Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland Claim First Olympic Berths in 400 IM

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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In the first event of the night Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland earned the first two Olympic berths of the week in the 400 IM. The two University of Georgia teammates will head to Rio together as first time Olympians.

Ryan Lochte led at the 50 meter mark and was under world record pace at the 100. After the backstroke he was two body lengths ahead of the field. Kalisz used a strong breaststroke leg to take over the lead.

Litherland was two seconds behind Lochte at the 300 meter mark but powered home in the final 15 meters.

Kalisz stopped the clock in 4:09.54, just off his personal best time of 4:09.22. Litherland’s final time was 4:11.02. Kalisz slid up to second in the world this year and Litherland moved up to fourth. Lochte wound up a full second back in 4:12.02 for third place.

Fellow University of Georgia Dawg Gunnar Bentz took fourth in 4:13.72.

This morning Sean Grieshop set the World Junior Record at 4:14.00. Tonight he finished fifth in 4:14.08.

The three swimmers who were scratched into tonight’s final, Abrahm Devine (4:14.98), Charlie Swanson (4:21.62), and Austin Snyder (4:22.81) finished sixth through eighth.

Photo Courtesy: Omega Timing

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