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| Vendt breaks U.S. mark
SportsLine.com wire reports
In the final event of the eight-day trials, Erik Vendt of North Easton, Mass., became the first American to go under 15 minutes in the 1,500 free. With a tremendous finishing kick, he went 14:59.11 to break George DiCarlo's 16-year-old national record.
Vendt, who already earned a spot on the team in the 400 individual medley, ripped off his goggles and searched for the scoreboard as soon as he touched. When he saw the time, breaking DiCarlo's record of 15:01.51, the 19-year-old pumped his weary arms in triumph.
"It feels great to win and get an American record in the same race," Vendt said. "It's been my goal ever since I started swimming the mile at age 12. At the 1,100 mark, I could hear the crowd going crazy and I knew I was on pace for something -- I figured the American record."
About halfway through the grueling race, Vendt pulled away from favored Chris Thompson, who won a bronze medal at the 1999 Pan Pacific Championships. The 21-year-old native of Roseburg, Ore., took the second Olympic spot in 15:09.16.
"I went out wanting to lead at 600 meters and then try to hold everyone off," Thompson said. "Vendt took off on me and I wasn't able to hang with him."
Vendt will try to end America's drought in swimming's longest event, the last medal coming in 1984.
"A lot of people came to watch Dara swim the 50," he said. "But if we were able to put on a good show for them and generate interest in the mile, all the better."
AP NEWS |
