American Leah Smith broke the 400m freestyle universiade record at the 2015 World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea Tuesday, putting up a time of 4:04.55 to win heat four and take the top seed heading into the final.
The previous universiade record was held by Italian swimming star Frederica Pellegrini. She set the record at the 2007 edition of the World University Games.
Smith had a very strong last 100 to break the record, coming home in 1:01.06. After the first 100 she was already on pace to put up a solid time, starting the race in 58.55.
Prior to the meet, Smith’s season best was a 4:07.45 from the Arena Pro Swim Series at Charlotte. That time ranked her 20th in the world. Now, she’s fourth in the world behind Katie Ledecky, Jazz Carlin, and Lauren Boyle.
2014-2015 LCM Women 400 Free
LEDECKY
3.59.13
| 2 | Sharon VAN ROUWENDAAL | NED | 4.03.02 | 08/02 |
| 3 | Jessica ASHWOOD | AUS | 4.03.34 | 08/02 |
| 4 | Jazmin CARLIN | GBR | 4.03.51 | 04/15 |
| 5 | Lauren BOYLE | NZL | 4.03.88 | 04/03 |
Smith is looking to be the favorite heading into the final Tuesday night.
This won’t be Smith’s only international competition of the summer. She’ll be representing the United States at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia as well as a member of the 4x200m freestyle relay.
Smith won’t be competing in any individual events at the World Championships, despite showing that she’s one of the top competitors in the 400m freestyle.
Smith has had an outstanding season this year, truly emerging as one of the top distance swimmers in the United States. Right now she’s the second fastest 400m freestyle swimmer in the U.S.
Arguably if USA Swimming had chosen to pick the teams via a 2015 World Championships Trials rather than basing it off performances from 2014 US Nationals and 2014 Pan Pacific Championships, Smith would be swimming the 400m freestyle at Worlds as well.
Her relay performance will be her World Championship debut. Smith will have the opportunity to put up a strong performance in the 200m freestyle later on this week at the World University Games. The Americans have a very strong group on the 4×200 freestyle relay, so she’ll need to put up a very strong time to make a case for her spot on the relay in finals at Worlds.
Great swim.
But not surprising at all.
It’s pure logic.
When you swim 4.30.37 in the 500 free in yards as she did it at last NCAAs, and if you can swim long course, then you must be able to swim 4.02 in the 400 free in long course.
Hopefully she has not given everything in prelims and will bring the gold with an even faster time in final.
Very impressive! It’s gonna be a tight battle for the second olympic berth between Runge, Smith and Mann.