Zane Grothe: “Sometimes I have to tell myself to look around” (Video)

Reported by James Sutherland.

Zane Grothe: “I consider the 400 [free] my best race. A lane is a lane … I’m stronger, I’ve got a little better technique, I’ve changed up a little race strategy – a little bit of progress every year.”

MEN’S 400 FREE FINALS

• American Record: Larsen Jensen, 3:42.78, 2008
• U.S. Open Record: Larsen Jensen, 3:43.53, 2008
• LC National Meet Record: Larsen Jensen, 3:43.53, 2008
• FINA ‘A’ Standard: 3:48.15

1. Zane Grothe, BAD, 3:44.43
2. Clark Smith, TXLA, 3:45.91
3. Townley Haas, NOVA, 3:46.41

As expected the men’s 400 was a three-way battle, with Longhorn teammates Clark Smith and Townley Haas duking it out with Zane Grothe, who was out in lane 1. After turning 1st at the 200, Grothe pulled away from Smith and Haas, clocking in at 3:44.43 to lower his personal best and qualify for an individual event in Budapest.

Smith and Haas battled the whole race, with Smith edging the 200 free champion by half a second in 3:45.91 to Haas’ 3:46.41. Smith qualifies himself for an individual event in Budapest after making the 4×200 relay on Wednesday.

Grant Shoults had an impressive swim in a personal best 3:48.73 to get 4th, and Mitch D’Arrigo was 5th in 3:50.61.

Jay Litherland (3:50.36) won the B-final over Patrick Callan (3:51.94), and Johnthomas Larson had a big drop in the C-final to win the heat in 3:52.99 from lane 1.