Jensen Follows Plan, Finishes Second

Larsen Jensen’s second-place finish in the 400-meter freestyle Wednesday apparently secured the swimmer’s spot on his first Olympic team.

Despite being best known for the 1,500-meter freestyle, the Mission Viejo native said Wednesday’s race didn’t surprise him.

“That was the plan all along. I wanted to go 3:46, and if people beat me, they beat me,” said Jensen, who finished in 3 minutes 46.56 seconds.

Second-place finishers at the trials are expected to make the U.S. team. Jensen said Wednesday’s finish has put him in the best possible position heading into the mile on Tuesday.

Jensen’s coach, Bill Rose, said Wednesday was the first time Jensen proved he could make the transition from distance swimming. The race, he said, “was mapped out” and went “just like clockwork.”

He didn’t, however, go so far as to say Jensen has a shot to medal at Athens in the 400 free.

“We’re a 1,500 swimmer,” he said. “Let’s not even think about that.”

Rose said Jensen would rest until he gets back in the pool for the mile, comparing the preparation strategy to “putting money in the bank.”

“You kind of let the interest grow ... then take it out all at once,” he said.

Jensen’s goal for the mile is 14:45, 11 seconds faster than the U.S. record.

“My mile is going to be insane,” he said.

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Although Erik Vendt’s second-place finish in the 400-meter individual medley was overshadowed by Michael Phelps’ world record, the USC graduate was upbeat.

“Getting second and making the team is just as good as winning,” he said.

Vendt said that when he realized how far ahead Phelps was, he started focusing on the other swimmers. Vendt finished the race in 4:14.09, well behind Phelps’ 4:08.41. The large gap, he said, didn’t surprise him.

“Michael is the best in the world in that event,” he said. “In that sense, it’s not that unusual.”

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At 15 years old, Katie Hoff became the youngest member of this year’s Olympic team so far. She earned her spot by winning the 400 IM in 4:37.67.

Hoff’s mother, Jeanne Ruark Hoff, played basketball for Stanford from 1978 to 1983. But Katie Hoff, who started swimming at 7, said basketball was never for her.

“Unfortunately I didn’t inherit any basketball genes,” she said. “I cannot play ball sports at all.”