Vanderkaay Sets American Record at Toyota Santa Clara Grand Prix

Peter Vanderkaay (Rochester, Mich.) lit up the pool Saturday night, breaking the American record in the men’s 400m free at the Toyota International Invitational Grand Prix in Santa Clara, Calif. Vanderkaay won gold in 3:43.82, breaking Klete Keller’s American record set in August of 2004. In addition to Vanderkaay’s standout swim, a total of seven meets records fell on the second night of competition.

Erik Vendt (North Easton, Mass.) finished behind Vanderkaay in the 400m free to earn silver in 3:46.56. Michael Klueh (Evansville, Ind.) took home the bronze in 3:48.79.

In one of the closest races of the night, Aaron Peirsol (Irvine, Calif.) and Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) went head to head in the men’s 200m back. Peirsol led the field throughout the race and held off Phelps on the final 50-meters to win gold, setting a meet record in 1:55.81. Phelps was second in 1:55.84 and Chris DeJong (Holland, Mich.) was third in 1:57.61. Peirsol’s and Phelps’ swims are the two fastest in the world this year.

Natalie Coughlin added to her gold medal haul with a win in the women’s 100m back. Coughlin won gold with a meet-record time of 59.44, Margaret Hoelzer (Huntsville, Ala.) took home the silver in 1:01.13 and Lauren Rogers (Concord, Calif.) claimed the bronze in 1:01.87.

Phelps took home his second gold medal of the meet with a win in the 100m fly. Phelps set a new meet record and beat fellow Club Wolverine teammate Davis Tarwater (Knoxville, Tenn.) with a time of 51.61. Tarwater finished in 53.04 for the silver and Australia’s Garth Kates was third in 53.43. 

In the women’s 400m I.M., 15-year-old Elizabeth Beisel broke the meet record and won gold in 4:36.75. Beisel took the lead following a strong backstroke leg and held on for the gold. Ava Ohlgren (Northville, Mich.) was second in 4:39.69 and Julia Smit (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.) finished third in 4:39.76.

In other meet action, Tara Kirk (Bremerton, Wash.) won gold in the women’s 100m breast in 1:08.36. Kasey Carlson (Walnut Creek, Calif.) earned the silver in 1:09.09, and Genevieve Patterson (Vancouver, Wash.) took home the bronze in 1:09.67. Australia’s Bronte Barratt added to her gold medal haul with a win in the women’s 200m free. Bronte set a meet record with a time of 1:57.18. Allison Schmitt (Canton, Mich.) was second in 1:58.23 and Dana Vollmer (Granbury, Tex.) was third in 1:59.26. In the men’s 50m free, South Africa’s Roland Schoeman won gold and set a meet record with a time of 22.29. Matt Grevers (Lake Forest, Ill.) was second in 22.58 and South Africa’s Ryk Neethling was third in 22.68.

The meet concludes Sunday with 12 events. The women’s competition includes finals in the 200m fly, 50m free, 200m I.M., 200m back, 800m free and 400m medley relay. The men’s program features finals in the 200m breast, 100m free, 200m I.M., 100m back, 1500m free, 400m medley relay. Prelims begin at 9 a.m. and finals start at 5 p.m.