For the second-straight year, World Record holder Katie Ledecky will make her season debut at the Delaware Swim Team hosted First State Cup at the University of Delaware Pool.
This two-day meet, that begins on Saturday, attracts some of the best swimmers in the northeastern United States, which includes Ledecky and many of her NCAP teammates (Matthew Hirschberger, Isabella Rongione).
This year, however, will have a little bit of a twist. The 1000 free is being run as a co-ed race, which means that Ledecky will have some competition as she shoots for Katie Hoff’s all-time record of 9:10.77 in that event. Ledecky was a 9:14.22 at Winter Nationals in 2013.
Out of 81 total entries in that mixed race, Ledecky is seeded 5th. Her teammate Rongione is seeded 12th at a 9:41 as the next-highest seeded female, and after them comes Molly Kowal at 21st (10:02.52).
If Ledecky were able to get into a real battle with Brennan Novak of Rockville-Montgomery, who’s the top seed in 8:58.48, we could see a really special swim for her. While Ledecky has been dominant and World Record breaking everywhere, she doesn’t frequently get a lot of competition, so this will be a curious experiment of how she reacts when she’s not likely to win the race.
Ledecky’s other races will include the 200 IM, the 500 free, the 200 fly, the 100 free, the 200 free, and the 400 IM in two crowded days of competition.
Among other swimmers who will be at this meet:
- Zach Fong (Jersey Wahoos – UVA commit)
- Annie Fittin (former Maryland All-American)
- Jon Burkett (Jersey Wahoos – NC State commit)
- Lily Dubroff (Delaware Swim Team)
Ledecky is a great swimmer, but she has no chance of beating Brennan Novak in 1000 free and no chance of winning the 500 free either. I could see her taking 3rd or 4th place, but her dropping 5 seconds from a record-breaking 500 and 18 seconds from her 1000, even if it was her split, it is still a mid-season meet. It just isn’t going to happen.
“Ledecky was a 9:14.22 at Winter Nationals in 2013.”
Yes, and that was only her opening split during the 1650, where she shattered the national record by 9 seconds.
https://www.delawareswimteam.com/My%20New%20Pages/2015/first%20state%20cup%20timeline%20%281%29.pdf
This is exciting. Any live webcast? What time is the 1000 going off?
Out of curiosity will this count as an American Record if it happens? I know at the Duel they outlawed breaking the WR in the leadoff of mixed relays due to women backstrokers perhaps drafting or pacing off of the men.
Not sure if that applies to all levels or just WRs.
Hulk Swim – per USA Swimming, a Ledecky American Record or US Open Record would count.
Excellent.
Thanks Braden.
You almost feel bad for the guys racing ahead of her. I would imagine as a guy swimming close to her, you have to keep swimming your race and not get caught up in the fact that the fastest female distance swimmer ever is in the lane next door.