Ledecky Hits 1:56 200 Free, Drabot Drops 2:08 200 Fly At Santa Clara Prelims

2019 SANTA CLARA SWIM CLUB INTERNATIONAL MEET

Katie Drabot dropped a season-best time Sunday morning in the prelims of the women’s 200 fly in Santa Clara, clocking 2:08.15 to qualify first by over three seconds.

That swim stands up as her third-fastest ever, only trailing two 2:07s from the 2018 Summer Nationals, and elevates her from 16th (2:08.57 in Bloomington) up to 12th in the world this year.

In her other two events here, the 100 free and 100 fly, Drabot only swam the prelims, so we’ll have to wait and see if she’ll contest the final tonight.

Cassidy Bayer qualified second in a time of 2:11.60, and Ella Eastin was notably fifth in 2:13.53.

After dropping the top time in the world last night in the 400 free, Katie Ledecky followed up with another strong swim in the prelims of the 200, taking the top spot in 1:56.65. She currently ranks second in the world this year with a season-best of 1:55.32.

Katie McLaughlin registered her second-fastest swim ever to take second in 1:57.22.

Ledecky also competed in the 200 IM, posting the third-fastest time in 2:14.53 behind Allie Raab (2:13.83) and Alicia Wilson (2:13.94). Raab’s swim was a new best time by over a second, while Ledecky was just off her best of 2:14.36 from 2016.

OTHER EVENTS

  • Jack Levant made a return to action on Sunday after pulling out of NCAAs back in March due to medical complications, qualifying second for the final in both the men’s 200 fly (2:05.05) and 200 free (1:54.33). Alex Liang (2:02.28) and Colby Mefford (1:53.96) hold the top spots.
  • In addition to the 200 IM, Raab put together a season-best to qualify first in the women’s 100 breast in 1:09.06, leading Zoe Bartel (1:10.73).
  • Carl Poppe put up the top time in the men’s 100 breast in 1:02.48, just off his PB of 1:02.30.
  • Abrahm DeVine cruised to the top seed in the men’s 200 IM in a time of 2:01.14.
  • Keaton Blovad topped the women’s 50 back in 28.77, and Christopher Staka achieved a new best in the men’s event in 25.06.

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Swimfan
5 years ago

Looks like LeVant scratched both finals swims. Disappointing. I wonder if there’s time for any more meets before World University Games.

Harry
5 years ago

MacLaughlin wants to be in the 800 freestyle relay.

Yozhik
5 years ago

Is it in McLaughlin’s plans to be the second 200 freestyler for USA in Tokyo? If she makes 1:56 low tonight then I don’t see who can stop her.

FLSwimmer
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

No I’m sure she wants to get 3rd more than 2nd

Yozhik
Reply to  FLSwimmer
5 years ago

Really?! 😀
If she isn’t a medal contender in individual race meaning she has to be 1:54 swimmer then it can be too much burden for nothing and there will be no sense to compete individually in 200FR if she has better chances with other events.

Yozhik
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

No I don’t. I like sarcastic joke of FLSWIMMER.
I don’t see now any other swimmers than Schmitt and McLaughlin who can potentially swim 1:55 in 200FR. And if 200 free is the only chance for McLaughlin to make Olympic team than she of course will do it no matter how far she goes in this event in Tokyo. But if she can compete in other events and there would be conflicting schedule then she may think if she want such a load.

Sccoach
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

Mallory Comerford?

Yozhik
Reply to  Sccoach
5 years ago

After failing to meet great expectations of breaking Franklin’s record in 200yards I kind of lost confidence in her progress in 200 meters event.

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

Someone doesn’t break an NCAA record but swims the 2nd fastest time in history and you lose faith in her? I guess anything less than an NCAA record just wont cut it for you.

She was a 1:46 freestyler out of HS, and goes 1:39.
It’s hard to believe she didn’t exceed expectations.

Yozhik
5 years ago

Well, let’s see how wrong I was with my assumption that this meet maybe about 3:58 and 1:54 statements for Katie Ledecky.

WV Swammer
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

With 3 world records, and a bunch of olympic gold medals, I hardly think she needs “statements” since she is far and away the best female distance swimmer ever…

Yozhik
Reply to  WV Swammer
5 years ago

It’s all true of what you said, but each season somewhere in late May-early June she set herself in leading position at each event she competed at. if it was just a part of her preparation plan for the major event of the season or something else I don’t know and won’t speculate. The 200 was the only challenging event to do so. Now 400 was added to it.

Jim C
Reply to  Yozhik
5 years ago

In Rio, Ledecky’s T400 = 2T200 + 9 sec. If the same thong happens here she will swim a 1:55.14.

Leisurely1:29
Reply to  Jim C
5 years ago

What??

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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