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The 200 Free Final was one of the most anticipated races of the Women’s NCAA D1 Championships, but I don’t think anyone could have expected what was about to happen.
Heading into the final it was heavily expected to be a showdown between Olympic Champions Katie Ledecky and Simone Manuel – a shoe-in for the Stanford Cardinals. Manuel entered with the fastest seed from the morning at 1:41.81, followed narrowly by Ledecky, Leah Smith, and Mallory Comerford and the rest of the field. However, it would be Comerford who would cause the biggest upset of the meet so far. Note that Comerford also had the fastest 200 split of the 800 Free Relay the day before with a lightning quick 1:40.21.
Simone Manuel was out like a rocket off the blocks taking an early lead with a quick stroke rate of 1.21 seconds/cycle and clocked a 23.28 to her feet on the first 50 – almost half a second ahead of the next fastest. Manuel maintained that strong lead through to the hundred clocking a blistering 48.46 – but Katie Ledecky was picking up speed with her strong, steady stroke rate of about 1.2 seconds/cycle while Manuel began to slow her stroke rate to 1.32 seconds/cycle.
About half a body length behind at this point, Louisville’s Comerford seemed out of the race behind these two titans. Comerford held a steady early pace with strong underwaters of over 3 seconds and good distance, where she made small gains on the field off her turns.
The breakout after the 150 brought Comerfo almost neck-and-neck with Ledecky, and both made gains on Maunel. Ledecky eyed down Manuel the entire second-last lap, breathing constantly to her right, while Comerford made gains in her blind spot. Ledecky and Comerford turned within about a tenth of each other with Manuel still holding her lead.
The final turn of the race changed everything.
Comerford’s consistent and strong underwaters held true, and while she was underwater a lower time, she was much faster underwater as she broke out into the lead ahead of the two Cardinals. All three women were neck-and-neck in the final stretch, but Comerford and Ledecky inched ahead of Manuel to take over her long-held lead. Ledecky finally sees this new threat to her right and does what she does best: puts her head down and drives to the wall with a ramping stroke rate up to 1.14 seconds/cycle. Comerford holds a steady, powerful stroke with a 1.26 rate and the two Women touch simultaneously, ending in a tie, a new pool record, and the second fastest performance in history of 1:40.36 while Manuel touches third in 1:40.70.
Comerford claims her first NCAA title after a blistering back 100 of 50.90 – over half a second faster than Ledecky and the rest of the field.
Note: While the analysis says first and second below, they did indeed tie.
Swim analysis is courtesy of TritonWear, a SwimSwam partner.
AB
We knew after the relay on day 1 that it would be a 3-girl party. Mallory had the fastest split in 1.40.21 and is full of confidence. KL doesn’t have enough speed right now and doesn’t have enough time to put in place her stroke in the bathtub. She gives the impression that she panics in that sprint event in yards with all these turns. In long course it’s totally different. Simone is ok since the start of the meet but not amazing.
And about the times, now maybe those who predicted 1.38 can realize how it’s tough to break 1.40 and how crazy good is Missy’s record of 1.39.10. She was in 47.74 at the half-race!
Great analysis!
Questions & Comments –
1. Can Mallory keep up her rate of improvement in the 200 – 100? ( her 500 was about the same as last year ).
2. I thought Katie was fantastic on turns, yet Mallory was better on key turns – especially the last.
3. Can Mallory convert SC success to LC success?
4. How much better will Katie get in her ” short game ” ( SCY ) due to this event.
5. All three – Katie, Simone and Mallory have sub 1:40:00’s in them. Anyone else? ( On Missy – is her back too screwed up? )
6. Expect a sub 15:00 from Katie in the 1650
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To answer the key question– #3– if you can go 53.9 LC 100 free in season, the answer is yes, you convert SC success to LC success. She’ll be on that relay this summer.