Editorial coverage for U.S. Senior Nationals proudly sponsored by Master Spas!
IRVINE, California, August 8.
With even Tyler Clary saying the favorite in the event was Chase Kalisz, Clary managed to take Kalisz’s best shot in the breaststroke before putting Kalisz away down the stretch with a 4:09.51 for the win. That’s his second victory of the meet, adding to his 200-meter back triumph from last night. That’s Clary’s first long course title in the 400 IM since 2011 winter nationals, and Clary now trails only Kosuke Hagino (4:07.88) in the world rankings.
Kalisz, the heavy favorite in the event, wound up taking second in 4:11.52 as he just clipped his season best of 4:11.71 from the Santa Clara stop of the Grand Prix. However, he was unable to leapfrog Yang Zhixian and Dan Wallace’s 4:11.04s for the next spot in the rankings, leaving him seventh overall.
California’s Josh Prenot held off the rest of the field for third with a 4:14.85 to tie Thiago Pereira for 16th in the world. Dynamo’s Jay Litherland placed fourth in 4:14.93 to break the top 20 as well.
NCAP’s Andrew Seliskar (4:16.73), Wisconsin’s Michael Weiss (4:16.97), Stanford’s Max Williamson (4:18.17) and PASA’s Curtis Ogren (4:21.38) closed out the rest of the championship heat finishes.
Dynamo’s Gunnar Bentz scorched the B final in the 400 IM with a 4:15.24. That performance jumped him to 16th in the world rankings, while being just off his personal best of 4:14.51 from last summer’s juniors. Aquazot’s Corey Okubo hit the wall second in 4:18.43 with Missouri’s Daniel Graviss placing third in 4:19.76.
Baylor’s Sam McHugh broke through the 4:22 mark for the first time with a 4:21.90 to win the C final tonight. That’s under his best of 4:22.54 set this morning during prelims. Dynamo’s Kevin Litherland picked up second in the bonus heat with a 4:23.06, while Crimson’s Robert Owen placed third in 4:25.30.
