Connor Jaeger and Jordan Wilimovsky set the pace in 1500 free final.
Each day during the pre-scheduled days of the 2020 US Olympic Trials, Swimming World will take its readers back four years to the 2016 Trials in Omaha to recap each event, and will offer some insight into what the events will look like in 2021. Today: Connor Jaeger and Jordan Wilimovsky qualify in the 1500 free.
Connor Jaeger had been the face of U.S. distance swimming since he finished sixth in the 1500 final at the 2012 London Games. He gradually improved to be a medal contender and finished with the silver medal at the 2015 Worlds. Heading into the Olympic Games, he was fully expected to make the team in the 1500, and after winning the 400 free on day 1, he had no doubters that he would get the job done in the 1500.
With the 1500 coming on the final day of the meet with just the women’s 50 free being the other final, this event takes up a lot of the spotlight since it is the same night as the Olympic team announcement, as the Omaha crowd bids farewell to the team before they head off to the Games.
Jaeger was the overwhelming favorite, and there was a group of about three swimmers that were expected to factor into the second spot.
22-year-old Jordan Wilimovsky was the second seed on the psych sheet but had had more success in the open water venue. He won the gold medal in the 10K at the 2015 World Championships, which solidified his spot on the Olympic team for that event. Wilimovsky had taken the year off of school from Northwestern to fully invest in the Games, so he was focused. He was a grinder, and it was not going to be easy for anyone to catch him if they got behind him.
Connor Jaeger. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
The biggest challenger was expected to be Michael McBroom, who had been the #2 distance swimmer behind Jaeger each of the last three years. McBroom finished sixth at the World Championships in 2015 and was the American record holder in the 800. McBroom had faded to eighth in the 400 final on day one, so how would he rebound mentally to make the team in the 1500?
The wildcard was Clark Smith, who had the fastest time in the nation in short course yards in his junior year at the University of Texas. Smith was actually our bold prediction to get the second spot behind Jaeger. Smith had made the team by virtue of his sixth place finish in the 200 free and had shown fearlessness in the 400 free when he took it out under world record pace before falling to fifth. He had the work behind him, it was just a matter of putting the right race together in the moment. But before he could line up for the final, Smith scratched after a 15:17 in the heats where he placed seventh.
Zane Grothe and PJ Ransford were also considered contenders if they hit their paces right, but with Smith out of the field, this was expected to be a three person race between Jaeger, Wilimovsky and McBroom.
The Race
Jordan Wilimovsky. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
The early leader was Arizona’s Chris Wieser out in lane 1, as he led through 250 meters. Jaeger and Wilimovsky took control of the race and swam stroke for stroke, watching each other to make sure the other wouldn’t make any sudden moves. McBroom had stayed within contact as well, and after 500 meters, the race was going to come down to those three.
Michael McBroom & Eddie Reese. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Jaeger was in front at 4:55.63. Wilimovsky was at 4:56.39 and McBroom was 4:57.67. Wilimovsky wouldn’t let Jaeger go, and those two kept with each other as McBroom struggled to hold on. After the 500, McBroom slowly lost contact with the top two, splitting 30’s the rest of the way. Jaeger and Wilimovsky split 29’s up until the 1250, as they were safely going to be on the plane for Rio.
By the 1350, they were separated by three tenths, but Jaeger shifted into another gear on the final 150, splitting 56.68 on the last lap to win at 14:47.61. Wilimovsky was second at 14:49.19 while McBroom was third at 15:06.60.
- Connor Jaeger, 14:47.61
- Jordan Wilimovsky, 14:49.19
- Michael McBroom, 15:06.60
- Chris Wieser, 15:09.70
- PJ Ransford, 15:12.54
- Logan Houck, 15:13.89
- Bobby Finke, 15:18.40
- Zane Grothe, 15:30.79
On to Rio:
Connor Jaeger put together the race of his life in the 1500 final on the last night in Rio, with a new American record of 14:39.48. It was the first American medal in 12 years and the U.S. nearly had two on the podium. Jordan Wilimovsky finished just out of the medals in fourth with a 14:45.03, and a couple days later finished fifth in the 10K open water race.
Connor Jaeger celebrating the silver medal with a new American record. Photo Courtesy: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
2016 Trials Throwbacks:
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5:
Day 6:
Day 7:
Day 8: