Olympic Trials: Bobby Finke Dominates Men’s 1500 Freestyle; David Johnston Holds off Luke Whitlock

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Olympic Trials: Bobby Finke Dominates Men’s 1500 Freestyle; Johnston Holds off Whitlock

The final event of the 2024 U.S. Olympic was the men’s 1500 freestyle.

With the final two spots on the Paris team up for grabs, the longest race of the meet was on.

Bobby Finke dominated with a 14:40.28 to win the race by more than a half length, the second-fastest time in the world this year.

“This week has been a pretty tough week. I’m happy with the results. The results were about just getting on the team. That’s the only thing I wanted. Good times would be great, but I’m happy with my times. Getting on the team is first and foremost my priority,” Bobby Finke said. “I think that’s my best I’ve had in a Trials meet (the 800). I’ll always take a new best like that. We have five weeks from now until the start of the games, and just going to go back home, rest for a week and a have a training camp.”

Finke, who won the 800-meter freestyle earlier in the meet, took an immediate lead and was at 55.65 at the 100 mark. He built a two-body length by the 200 mark at 1:54.21.

At the 300, he was at 2:53.32 and three body lengths ahead, then at the 400 it was 3:52.46 and four body lengths ahead.

At 950 meters, Finke was at 8:47.54 and half a pool length ahead of anyone else and that continued to victory.

Luke Whitlock moved into second place at the 250 mark and was just a second ahead of David Johnston with 500 meters to go. But at 1150, it was Johnston who had pulled ahead for second place.

Johnston was at 11:55.52 at 1250, just ahead of Whitlock (11:56.37) and stayed there – barely.

Johnston touched in 14:52.70, the 19th-fastest performer in the world this year, as Whitlock closed in but finished in 14:53.00.

Daniel Matheson finished fourth in 14:59.51 to close out the Olympic Trials.

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Kanga1

5 months ago

Very good swim by Finke. Puts him right up there with Wiffen and Paltrinieri plus Short (has to be fit by then!). Hopefully a WR from either the Irishman or Australian. No I don’t want Finke to win!

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tooshay

5 months ago

and here’s to the even and neg split racers too. .and the one who dropped 20 seconds off his time to MAKE the US Olympic Trial Finals. .whoa!