U.S. Nationals, Day 1: Bobby Finke, David Johnston Get Paris Gang Back Together in 1,500
Last summer, Bobby Finke carried the entire foundering U.S. men’s Olympic team on his broad shoulders with his world record gold in the 1,500 freestyle to finish the Paris Games.
Tuesday night, Finke started U.S. Nationals in the form you’d expect from one of the program’s paragons.
Finke won the event with ease at IU Natatorium in 14:48.65 to book his place at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore.
David Johnston made it the same duo as the Paris Olympics, getting home in second place in 14:57.83 to get priority for the 2025 World Championships in Singapore.
Finke was well off the pace of the world record he set in Paris of 14:30.67. He flirted with that speed for the first 400 or so meters before falling off it. He is the fourth-fastest performer in the world this year, well back of the 14:36s thrown down by Germans Florian Wellbrock and Sven Schwarz. Daniel Wiffen has gone 14:42.71, and David Betlehem of Hungary has also been 14:48.
Finke went 14:40.28 at Olympic Trials last year.
Johnston had a disappointing Olympics, finishing 18th in his only event in Paris. Tuesday’s time is five seconds off his best of 14:52.74 from Olympic Trials last year. That one entailed a battle with Luke Whitlock, who is absent form this week’s competition.
Third place went to Aiden Hammer in 15:05.13, 10.2 seconds off his seed time. Carson Hick shaved nine seconds off his seed time in fourth in 15:05.87. Lance Norris was the quickest of the early heats, going 15:11.46 to finish fifth overall. He was ahead of Will Mulgrew from the final heat, while Gabriel Manteufel also went from the early heats to the top eight in seventh.
Among the top eight seeds, Luke Ellis fell to 12th and Charlie Clark to 13th.
