LONG BEACH, Grand Prix, January 18. ERIK Vendt started the Long Beach Grand Prix off in stylish fashion, establishing an American record in the 1000-yard freestyle Friday night. Vendt checked in with a time of 8:36.49, hacking more than six seconds off the previous standard of Robert Margalis, which stood at 8:42.64.
Vendt posted the following splits:
1 Vendt, Erik K 27 CW-MI 8:48.92 8:36.49
23.44 48.73 (25.29)
1:14.23 (25.50) 1:39.86 (25.63)
2:05.55 (25.69) 2:31.32 (25.77)
2:57.07 (25.75) 3:22.97 (25.90)
3:48.86 (25.89) 4:14.83 (25.97)
4:40.72 (25.89) 5:06.56 (25.84)
5:32.81 (26.25) 5:59.06 (26.25)
6:25.51 (26.45) 6:51.72 (26.21)
7:18.02 (26.30) 7:44.47 (26.45)
8:10.86 (26.39) 8:36.49 (25.63)
At the end of the evening heats, Larsen Jensen stood second with a time of 8:58.64, while Zone Grothe, 15, placed third in 9:14.29
Vendt, a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 400 individual medley, is obviously in good position heading to the United States Olympic Trials in Omaha. Vendt stands a good chance at earning a trip to Beijing in the 400 IM and 1500 freestyle.
As for the women, Vendt's Club Wolverine teammate Kaitlin Sandeno surfaced triumphant with a time of 9:30.62 to break her own pool record. Mary DeScenza claimed second in 9:37.52, while Katie Carroll took third in 9:48.42.
