Upset Wins for Thompson, Munz

FRESNO — Chris Thompson won the 800-meter freestyle Thursday on a hot opening night of the U.S. Championships at the Clovis Olympic Swim Complex.

Thompson took the lead for good from Tom Dolan midway through the race. Dolan, the top-seeded swimmer in the event and a four-event winner at the 1998 Spring Nationals, suffered an asthma attack during the race, according to his coach, Jon Urbanchek.

“I knew that he was going out fast and I was just hoping to keep up with him,” Thompson said. “I really didn’t know how far ahead I was because there was too much glare and I couldn’t see the other swimmers.”

Urbanchek said the 100-degree plus conditions along with unusually high humidity may have contributed to Dolan’s physical problems.

Thompson’s time of 7:58.26 was the second-fastest in the world this year and he is the sixth-fastest American all-time in the event.

Nat Lewis finished second behind Thompson and Austin Ramirez was third.

Diana Munz upset Brooke Bennett in the first event of the meet, winning the 800-meter freestyle in 8:31.74.

Munz was second to Bennett at both the 1996 Olympics and the 1998 World Championships.

Bennett led for the first 500 meters before Munz took over.