By John Lohn
OMAHA, Nebraska, June 29. LEADING up to the Olympic Trials, Peter Vanderkaay and Erik Vendt were mentioned as the primary favorites to qualify for Beijing in the 400 freestyle. Meanwhile, Larsen Jensen was chatted up as a guy who could bring trouble. Well, Jensen obviously wasn't given enough respect.
Taking command during the second 100, Jensen carried the field to the wall and set an American record of 3:43.53 while holding off the Club Wolverine tandem of Peter Vanderkaay and Erik Vendt. Jensen, the reigning Olympic silver medalist in the 1500 free, was gutsy the whole way, jumping out to that lead and fighting off the charges of Vanderkaay and Vendt.
Vanderkaay touched in second in 3:43.73, which was faster than his American record of 3:43.82 from the middle last month. Vendt was third in 3:43.92 and was making up ground when he hit the touchpad. Vendt sat third throughout the race while Klete Keller finished fourth in 3:46.36 after taking the lead through 100 meters.
Jensen, Vanderkaay and Vendt are scheduled to rekindle their duel when the 1500 freestyle is contested on the last day of competition. Meanwhile, the men will also take part in the 200 freestyle, though that's an event that plays more to the strength of Vanderkaay. By the end of the week, Vendt is likely to have an Olympic spot, with all three men going to Beijing.
"I just tried to bury my head and swim as fast as I could," Jensen said. "I knew (Vanderkaay, Vendt and Keller) were fast chargers and I needed to get my hand on the wall first."
Taking fifth in the final of the 400 free was Michael Klueh (3:50.44) and the sixth and seventh positions were occupied by Chad LaTourette (3:50.69) and Matt Patton (3:51.04). The eighth spot went to Tobias Work in 3:52.28.
Video Footage Removed Due to NBC Restrictions
Go to Swimming World's 2008 Olympics Landing Page for the most comprehensive coverage of the meet on the Internet.
