Leah Smith, Morgan Hill Hit Impressive Times & Lifetime Bests to Win at Potomac Valley Long Course Champs

Katie Ledecky scratch couldn’t put a damper on day 3 (the second full day) of competition at the 2014 Potomac Valley Swimming Championships at the University of Maryland.

Ledecky opted against racing in the 400 free on Friday, which is the one freestyle race in which she hasn’t gone a lifetime best already in 2014, and instead raced the 50 free in prelims. She swam a 26.45 there, before scratching out of finals. With her absent, Morgan Hill of Machine Aquatics swam a 25.82 to win the race – a time that might have come out on top even if Ledecky had raced (it’s half-a-second better than her Ledecky has ever been).

For the 15-year old Hill, that swim is her personal best by a full second. It also gives her a first-career qualifying standard for Summer Nationals.

In the women’s 400 free, again with no Ledecky, Virginia sophomore-to-be Leah Smith won in a very impressive 4:06.93, which is her lifetime best two weeks out of Nationals. Smith hadn’t gone a lifetime best in this event since 2012, after her senior year of high school.

This was a masterful swim for Smith, as she kicked in a 30.65 in the last 50 meters. That might be an indicator that her speed even surprised herself – she was ticking along at 31-mids for most of the race. Smith had a very good freshman year at Virginia that ended with the third-best 500 yard free time in the country (second-best among Americans). The result was overshadowed just a bit by the fact that it came in the B-Final at NCAA’s, but that didn’t make it any less impressive of a number.

14-year old Isabella Rongione took 2nd in the race in 4:16.69.

In the men’s 50 free, Jack Conger wasn’t able to repeat his lifetime best from Friday, but he did take the win in 23.01. That beat out NCAP’s James Jones, who took 2nd in 23.33. Conger, like Ledecky, sat out his best event on the day’s schedule: the 100 back.

That 100 backstroke went to Virginia’s Luke Papendick in 55.88.

Virginia dominated the backstroke events on Saturday; Papendick was followed by Charles Putnam in that men’s race, which came after a 1-2 finish in the women’s race. Courtney Bartholomew won the women’s race in 1:01.71, which is a new PVS Open Record (the fastest race ever swum in a PVS-sanctioned meet). Kaitlyn Jones took 2nd in 1:03.28.

NCAP’s Carsten Vissering beat out his teammate, and fellow class of 2015 recruit, Andrew Seliskar in the men’s 200 breaststroke 2:16.28-2:18.16. Seliskar has been unbelievably-good in yards, but Vissering still has his number in the long course breaststrokes.

Seliskar also got a win on the day, topping the men’s 400 free in 3:57.53.

The other individual event winner on Saturday evening was Jenna Van Camp, a Towson Tiger who is representing Herndon Aquatics at this meet, in the 200 breaststroke. She swam a 2:36.51.

NCAP swept the relays in the session; Carrie BooneLeslie ColeKylie Jordan, and Hannah Baker combined for a 4:20.10 in the women’s 400 medley relay, while John ShebatCarsten VisseringAndrew Seliskar, and James Jones topped the men’s race in 3:52.54.

Full, live meet results available here.

 

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Danjohnrob
9 years ago

I wish Katie would give the 400 IM a good try; maybe she could be great at that too, like distance freestylers Dolan, Vendt and, oh yeah, Evans! 🙂

Jim C
Reply to  Danjohnrob
9 years ago

Ledecky took 8.3s off a 2013 PB in the 200m breast a month before Pan Pac. It certainly looks like she plans to swim 400m IM. The Americans are not limited to two swimmers in the heats, only in the finals. With weaker competition in freestyle events, this would be the year for her to try IM.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
9 years ago

Leah Smith is doing great ! As BOBO said rightfully , great battle to expect on mid-distance races at Nationals behind Ledecky of course . Usa swimmers are really getting strong on those events for both Women and Men . Very inspiring .

bobo gigi
9 years ago

You forgot to mention the new 200 breast PB for Katie Ledecky. 🙂
She swam 2.43.84 in prelims and didn’t swim the final.

And Leah Smith has a very good meet so far. PB in the 200 free and PB in the 400 free. Her 800 free on Sunday should be great.
She will battle very hard at US nationals with the NBAC girls Cierra Runge, Becca Mann and Gillian Ryan for the second spot behind Miss Ledecky in the 400 free and the 800 free.

Joel Lin
Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

Wow, the 800 free relay spots for US women will be a free for all to get a spot. So many talented American women in 200 free. I would not be shocked if it took a 1:57.0 or better to be top 6 in 2016.

bobo gigi
Reply to  Joel Lin
9 years ago

Yes. The depth is insane. The girls push each other and want to be in that olympic relay team which is sure to win the gold medal.
I could have mentioned Allison Schmitt for the 400 free but I don’t know at all if she’ll swim 4.06 or 4.12. And simply if she’ll swim that event in Irvine or not. It looks like being older she’s more interested in a 100 free/200 free double than a 200 free/400 free double. And she knows that Katie Ledecky is unbeatable now. We’ll have the answer in Irvine.

bobo gigi
Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

And again, I forgot there were 3 qualifying spots for Pan Pacs! 🙄

weirdo
Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

and only 4 spots for relays (vs 6 for Worlds and Olympics).

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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