2020 PRO SWIM SERIES – DES MOINES
- March 4-7, 2020
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Long Course Meters
- Meet Info
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
Katie Ledecky had a great swim to start off the Des Moines stop of the 2020 Pro Swim Series, collecting the 1500 free victory with a 15:29.51. That’s the fifth-best performance she’s ever had, with her best being a 15:20.48 from the 2018 Pro Swim Series stop in Indianapolis. That meet was in May, and that time set the World Record.
LEDECKY TOP 1500 FREE PERFORMANCES, ALL-TIME
- 15:20.48 – 2018 Pro Swim Series – Indianapolis
- 15:25.48 – 2015 World Champs
- 15:27.71 – 2015 World Champs
- 15:28.36 – 2014 Pan Pacs
- 15:29.51 – 2020 Pro Swim Series – Des Moines
- 15:31.82 – 2017 World Champs
Of course, this is also the fifth-best performance ever, by anybody.
This is the best she’s looked since that swim in Indy. She still would go on to win 2018 Pan Pac Gold in this race by over 20 seconds, but her time was almost ten seconds slower than tonight (15:38.97). Her fastest time in 2019 wasn’t until the very end of the calendar year when she won the U.S. Open (formerly U.S. Winter Nationals) title in 15:35.98. Last summer at the 2019 World Champs, Ledecky fell ill during the meet and only swam prelims (15:48.90).
Second tonight was Tucson Ford Dealer Aquatics’ Leah Smith in 16:16.34 and third, also under 16:30, was Chile’s Kristel Kobrich (16:22.35). 16-year-old Mariah Denigan of Lakeside Swim Team nabbed fourth (16:35.22). There were only six participants in this event on the women’s side.
On the men’s side, 18-year-old Arik Katz of Sarasota Tsunami took down a field of veterans with a time of 15:10.94, just five seconds off of his lifetime best. The incoming Harvard freshman had his third-best performance ever, his best being a 15:05.93 from 2019 Summer Nationals. Second went to Team Santa Monica’s Jordan Wilimovsky at 15:12.49, with Wolfpack Elite’s Akaram Mahmoud (15:16.56) in third and Boulder City Henderson Heatwave’s Zane Grothe fourth at 15:28.16.
Katz was actually behind Wilimovsky, Mahmoud, and Grothe for most of the race. Holding 30’s for most of the race, Katz held in fourth, then dropped a 29.9 at the 1150 mark before jumping back up to 30s. At 1350, he was 29.72 to Mahmoud’s 30.86, overtaking him. At 1400, He was 29.99 to Wilimovsky’s 30.35, overtaking him. Katz was 28.97 on the penultimate 50 as Mahmoud and Wilimovsky hovered at 30s, then Katz was 28.26 to hold off Wilimovsky (28.43).
It’s not a mile. It’s called the 1,500 free, an Olympic event. It’s time to join the rest of the world
Amazing. 5’8 Brian Goodell would have won the 1500, from 1976.
Anyone take a look at the splits? It appears that going one direction in the pool is about.3-.5 faster than the other direction. Interesting.
Wow, only lost to Zane Grothe by a second. She truly is a generational athlete.
Great swim.
KL should drop the 200 free individual and focus on 400 free/800 free/1500 free/4X200 free relay at olympic games.
How about she drops the 400 and 800 as well 😂😂😂
But Why??? 200 has to be her most fun race, she has REAL competition. Racing is the best part of swimming I think. Also the 400, kinda, I mean she was clearly sick in worlds. 800 and 1500 for her she just races herself.
Titmus says hello
Is Titmus still actually swimming? Thought maybe she has retired in sympathy along with that Jack teammate gal? Haven’t seen any LCM times for Titmus in like eight months, perhaps just semi-retired?
Can we get an interview with Kobrich? An article? Something? In her mid 30s and still kicking butt at American meets.
She’s a machine.
Solid time for Ledecky in March- she’s been relatively quiet lately, but seems to be looking good heading into trials!
Trials? 😀 You got to be kidding. Who in the world besides her will be under 15:40 this season? And who of American swimmers will be under 15:50?
If she wants to make the individual 200, she’s not going to be able to train through it. She’s not just swimming one event. She’s the defending Olympic champ in the 200, for crying out loud..
There’s a lot of variation between “training through” and short rest and full rest. Ledecky is famous for posting amazing times in-season (see her most recent WR in the 1500 in May 2018) – or even her race last night. Looking at the 200, she very consistently goes 1:55 at pro swim meets. With even modest rest, she’s capable of going 1:54-1:55. If she does that, which two American women are going to beat her for the indv. spot?
Quadarella could very well be under 15:40 given she went 15:40.89 at Worlds.
Ledecky is one of the few swimmers in the world that could truly look right pass trials and focus on Tokyo.
I think she probably wants one of the 2 free spots, and maybe even a top 6 100 free, so she’s going to need to have some speed in Omaha
Just solid……an Olympic winning time straight off the bat is a bit more than solid!
Is there a problem with the pool or that is the specific of Katie Ledecky’s pace in this race. But each odd number of her splits is noticeably faster than the following even one (except the finish of course).
Same for EVERY odd 50 for 2nd & 3rd place too (except finish split). What are the chances?! Current?
I vaguely remember that she did the same thing in Rio, the announcer commented on her being significantly faster one way than the other
I’m sure Rowdy would explain its because she is breathing to her right….
Yeah because she could see all those other swimmers off her shoulder