Vendt crashes out as Torres rolls on at US swimming trials

AFP, July, 2008

OMAHA, Nebraska (AFP) — Peter Vanderkaay clocked the fastest 1500m freestyle time of 2008 at the US Olympic swimming trials Sunday as Erik Vendt's dream of challenging distance king Grant Hackett in Beijing evaporated.

Vanderkaay, already slated to swim the 200m and 400m free in Beijing after runner-up finishes at the trials, was the surprise winner of the 1500m free in 14min 45.50sec.

He sliced 7.02sec off his personal best in becoming the fourth-fastest performer in history over the arduous distance.

Larsen Jensen, already Beijing-bound with his win in the 400m free, claimed the other 1,500m free berth for Beijing, finishing second in 14:50.80 in the final event of the eight-day meeting.

"This is the one I didn't think I'd get the win in,"...