2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
- William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
- Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
- Meet website
- Meet information
- Event Order
- Full selection procedures
- Psych Sheet
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- TV Schedule
- Pick ‘Em Contest
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- Live Stream
Long-time Open Water star Ashley Twichell became the 4th fastest all-time American in the women’s 1500, throwing down a massive best time of 15:55.68. That marked a personal best by 13 seconds for Twichell, who had swum her previous best time in March of this year. She swam a consistent race, hitting the 800 mark in 8:28, 4 seconds faster than she swam in the 800 on Day 1:
| 100 Split | Total Time |
| 1:02.03 | 1:02.03 |
| 1:03.68 | 2:05.71 |
| 1:03.59 | 3:09.30 |
| 1:03.71 | 4:13.01 |
| 1:04.07 | 5:17.08 |
| 1:03.79 | 6:20.87 |
| 1:03.74 | 7:24.61 |
| 1:03.64 | 8:28.25 |
| 1:03.69 | 9:31.94 |
| 1:03.75 | 10:35.69 |
| 1:03.97 | 11:39.66 |
| 1:04.05 | 12:43.71 |
| 1:04.12 | 13:47.83 |
| 1:04.31 | 14:52.14 |
| 1:03.54 | 15:55.68 |
Twichell had already qualified to the Pan Pacs team by winning Open Water Nationals, and thus was already able to swim pool races at Pan Pacs. 2nd and 3rd place finishers Ally McHugh and Erica Sullivan also cracked the top 10 all-time American performers with their times of 16:02.56 and 16:02.88, which come in at 7th and 8th respectively.
Here is the new top 10 all-time Americans:
| Katie Ledecky | 15:20.48 |
| Kate Ziegler | 15:42.54 |
| Janet Evans | 15:52.10 |
| Ashley Twichell | 15:55.68 |
| Hayley Peirsol | 15:57.36 |
| Leah Smith | 16:01.02 |
| Ally McHugh | 16:02.56 |
| Erica Sullivan | 16:02.88 |
| Diana Munz | 16:03.30 |
| Stephanie Peacock | 16:04.44 |
So in two weeks we may have a continuation of Nationals in 1500 where 5 American will compete to be selected for WC: Ledecky, Twichell, Smith, McHugh, Sulivan (if she makes the team). The time to beat for the second spot will be tough 15.55.68.