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2020 US Olympian Michael Brinegar Breaks 15:00 in 1500 Freestyle For First Time

2023 U.S. PRO CHAMPIONSHIPS

MEN’S 1500 METER FREESTYLE – FASTEST HEAT

  • World Record: 14:31.02 – Yang Sun (2012)
  • American Record: 14:36.70 – Bobby Finke (2022)
  • S. Open Record: 14:42.81 – Bobby Finke (2023)
  • Pro Swim Record: 14:53.12 – Jordan Wilimovsky (2016)
  • World Junior Record: 14:46.09 – Franko Grgic (2019)
  • 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Cut: 15:39.89

Podium:

  1. Matthew Galea (AUS), 14:57.19
  2. Michael Brinegar (TST), 14:59.54
  3. Daniel Matheson (SUN), 15:01.95

Michael Brinegar swam a personal best time in the men’s 1500 freestyle on the final night of competition in Irvine. Brinegar swam to a final time of 14:59.94, keeping him as the #16 American all-time.

This was a huge swim for Brinegar whose previous best time was a 15:00.82 from 2019 Summer Nationals. Brinegar qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 1500 freestyle.

At Wave II Olympic Trials, Brinegar swam a 15:00.87 for second. In Tokyo, he swam a 15:04.67 to finish 17th.

In addition to being a personal best, his swim tonight was a huge season best. His previous season best was a 15:11.49 which he swam to finish fifth at Pro Swim-Fort Lauderdale back in March.

His swim tonight also was much faster than he was at US Nationals last month in Indianapolis. There, Brinegar swam a 15:18.14 to finish ninth. He was 0.01 seconds from tying for 8th place, which was what it took to make the final.

Brinegar’s time from tonight would have finished third at US Nationals, behind both Bobby Finke (14:42.81) and Charlie Clark (14:50.84), who qualified for 2023 Worlds. It took a 14:54.29 to qualify for the 1500 free final at 2023 Worlds, which will take place tomorrow (Sunday, July 30) at 7 am EST.

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mds
1 year ago

Mentioned only in the top three finishers listing, Daniel Matheson, Sun Devil, made the largest move toward the front ranks of American distance swimmers of anyone in the Pro Championships Meet. He deserves more notice..

800 LCM Freestyle 7:52.34 #1 American (winner Galea, Australia); PB coming in: 8:01.30
400 LCM Freestyle 3:48.94 #2 American behind Magahey (winner Galea) PB coming in: 3:54.78
400 LCM IM 4:17.58 #3 American (Litherland 1st, Driggers 2nd) PB coming in: 4:21.63
(Petric, Australia, 3rd)
1500 LCM Freestyle 15:01.95 #2 American behind Brinegar (Galea winner) PB coming in: 15.19.99

Matheson was an Arizona HS champion (500 – 4:20.64), swam his first collegiate year (2022) at USC (4:14.87 500/3:44.71 4IM/ 14:51.70 1650; all… Read more »

swammer
1 year ago

Camp Schubee Doo is very good to Michael! Nice swim!!!

Troyy
1 year ago

That’s also Galea’s first sub 15.

swimster
1 year ago

back with TST

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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