The Wedding Planner

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OMAHA -- None other than that lovable, quirky Klete Keller will be headed down the aisle, getting married in September.

At least there will be a comforting face nearby in this time of possible stress -- though Keller seems immune to such conditions. Erik Vendt, a teammate of Keller’s at USC and later at Club Wolverine, will be his best man.

But the big question is whether the best man will prevent Keller from making his third Olympic team.

Vendt called the situation ‘weird.’ What happened was Vendt, a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 400 individual medley, opted for the 400 freestyle, which is the same day as the 400 IM. An already stacked field became that much stronger.

The top five qualifiers for tonight’s final are the new American record holder Peter Vanderkaay of Club Wolverine, in 3:48.06; Vendt, also of Club Wolverine, 3:48.25; Larsen Jensen of USC’s Trojan Swim Club, in 3:48.28; 19-year-old Chad LaTourette of Mission Viejo, and the former American record holder Keller, now back with Trojan Swim, in 3:49.92. Keller won bronze in this event at the 2004 Olympics.

Vendt thinks it will ‘definitely’ take going under the American record to win, adding, ‘I wouldn’t be surprised to see four guys under it.’

He hasn’t quite lost his affinity for the 400 IM, though. Vendt admitted to keeping an eye on the morning heats before saying, ‘ ‘Eric, you’re not swimming this race.’ It’s kind of hard to detach.’

-- Lisa Dillman