Ashley Neidigh: “Seeing it on the Board was Still kind of a Shock”

Reported by Lauren Neidigh (Sister of Ashley).

WOMEN’S 500 FREE FINALS

  • American Record: 4:24.06, Katie Ledecky, 2017
  • U.S. Open Record: 4:24.06, Katie Ledecky, 2017
  • Meet Record: 4:29.54, Katie Ledecky, 2014
  • Pool Record: 4:26.46, Katie Ledecky, 2016
  1. GOLD: Ashley Neidigh, Indiana, 4:34.47
  2. SILVER: Mallory Comerford, Louisville, 4:35.78
  3. BRONZE: Erica Sullivan, SAND, 4:38.13

Indiana postgrad swimmer Ashley Neidigh took off with the early lead in the 500 free, extending her lead over Sandpipers of Nevada’s Erica Sulivan after the 100 mark. Neidigh held on to her lead throughout the race, posting a huge best time of 4:34.47 to win it. That beat her former best 4:39.91 by over 5 seconds.

Louisville All-American Mallory Comerford overtook Sullivan for the 2nd place spot with 100 yards to go. She started to close the gap on Neidigh with a 54.17 across the final 100, but wound up 2nd in a quick 4:35.78. Comerford finished well under the NCAA ‘A’ cut of 4:36.30. That marked her first sub-4:36 swim as she came into the meet with a lifetime best 4:36.16 from the 2017 NCAA meet.

Sullivan held on for 3rd behind Comerford in 4:38.13, while Louisville’s Sophie Cattermole was just off the podium in 4:40.99. That time for Sullivan was a new best by over a second. Cattermole was just half a second shy of her personal best 4:40.47 from prelims. She’s a second faster than what it took to qualify for last season’s NCAA meet.

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Murica
6 years ago

There are ways to keep going nowadays. With more drops to come, meets like pro swim, mare nostrum, and world cup can be lucrative. I hope she and more like her keep going. Especially with that kind of mindset. Excited to see her 1650 this weekend!!!

Troy
6 years ago

I wonder if she does open water? I know she is good at distance it might be an option ???

Years of Plain Suck
6 years ago

Very nice interview. She’s articulate, and has poise and presence. I’ll be cheering for her!

Mcgee
6 years ago

Sad thing is that she will never make the national team with smith and ledecky a head.

Reply to  Mcgee
6 years ago

Mcgee- The top 6 athletes in Olympic events make the national team. Selection procedures may vary by year in terms of which meets serve as qualifiers for the national team, but more than 2 swimmers can make it. In any case, she doesn’t seem to be too sad about her improvement. She’s having fun and enjoying swimming.

Leto
Reply to  Lauren Neidigh
6 years ago

Congratulations on Ashley’s great swim!!!

Reply to  Leto
6 years ago

She was very happy 🙂

tea rex
Reply to  Mcgee
6 years ago

Awesome thing: Ashley Neidigh just swam a 4:34 and won winter nationals.

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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