Katie Ledecky has finally gotten American middle-distance swimming at the high school level back to where it hasn’t been in over 20 years – National Age Group Records. With how good Janet Evans was as a 15-16 in 1988 (the best in the world); and how good before that Sippy Woodhead was in the late 70’s as a 13-14, and even Dee Brown in 11-12’s in the early 90’s.
Ledecky’s 4:05.00 broke Evans’ 4:05.45 in the women’s 400 free – and here’s what’s even better: Ledecky is only 15. She’ll have a year-plus to break that record further, even though she didn’t make the Olympic Team this year when she finished 3rd.
Evans’ hallowed record in the 800 free, 8:17.12, is probably safe – that time is unreal, and there’s not an American at any age that can come close to that time right now. But she will still do something crazy in that race.
Below are her splits in the race – she took it out very hard, and she closed it pretty well, but it was the third 100 meters that kept her off of this team. Her biggest improvement will come on her walls – she’s already almost as good as Schmitt on top of the water – but that’s not unexpected with a swimmer that age.
Ledecky ’12: 58.59-1:02.08-1:02.10-1:01.23
Congrats, Katie! I have no idea if you’re reading this or not (hi), but it’s an old teammate from CUBU, back when Erin and Nicole coached us. 🙂 Oh the days swimming in that freezing cold pool at AU, and immediately jumping into the warmer one as soon as practice was over. I miss that. Anyway, I hope you’re feeling better! I have no doubt that you’ll do amazing in the 800 free. I already see you bringing home gold in the near future. It makes me think how I could probably be with you, in the pool competing (although free never really was, and still isn’t, my stroke!) or even cheering for you in the stands. Sending you loads… Read more »
Congrats to her and to his great coach! She could have finished second but she will take her revenge in the 800 free. This young swimmer has definitely a big motor inside her. And she never gives up. She was probably disappointed after the race but she will have plenty other races in the future. She has no limits.
She only turned 15 in March. I think it will be close between Sutton and Ledecky in the 800.
Didn’t Kate Ziegler and Katie Hoff both have some fantastic times when they were high school age in the 400/500 free?
Hoff was not that great in 400 free in high school:
at 15 yo, she was 4:18.54
at 16 yo, she was 4:12.74
at 17 yo, she was 4:05.83
Ziegler was not that much better either:
at 15 yo, 4:18.33
at 16 yo, 4:11.85
at 17 yo, 4:08.97
Katie Ledecky is currently already far ahead of those two.
Becca Mann is just 14 and she’s 4:08. Not bad either.
I forgot about Becca Mann. She is great.
This year we’ve seen three 14 yo girls swimming 4:08 :
Ledecky, Remy Fairweather, and now Mann
Yes the walls made the difference. I expect that the 800 will be a better chance for Ledecky and expect that she has a very good chance to make the team. Besides the times, Ledecky also evokes the young Janet Evans in her stature and high cadence stroke…..great to see such young swimmers in the mix.
I think Ledecky can make the team in 800. Sutton will take the first place.