Katie Ledecky on Historic 800 Free: “It felt almost too good”

2022 U.S. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS

Reported by Anne Lepesant.

WOMEN’S 800 METER FREESTYLE – FASTEST HEAT

Podium:

  1. Katie Ledecky, Unattached – 8:09.27
  2. Leah Smith, Longhorn Aquatics – 8:17.52
  3. Bella Sims, Sandpipers – 8:22.36
  4. Katie Grimes, Sandpipers – 8:22.73
  5. Claire Weinstein, Sandpipers – 8:29.34
  6. Jillian Cox, Longhorn Aquatics – 8:33.83
  7. Michaela Mattes, Sarasota Sharks – 8:35.58
  8. Tylor Mathieu, Florida – 8:36.85

Katie Ledecky went her best time since 2018 with a dominant 8:09.27 to post the world’s top time for the year in the women’s 800 free. She was already up by a body length at the 100 wall and continued to put a couple of meters of clear water behind her and the rest of the field with every 50.

The race for second place was nowhere near as close as anticipated. Katie Grimes and Bella Sims were running second and third behind Ledecky over the first 100 meters but Leah Smith surged to the front on the third wall. She finished four bodies ahead of Sims, 8:17.52 to 8:22.36, for second place.

16-year-old Jillian Cox of Longhorn Aquatics dropped 8.3 seconds from her PB to win the earlier heats of 800 free with 8:33.83, the 23rd-fastest time ever in the 15-16 age group. Michaela Mattes, 17, of Sarasota Sharks improved on her best time, swum in March, to place second with 8:35.88. University of Florida’s Tylor Mathieu was third this afternoon, clocking in at 8:36.85. All three swimmers made the top-8 overall, finishing with faster times than TAC Titans’ Caroline Pennington.

The top eight swimmers all made the FINA “A” cut.

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Melanie
2 years ago

Grimes 🙁

Marklewis
2 years ago

I wonder if Titmus will swim in the Duel in the Pool later this year.

She’s the only one who can swim with Katie.

Last edited 2 years ago by Marklewis
Liz Werner
2 years ago

Congratulations Katie! You’re such an inspiration and work so hard.

SwimFanner
2 years ago

Ledecky is back and better than ever!

HOO love
2 years ago

happy for leah smith – go hoos!

Olympian
2 years ago

As crazy as it might sound I still think Katie is underrated as a athlete for the general public.

This woman should be the face of swimming around the world, what a dominance!!! She is the absolute GOAT alongside MP.

Last edited 2 years ago by Olympian
Karen
2 years ago

Yay Katie

Pvdh
2 years ago

What getting away from Meehan does to a mf

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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