2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, June 3 – Saturday, June 7, 2025
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Indiana University Natatorium
- LCM (50 meters)
- World Championship Selection Criteria
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets (Updated 6/02)
- Live Results
- How To Watch (USA Swimming Network)
- Prelims Live Recap: Day 1
- Finals Live Recap: Day 1
Whilst Katie Ledecky stole the headlines and our attention in the 800 freestyle with the second-fastest swim of all time, Claire Weinstein made some history in taking second place. That is her first top-two finish in this event at U.S. Nationals and almost certainly adds her to the team ahead of the 200 and 400 freestyles later this week. However, it was Weinstein’s second 400 that really stands out from tonight. She descended each hundred after the 100 meter mark as she ran down Jillian Cox for 2nd.
She outsplit Ledecky over the second half of this race 4:04.67 to 4:05.10. What is even more remarkable is that prior to a month ago 4:04 was her 400 best – and even now this stands at the 4:01 she swam in Fort Lauderdale. She may be looking to become just the sixth woman under 4:00 later this week.
She was faster than Ledecky on each of the last three 100s, most emphatically so on the final 100 where she was nine-tenths clear. She descended by six and a half second throughout the race.
| Split | Katie Ledecky – 8:05.76 | Claire Weinstein – 8:19.67 |
| 100 | 57.16 | 1:01.10 |
| 200 | 1:00.64 | 1:05.83 |
| 300 | 1:01.54 | 1:04.65 |
| 400 | 1:01.32 | 1:03.46 |
| 500 | 1:01.4 | 1:02.74 |
| 600 | 1:01.65 | 1:01.44 |
| 700 | 1:01.78 | 1:01.10 |
| 800 | 1:00.27 | 59.35 |
Weinstein was out in 4:15.04 in this race, flipping nearly six seconds behind second-place Jillian Cox. She closed the gap drastically in the second half, out-touching the Texas freshman by 0.21 after a wicked 28.89 final 50 meters. She knocked over a second off her best of 8:21.00 from the 2023 U.S. Nationals, where she finished third behind Cox.
This is not the first time that Weinstein has negative split the 800. She did the same at the 2023 Fran Crippen meet, going 4:13.96/4:11.99 to take the win ahead of Katie Grimes and Bella Sims in 8:25.95, but has never negative split the race this drastically before. She was 8:29.80 at last years Olympic Trials, marking a huge turnaround in 12 months.
Tonight’s second 400 split is now Weinstein’s #2 400 freestyle, and she looks in fantastic form to reclaim her 200 freestyle title tomorrow as well as make a statement in the 400.
When Katie went 8:04.12, she was out in 4:01.78 and came home in 4:02.34 after a 15:24 1500, 3:56, 400, and a 1:55 200. She was 4:00.6 to the feet, probably a sub 4:00
Too bad the camera, nor announcer followed Claire’s swim, it would have been great to watch!
Weinstein make that after race 100, 20 minuts before?
she is capable of swim 400 under 4:00 and
800 8.10
There is no way I’d expect an 8.19 to have a 1.05 100 split in it!
Ledecky won by 14 seconds. Nice swim for Claire but really doesn’t matter how you split it, it’s about the total time
If you can finish like that, there’s a lot more to come. Reason for optimism.
I agree…I think Claire needs some more races of the 800 under her belt…I think she can manage her front 400 a little better, and then fight a little harder to try to be maybe 4:05 or 4:06 on the way home…so, my point is, if she goes out in 4:10, comes back in 4:05, that’s 8:15…or even better yet, if she tries to lock into a pace by the 3rd or 4th 50 for the remaining 600, that could also help her balance out her swim.
With Katie likely heading to retirement after 2028 olympics, it’d be nice to see Claire take this event over. She’s more than capable.
Nothing against Katie（I’m such a big fan), can you at least put Claire’s full face on the cover since Claire’s what the article mainly talks about.Kinda disrespectful to Claire!
Slight correction: 4:04.63
In defense of Katie Ledecky, she has never posted a 4:00.66 split at the 400 meter mark in the W 800 FR. To put it in perspective, the aforementioned time would place 8th on the All-Time Performer List in the W 400 FR just behind Leah Smith (4:00.65).