Reported by James Sutherland.
Katie Ledecky: “It felt like a great race, I’ve been slightly improving throughout the spring. I’m certainly growing my confidence in this race. Year after year we are strong in this event … I think we’re going to put together another good relay.”
WOMEN’S 200 FREE FINALS
- American Record: 1:53.61, Allison Schmitt, 2012
- U.S. Open Record: 1:54.40, Allison Schmitt, 2012
- LC National Meet Record: 1:54.40, Allison Schmitt, 2012
- FINA ‘A’ Standard: 1:58.68
- Katie Ledecky, STAN, 1:54.84
- Leah Smith, CAV, 1:56.68
- Melanie Margalis, SPA, 1:56.90
- Mallory Comerford, UOFL, 1:56.95
- Simone Manuel, STAN, 1:57.11
- Cierra Runge, WA, 1:57.71
To no one’s surprise Katie Ledecky got out ahead from the gun and never looked back, touching the wall in a time of 1:54.84 to become the first woman under 1:55 this year.
Behind her, the battle for second was fierce. Leah Smith sat 2nd the whole way, but had to fend off late charges from Melanie Margalis and Mallory Comerford at the finish. She managed to do it, touching in 1:56.68 to Margalis’ 1:56.90 and Comerford’s 1:56.95. Ledecky and Smith add this event to the 800 they qualified in last night, while Margalis and Comerford earn automatic relay berths.
Simone Manuel closed well in 29.73 to snag 5th and likely earn a prelim relay spot, as will Cierra Runge in 6th.
Despite disappointingly missing the A-final this morning, Katie McLaughlin had a great swim in the B-final to out-touch Gabby DeLoof by 0.01, 1:58.57 to 1:58.58. Brooke Forde also had a great swim in 1:58.85. York YMCA teammates Courtney Harnish (2:00.49) and Leah Braswell (2:00.81) went 1-2 in the C-final.
Katie Ledecky was under 1:55 seven times already. More than anybody else in the history of this race. 5 of 7 races were 1:54.8 but all of them were done not being tapered or in prelim race. Can we expect her to drop 2 seconds from this zone of confidence to set a new world record? The history of her world records in 800 and 400 tell us that she is that type of swimmer
8:04 from comfortable zone 8:11-8:13
3:56 from 4:00 – 4:01
Is she able of 1:52.8 ? Hopefully yes. But not at the meet where she has to swim thousands of meters of competition. Unless ….
Unless she will be focusing on… Read more »
About time someone challenges that dumb world record.
In a few days Sarah Snostrom swims 200 in Swedish Championships. Let’s see how her recent 52.08 translates in 200. I want her to make personal best, so Ledecky will be pushed to respond correspondingly at WC in four weeks.
did allison schmitt retire? or is she taking a break