Thanks to Rory Connell for contributing to this report.
Katie Ledecky has swum the 3rd-fastest 500 yard freestyle of all-time on Saturday at the First State Cup hosted at the University of Delaware by the Delaware Swim Team.
Her final time was 4:30.9, which ranks 3rd on the all-time list in the race.
The new top-10:
- Ledecky, 4:28.71 (02/2014)
- Hoff, 4:30.47 (12/2007)
- Ledecky, 4:30.9 (11/2014)
- Knutson, 4:31.18 (12/2009)
- Ledecky, 4:31.38 (02/2013)
- Ledecky, 4:32.37 (12/2013)
- MacLean, 4:32.53 (03/2014)
- Franklin, 4:32.66 (03/2014)
- Ziegler, 4:32.71 (12/2007)
- Schmitt, 4:32.71 (03/2011)
Ledecky’s splits: 25.8/27.6/27.1/27.0/27.2/27.0/27.2/27.8/27.4/26.3.
In that race, Ledecky swam to a 3rd-place finish overall in what was a mixed-gender race. The only swimmers to beat her were Matthew Hirschberger (4:27.2) and Gavin Springer (4:29.8).
Earlier in the session, she posted a lifetime best (by two-and-a-half seconds) of 1:57.5 in the 200 yard IM. Ledecky will still have a big race left in the 1000 freestyle on Sunday, with the all-time best mark possibly in her sights after a good start to the meet.
Her 3rd swim of the day came about 5 minutes after her 500, she was a 22.74 to lead off an NCAP 200 free relay.
There are no live results for this meet, but we will have full results after its completion.
Anyone know where is Rory now? Heard he left DST
COACH, I wouldn’t label Ledecky as a pure “distance swimmer” any more anyways. According to a SwimSwam tweet, she popped a 48 in 100 free last night as well. And Meehan HAS had success with distance swimmers and is a very, very smart coach. The same goes for Katie as a swimmer.
Stanford does have a men’s team. I see no reason why Ledecky couldn’t train with the men.
We shouldn’t hope Katie Ledecky stays away from Stanford. She will have the opportunity of a great education there.
Which college swim program would enable her to maximize her potential and drop the most time? Is Stanford the best one?
Obviously whatever Katie is doing now works. Here’s a suggestion. More of the same? I would suggest Meehan doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel and is taking notes from NCAP.
I have said it before, and I will say it again. I hope Ledecky stays away from Stanford. Right now Manuel is their best distance swimmer, and they are not a co-ed team. She will have no one to train with at Stanford, and Meehan had little (no?) success with distance swimmers at Cal and with his current distance swimmers at Stanford.
Anti climatic to watch NCAA women when they go that time at end of the season. Kind of like watching collegiate gymnastics!
Missy went 4:57 this wee
Is the contributing editor the Rory Connell that was such a great age grouper and swam at Auburn?
don – it sure is!
Anyone know where is Rory now? Heard he left DST
SMASH
Who’s going to get video tomorrow? Landscape view if you use your phone, please 🙂
She has been head and shoulders above anybody this year from 200 to 1,500 free races . I don’t see what can stop her progression . Very impressive swims .