam it completely differently than I normally swim those,” Finke said. “At least internationally, I normally swim with the field. Kieran’s the one who pointed it out to me – domestically I always swim it for time, so I think that was the biggest difference tonight. I went for the time, and it didn’t really happen. But I’ll take the time, especially since I was expecting to be above 14:50 and I thought I was dying really hard at the end of that race. So I’m happy with it.”

Finke hasn’t missed a beat since winning gold in the 800 free and 1,500 free in Tokyo. Though he missed the SEC Championships due to illness, the University of Florida senior won the men’s 1,650 free at NCAAs after finishing 10th in the 500 free and fourth in the 400 individual medley for the Gators.

Finke’s time is third in the world in 2022, trailing Germany’s Lukas Martens (14:40.28) and Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy (14:44.39).

Joining Finke in Budapest is Ohio State sophomore Charlie Clark, who threw down a personal-best 14:51.78 to take second. He closed somewhat on Finke, though Finke was too far out in front to be too trouble. Clark’s previous best was last summer at 15:04.37. His time is the sixth fastest in the world in 2022.

The second spot was always up for grabs in Greensboro. Michael Brinegar, who finished 17th in Tokyo, wasn’t entered in the event. Nor were the third- and fourth-place finishers at Trials, Jordan Wiilmovsky and Arik Katz, respectively. Clark was fifth at Trials last summer.

Five of the finalists from Omaha last summer were in this field Tuesday. David Johnston, who was seventh at Trials, finished third in Greensboro in 15:08.90, 10 seconds quicker than last year. Texas-bound high school senior Alec Enyeart finished fourth in 15:12.70. Another high schooler, University of California commit Matthew Chai, finished fifth from the unseeded heats, dropping 16 seconds to 15:16.42.

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