Melanie Margalis Re-Breaks Her Own American Record in 400 IM at ISL Finale

2019 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE FINALE

• Friday, December 20 – Saturday, December 21, 2019
• 1:00 – 3:00 PM Local Time (U.S. Pacific Time)
• Madalay Bay Resort and Casino – Las Vegas, NV
• Short Course Meters (SCM) format
• Top 4 qualifying franchises: Energy Standard, London Roar, LA Current, Cali Condors
• Live Stream (ESPN3)
• Day 1 start lists
• Session 1 results

The Cali Condors are off to an electric start at the 2019 International Swimming League, having won the first 5 races of the meet. While that still leaves the team battle in doubt (London Roar outscored them in this 400 IM in spite of the Margalis win), the team has momentum, and in a bit of a flat meet overall so far, they’ve brought some speed to the tables.

That includes an American Record in a 3rd-straight event for Melanie Margalis in the women’s 400 IM. She swam a 4:24.15 to win ahead of London Roar’s Sydney Pickrem (4:27.84). Margalis has won the 400 IM at all 4 of her team’s meets so far.

Margalis owned the old record of 4:24.64, set at her last ISL meet, the U.S. Derby in College Park.

Comparative Splits:

Margalis actually was more measured opening up her race as compared to her DC swim,but went after the backstroke leg a little harder, and that made the primary difference in this record-setting swim.

Margalis was the 2018 World Championship silver medalist in the 400 IM in short course. She swam a 4:25.84 in that swim, which was her lifetime best coming into the ISL season.

Time Progression, 2019 ISL season:

• Indianapolis – 4:25.77
• Naples – 4:24.95
• College Park – 4:24.46
• Vegas – 4:24.15

Margalis’ new best time keeps her as the 8th-best performer in history. Spain’s Mireia Belmonte, who was 4th in 4:28.60 on Friday, owns the World Record in 4:18.94. Katinka Hosszu owns the U.S. Open Record (fastest on American soil by a swimmer of any nationality) in 4:21.21. Her team didn’t qualify for this final.