By Kari Lydersen
Photos by Michael Collins
The men's 1500 final promises to be a close and strategically interesting race, with several fast swims and good contests already logged in the prelims.
The top qualifier is Chris Thompson, 21 and swimming for Club Wolverine, with a 15:21.71.
In the final heat, Thompson swam with Mark Warkentin and Tyler Painter for about half the race before pulling easily away from the field.
The second qualifier, 21-year-old Jamie Grimes, made a move around the 550 mark to catch favorite Erik Vendt in the second seeded heat. Grimes passed Vendt by the 800 mark and continued to build a lead. Vendt closed the gap toward the end of the race, but still touched second to Grimes, 15:21.73 to 15:22.54. Vendt, who made the team in the 400 IM, is the third qualifier.
Qualifying fourth was Robert Margalis, who won the first seeded heat in 15:25.43. Margalis, 18 and swimming for St. Petersburg, was pushed by 16-year-old Fran Crippen (15:28.03) and Nat Lewis (15:29.28), the sixth and seventh qualifiers.
Painter, 22, ended up qualifying fifth in 15:26.93.
Filling the eighth spot is 17-year-old Aram Kevorkian, who swam a 15:30.65 to easily win an unseeded heat.
For live results feeds check the OMEGA TIMING site
Full results and schedule of events are available from US Swimming site
TV COVERAGE OF THE SWIM TRIALS
Olympic Swim Trials coverage on NBC:
Aug 19, 4-6 p.m. EST
Olympic Swim Trials coverage on PAX-TV:
Aug. 26, 9-11 p.m. ET and PT
