One last shock

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OMAHA -- So much for predictability.

The last race of the swimming trials tonight hardly went to form. Peter Vanderkaay of Club Wolverine (Mich.) won the 1,500-meter freestyle in 14 minutes 45.54 seconds, well below his personal best of 14:52.56. Taking second was Larsen Jensen of USC’s Trojan Swim Club in 14:50.80.

Erik Vendt accounted for the biggest shock as he placed fourth in 15:07.78, a whopping 23 seconds off his personal best. He came out of retirement for one last push and won’t be swimming in any individual events in Beijing but will be on a relay.

He was asked about his level of disappointment.

‘Oh, yeah, this is what I’ve been training for all year,’ Vendt said. ‘I just didn’t get it done today.’

Said Jensen: ‘I figured going out a little quicker really wouldn’t be that difficult and it really didn’t feel that difficult. I don’t know why I really faded at the end. That’s the race I can second-guess, I suppose.’

-- Lisa Dillman