Aussie Teen Ariarne Titmus Answers Ledecky With 3:59.35 Of Her Own

2019 AUSTRALIAN WORLD SWIMMING TRIALS

Last night in Santa Clara, American swimming icon Katie Ledecky bumped Aussie Ariarne Titmus out of the top spot in the season’s world rankings in the women’s 400m freestyle, registering a time of 3:59.28. Titmus had held the top spot previously with her 3:59.66 clocked at Aussie Nationals this past April. That time in itself tied the same mark she put up for silver behind the American at the 2018 Pan Pacs.

Tonight, while competing on the first finals session of the 2019 Australian World Swimming Trials, teen Titmus answered Ledecky’s Cali swim with another monster sub-4:00 outing of her own of 3:59.35.

Titmus’ mark sits just .07 outside of Ledecky’s 3:59.28 from yesterday, but, more importantly, easily punches a ticket for the St. Peters Western star to take on Ledecky once again in person in Gwangju at next month’s World Championships.

As a further exclamation point on Titmus’ swim, her time tonight checks-in as a new personal best, Australian National Record and Commonwealth Record, hacking .31 off of her own lifetime fastest of 3:59.66 mentioned above.

Splits for Titmus include the following. Also of note, runner-up in tonight’s race in Brisbane, Kiah Melverton of TSS Aquatics, also earned a World Championships berth in 4:05.30, while 17-year-old multi-medalist at the Junior Pan Pacs last year, Lani Pallister, rounded out the top 3 in 4:06.57.

1 TITMUS, ARIARNE  18 STPET             4:09.72    3:59.35C  964  
    r:+0.80  27.76        57.26 (29.50)
        1:27.54 (30.28)     1:57.67 (30.13)
        2:27.99 (30.32)     2:58.42 (30.43)
        3:29.06 (30.64)     3:59.35 (30.29)

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Really
4 years ago

she ‘respnds’…. with a time that is slower?

Zoe
Reply to  Really
4 years ago

Yes, and a strong one. In a 400m race .07 hundredth of a second means nothing. It will be fun to watch them race side by side.

Samesame
Reply to  Really
4 years ago

And there is the comment we were waiting for gymswim

Gymswim
Reply to  Samesame
4 years ago

Can’t be positive about someone who isn’t Ledecky!

KeithM
4 years ago

This is very impressive from Ariarne. Great consistency putting up sub 4min swims over the last year. If she beats Ledecky next year or even next month it won’t be that shocking to me. The only small caveat or mild concern is that going a sub 4 min time is a much simpler task coming off a leisurely 4:09 heat swim. That’s a luxury she won’t have in Korea or Tokyo with the great improvement in depth in this event with the Chinese, Quadarella, Kesely, Smith, etc jockeying in the prelims. It could take at least a 4:04 to qualify with some of these other swimmers going close to maximum effort to secure a place in the final, particularly when… Read more »

Old Man Chalmers
Reply to  KeithM
4 years ago

Titmus managed just fine qualifying for the 400 final in budapest with a 4:04.26 (PB at the time), so no doubt she’ll qualify now that’s she’s faster and has more race experience.

KeithM
Reply to  Old Man Chalmers
4 years ago

Her coach has done a wonderful job with her. I’m sure she’ll be prepared for whatever is required. If it’s a close race in the final every bit of energy and stamina will be vital. I’m sure the adrenaline of the moment and the stage will help her dig deep though.

Elmo
Reply to  KeithM
4 years ago

She’s 18 years old. Why the hell cant she swim 2 400s in the same day?

KeithM
Reply to  Elmo
4 years ago

I went back and re-read my post just to make sure I didn’t phrase something well. I didn’t see where I said this or anything that could be construed that way.

BSD
4 years ago

I’ll say it again, Titmus will win 400 free in Tokyo.

Britte
Reply to  BSD
4 years ago

No, she will probably not even medal. She is Jess Ashwood 2.0.

Philip
Reply to  BSD
4 years ago

Don’t count out the World, Olympic Champ, multi-time WR holder.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  BSD
4 years ago

Another one with a very advanced Magic Ball ….😜

Robbos
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
4 years ago

Who Britte, who says she is won’t even medal? It goes both ways.

Elmo
4 years ago

Two thoughts:
1) This virtual battle with Ledecky is playing right into Ledecky’s hand (head). This is fuel that Ledecky needs to be very hungry this summer.

2) Give the crap about Ledecky going 3:59 right in the middle of finals a break. She’s probably taking 2 courses or something similar. I think she said this. One of them probably had a paper due instead of an exam and the other is probably well under control or pass fail or a seminar or something similar. She’s sleeping in her own bed, and had zero travel. 3:59 is a good swim but let’s not pretend it’s something breakthrough for her.

Taa
Reply to  Elmo
4 years ago

You don’t think there is a difference between a national qualifying meet and a small local meet? For sure Ledecky was focused to grab back the #1 time but there is no way she had any kind of rest this close to worlds.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Taa
4 years ago

Or the difference between a 4:02 prelim time and a 4:09?

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Taa
4 years ago

The Santa Clara pool is like 3.5 feet deep at one end. Almost face-planted once on the bottom off a start.

Daboss
Reply to  Elmo
4 years ago

You best not say anything negative about Ledecky OR you will get boogalooed on this site. The writing is however on the wall in terms of Tokyo. Ledecky will be over the hill with the Aussie charging. Hey she had an amazing run and will be remembered for many years if not decades as a great female swimmer.

13 % Chinese person
4 years ago

AT is practicing her front end speed.. Its pretty amazing these 2 take it out in the 1.57s ( feet) which would be 1.56s high. – likely a semi time .. its like the men taking it out n 1.47s..
We are very lucky we have both of them .

Daboss
Reply to  13 % Chinese person
4 years ago

Uhhh I would think a female taking out a 400 in 1:57 would be more like a male taking out a 400 in 1:57.

Foreign Embassy
Reply to  Daboss
4 years ago

Perhaps a 15 year old male?

Jacqui S
4 years ago

Not showing in live results but C Campbell split a 23.2 in a masters relay at the end of the night. Also, her 54 yr old mother split around a 28.5 on the same relay. Whole relay went for 1:43, pretty solid for all ladies from the same family (included Bronte and younger Sister)

Gymswim
4 years ago

Watch someone say Titmus’ time isn’t impressive because of some stupid reason or another.

Samesame
Reply to  Gymswim
4 years ago

I was waiting for the same comment .

Taa
Reply to  Gymswim
4 years ago

Their pool is 49M. I measured it.

Brownish
Reply to  Taa
4 years ago

Forget it.

BlueCheeseMouse
Reply to  Gymswim
4 years ago

Titmus said this herself already. Unfortunately didn’t say specifically why though but I’m suspecting that it’s because of her coach, Dean Boxall, because he wanted her to swim fast times this meet. But it could quite possibly be that she is just super hard on herself.

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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