Swimming News / Swimming Video is courtesy of Shannon Macdonald, SwimSwam Rankings Managing Editor.
WOMEN’S 400 IM – FINALS
Meet record: 4:34.04 Elizabeth Beisel (USA)
American record: 4:31.12, Katie Hoff
Australian record: 4:29.45, Stephanie Rice
Canadian record: 4:35.84, Tanya Hunks
Japanese record: 4:35.69, Miho Takahashi
Australia All-comers record: 4:31.46, Stephanie Rice (AUS)
The session started off with the B-finals of the 400 IM’s. Because Hali Flickinger scratched the 400 IM, there were only 16 finalists, which allowed every swimmer to have a second swim. The American’s took full advantage of that, finishing 1-2-3-4 in the women’s 400 IM. Caitlin Leverenz led the charge with her time of 4:38.31. That time is still slower than Beisel’s and DiRado’s from US Nationals, which means they will be added to the 2015 World Champs roster in this event. Becca Mann finished second (3:39.93), followed by Cammile Adams and Melanie Margalis.
In the A-final heat of the women’s 400 IM, Elizabeth Beisel defended her title from 2010 to win the event, breaking the Pan Pacs record with her time of 3:31.99. Maya DiRado finished not far behind her., securing a 1-2 finish for the United States. DiRado hit the wall with her time of 4:35.27. Keryn McMaster won the bronze medal with her time of 4:38.84. Finishing in fourth was Sakiko Shamizu of Japan at 4:39.29 and in fifth was Miho Takahashi at 4:40.86.
I wonder if she would have gotten it if the meet had had better conditions – she still wasn’t that far off.
did you see that GREAT coverage NBC gave this race? Oh…wait. I am completely underwhelmed (again) by the lack of coverage of non-sprit events. I get that 4+ minutes would be about 10% of their coverage given the soccer update lead in and commercials but the highlights would have been nice to see. The only reason we *might* see Ledecky swim something other than the 200 on TV is because she broke the WR
Try 4:31.99 not 3:31.99.
I believe she can do it! I was hoping for Nationals, but with all the events she was swimming, it wasn’t possible. I imagine she was hoping to do it HERE, but I think it was too close to Nationals. So now I guess she has to plan for Worlds, and frankly to beat Ye and Hosszu will certainly take faster than 4:31, so I wish her good health and motivated training until then!