Reported by Lauren Neidigh.
MEN’S 500 FREE FINALS
American Record: 4:08.42, Clark Smith, 2017U.S. Open Record: 4:08.42, Clark Smith, 2017Meet Record: 4:10.75, Peter Vanderkaay, 2007Pool Record: 4:13.19, Anton Ipsen, 2017
- GOLD: Zane Grothe, Indiana, 4:07.25
- SILVER: Mitch D’Arrigo, Florida, 4:10.78
- BRONZE: Marwan El Kamash, Indiana, 4:16.10
It was Indiana on top again in the next event, as Zane Grothe charged to a new American and U.S. Open Record to win the 500 free. He battled closely with Florida’s Mitch D’Arrigo through the first 350 yards, but really stormed through the final 150 for a dominant final outcome in 4:07.25.
Grothe’s final 100 split was a blistering 49.18. That came on the heels of a 49.68 split on the 4th 100. His final time shattered Clark Smith’s old American and U.S. Open Record of 4:08.42 by over a second. It was also a lifetime best by over 5 seconds, as his former best in the USA Swimming database was a 4:12.98 from 2015. D’Arrigo wound up 2nd in 4:10.78, coming within a second of his personal best 4:09.98 from 2016 NCAAs.
The Hoosiers got 2 on the podium, as Marwan El Kamash held off Louisville’s Marcelo Acosta (4:16.35) on the final 50 to round out the podium in 4:16.10. Both El Kamash and Acosta were slightly under the 2017 NCAA invite time of 4:16.67.
Zane works very hard and has a coach that he clicks with. A tried-and-true formula for success in elite swimming.
He had his big breakthrough swim in 2015, when he dropped to a 3:45 in the 400 meter free. He was the top qualifier at the 2016 Olympic trials, and was faced with trying to topple Conor Dwyer and Connor Jaeger to make the Olympic team. He swam a PB again, but came in 4th.
This year, he swam a 3:44 at the WC Trials out of Lane 1 to beat Clark Smith and Townley Haas. At the WCs, he made the final and came in 7th, saying that he had to give it everything in the morning just… Read more »
video of this race anywhere?
Not yet. So far, USA Swimming has only put B and C finals on YT. The rest may go up after television has aired it.
Awesome.
He seems to be growing with experience, but I wonder where he would have been in college at Florida or Georgia or Michigan.
What a good & mature role model for swimmers & athletes in general. Congratulations Zane.
What a nice interview. A lot of younger athletes could benefit from watching this. Happy for Zane!
Wow. Really like this guy. Practical. Real.
0:52 to 1:28 is pretty much a perfect answer.
I am now on the Zane Train.
I have to go back and listen to them again at those points. Yes, the first time I heard them I thought he answered really well on those points. Great for young swimmers to hear. Bravo!
Great interview. And great attitude. Go Zane!