While most of the country’s top names were in action on the West Coast at the Santa Clara Grand Prix, another American swimming star was tearing up Florida at the Swim Fort Lauderdale International Classic.
Katie Hoff, on the comeback trail in the Sunshine State after a swimming hiatus, won four events at the SFTL meet, including a 200 IM that would have won the Santa Clara title by over a half second.
Hoff went 2:12.05 to win that IM race, which is starting to look like the centerpiece of her comeback effort. Hoff, a former World Champ in the event, actually outsplit Grand Prix champ Caitlin Leverenz on three of the four legs:
- Fly: Hoff 28.21/Leverenz 28.33
- Back: Hoff 33.72/Leverenz 34.41
- Breast: Hoff 37.78/Leverenz 37.99
- Free: Hoff 32.34/Leverenz 31.88
- Overall: Hoff 2:12.05/Leverenz 2:12.61
Hoff noted in an interview at the Mesa Grand Prix that she likely wouldn’t compete at Santa Clara, citing the lengthy travel from Florida to California, and she indeed kept up her recent trend of hitting local Florida meets as she quietly kindles her comeback from a post-Olympic Trials break that began in 2012 after she missed the U.S. Olympic Team after making the squad in 2004 and 2008.
In addition to that 200 IM, Hoff won three more events – she continues to focus on sprint races, but also looks to be testing the waters in the 100 and 200 freestyles, where she could be a contender to nab a relay spot for the Pan Pacific Championships later this summer at the U.S. selection meet.
Hoff went 55.88 to win the 100 free, which would have put her right at the tail of the A final in Santa Clara (SwimMAC’s Madison Kennedy went the exact same time in finishing 9th). In the 200, she was a bit more impressive, with a 1:59.15 that would have sat 4th in Santa Clara. She also swam the 100 breast in 1:10.31, another 4th-place-level time at the final Grand Prix stop.
Full results of the SFTL International Classic are available on Meet Mobile.
Talking about a quiet meet, Michael Andrew swam last week in Iowa.
51.87 in the 100 free
2.29.94 in the 200 breast
55.38 in the 100 fly
23.47 in the 50 free
1.57.99 in the 200 free
1.07.91 in the 100 breast
57.19 in the 100 back
2.11.29 in the 200 IM
Also Caeleb Dressel swam his first meet in a while a week or two ago. He went 24.7 in the 50 free and 27 in the 50 back.
Yes. 24.72 in the 50 free
Very quiet return.
Let’s see the rest of his summer.
😎
She continues to improve her times.
75% of her 200 IM is very solid now.
She still struggles a little bit with her finish on freestyle but it’s very promising.
Fully rested I think a 2.10 low isn’t out of reach in August.
And with that time you qualify in the US team.
She is so motivated that i see her as the future of The Usa team on 200 IM ! it’s clear
The future?
Back to the Future!
Or is that Forward to the Past?
Outsplit Leverenz on the breast? I’m impressed!