In First Race In A Year, Katie Ledecky Swims World Leading 1500 Free – 15:42.92

PRO SWIM SERIES – SAN ANTONIO (#2)

• March 3-7, 2021
• North East ISD Blossom Athletic Complex, San Antonio, TX
• Long Course Meters (LCM)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Session Timelines
• Live Stream (USA Swimming)
• Live Stream (Olympic Channel)
• Start Times (Central Time): Women’s Prelims: 10 AM / Men’s Prelims: 90 minutes after women’s prelims (between 12:45-1:00) / Finals: 6:00 PM

Katie Ledecky swam to victory in the 1500 freestyle on day 1 of the 2021 Pro Swim Series stop in San Antonio. Ledecky was the only sub-16:00 swim in the 14-woman field, hitting a 15:42.92 to trails her best time and world record of 15:20.48 by 22 seconds.

Women’s 1500 Freestyle – Timed Final

• World Record: Katie Ledecky – 15:20.48 (2018)
• American Record: Katie Ledecky – 15:20.48 (2018)
• U.S Open Record: Katie Ledecky – 15:20.48 (2018)
• World Junior Record: Katie Ledecky – 15:28.36 (2014)
• Pro Swim Series Record: Katie Ledecky – 15:20.48 (2018)

Final Results:

1. Katie Ledecky – 15:42.92
2.  Ashley Twitchell – 16:04.29
3.  Erica Sullivan – 16:07.66
4.  Haley Anderson – 16:11.73
5.  Leah Smith – 16:11.80
6.  Ally McHugh – 16:20.27
7.  Katie Grimes – 16:20.35
8.  co- 16:21.22
9. Paige Kuwata – 16:28.18
10. Abby Dunford – 16:39.77
11. Caroline Pennington – 16:47.08
12. Sophia Karras – 16:53.07
13. Rachel Stege – 17:00.56
14. Ayumi Macias Alba – 17:15.31

While Ledecky’s swim tonight was of world-class caliber it was actually only her 13th fastest ever performance in the event. She was just a touch slower than her 2015 swim of 15:42.23 that she hit in Mesa and just ahead of the 15:45.59 that she hit in Knoxville.

Ledecky hasn’t raced the event in almost exactly a year with her last long course 1500 occurring on March 3, 2020, when she hit a 15:29.51. That swim for Ledecky was at the Des Moines stop of the 2020 Pro Swim Series which would end up being one of the world’s last major meets before COVID-19 lockdowns shut down competition for months.

Katie Ledecky‘s Fastest Long Course 1500 Freestyles

Along with her 15:29.51 from a year ago, Ledecky’s current world record in the event occurred at a Pro Swim Series meets. Ledecky set the current world record 3 years ago at the Indianapolis stop of the 2018 Pro Swim Series swimming in her first-ever race as a professional swimmer.

Comparative Splits:

With the swim Ledecky earned the top spot on the world rankings this season, getting under Jianjihe Wang‘s previous leading time of 15:45.92. According to the FINA database, Ledecky, Ashley Twitchell, Erica Sullivan, Haley Anderson, and Leah Smith all swam fast enough tonight to penetrate the top-15 worldwide ranking in the women’s 1500 between September 1, 2020, and today.

2020 – 2021 Women’s LC 1500 Freestyle Rankings

1. Katie Ledecky (USA) – 15:42.92
2. Jianjiahe Wang (China) – 15:45.59
3. Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (Russia) – 15:53.18
4. Kareena Lee (Australia) – 16:01.02
5. Merve Tuncel (Turkey) – 16:03.23
6. Ashley Twitchell (USA) – 16:04.29
7. Mireia Belmonte (Spain) – 16:05.02
8. Lani Pallister (Australia) – 16:05.46
9. Erica Sullivan – (USA) 16:07.66
10. Martina Rite Caramignoli (Italy) – 16:07.73
11. Jimena Perez (Spain) – 16:08.70
12. Kiah Melverton (Australia) – 16:11.59
13. Haley Anderson (USA) – 16:11.73
14.  Leah Smith (USA) – 16:11.80
15. Ally McHugh (USA) – 16:12.87

Ledecky is expected to be back in the racing pool a number of times this week as she is entered to swim the 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 freestyles. Ledecky is the top seed in both the 200, 400, 800 with a 1:54.59, 3:59.28, and 8:10.70, respectively, and will go in as 15th seed in the 100 with a 55.17.