Ledecky Eyeing New WR in New Event in Tokyo (Video)

2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Reported by Lauren Neidigh.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE:

  1. GOLD: Katie Ledecky– 1:54.60
  2. SILVER: Allison Schmitt– 1:55.82
  3. BRONZE: Gabby Deloof– 1:56.55
  4. FOURTH: Leah Smith– 1:56.93

Katie Ledecky scorched a 55.77 going out, less than 2 tenths under World Record pace. She fell off the pace on the back half, but still won handily with the 6th fastest American performance ever in 1:54.60. Behind her, Allison Schmitt cemented her comeback with a 1:55.82 for 2nd.

After taking 2 seconds off her best this morning, Michigan’s Gabby Deloof became the 9th fastest American performer ever as she took 3rd in 1:56.55, making her move on the 3rd 50 to push ahead of Leah Smith (1:56.93).

Just out of the top 5 was Simone Manuel in 1:57.01, marking her best time by about a tenth. Manuel has already qualified for Pan Pacs after swimming the 2nd fastest American 100 free ever last night. Olympic relay champ Melanie Margalis (1:57.32) was about a half second shy of her prelims time for 6th, as was Mallory Comerford (1:58.38) for 7th. Comerford has also cemented a Pan Pacs spot with her 100 free, while Margalis is the frontrunner to qualify in the IMs later on.

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Yozhik
5 years ago

American 4×200 relay is getting closer and closer to the world record of 7:42.08 (China, 2009).
On paper they are 7:43.71
Ledecky – 1:54.56
Schmitt – 1:55.82
Deloof – 1:56.55
Smith. – 1:56.78
Ledecky and Smith can be expected to swim 0.5 sec faster each. Plus a safe and more or less standard relay exchange with reaction time 0.35sec can save another 1 sec.
So this team can be expected to show 7:41.7 that is ~ 0.4 sec under current world record.
There is some uncertainty with times of DeLoof and Schmitt. Both swimmers swam yesterday much better than what was expected from them let say a month ago and they could… Read more »

Ex Quaker
5 years ago

I thought the article pic was Ledecky swimming breaststroke while holding another swimmer in a headlock. Took me a second to realize what was going on.

Becky D
Reply to  Ex Quaker
5 years ago

So we have another event to replace “mystery IM” on the Pro Series: “Mystery wrestling partner”

Becky D
5 years ago

It was awesome to see KL express such joy with Schmitty.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Becky D
5 years ago

so so cool

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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