Leah Smith kicked off the Arena Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis this morning with another impressive swim in the 200m freestyle event.
After already having just clocked a lifetime best in this event at the Charlotte stop of this series, earning a time of 1:57.26, Smith unleashed a mighty 1:56.66 to lead the field in Indy. Her prelims outing marks the first time the Virginia Cavalier has dipped beneath the 1:57-mark and she did so in spades, dropping .60 of a second off of her Charlotte time.
Splits between Smith’s best 2 marks highlight how Smith maintained her opening speed through the 2nd 100, scoring a closing split just under a second faster than her previous performance.
Charlotte, 1:57.42
57.13/1:00.13
Indy, 1:56.66
57.45/59.21
Not only does Smith’s 1:56.66 from this morning carry her into 14th place in the worldwide rankings, it also now checks Smith’s in as the 8th-fastest U.S. performance of all time:
- 1:53.61 Allison Schmitt USA London 07/28/2012
- 1:54.43 Katie Ledecky USA Austin 01/16/2016
- 1:54.81 Missy Franklin USA Barcelona 07/28/2013
- 1:55.29 sf Dana Vollmer USA Roma 07/26/2009
- 1:55.78 Katie Hoff USA Beijing 08/09/2008
- 1:56.05 r Ariana Kukors USA Roma 07/26/2009
- 1:56.43 r Natalie Coughlin USA Melbourne 03/25/2007
- 1:56.66, Leah Smith, USA Indianapolis 06/03/16
On an international scale, Smith’s swim solidifies her, yet again, as a potentially key component of the American women’s 800 freestyle relay in Rio. If the U.S. is going to take on China’s 2009 World Record of 7:42.08 in the 800 free relay, they’re going to need either Katie Ledecky or Missy Franklin to flat-start a 1:54, and the other to roll into a 1:54-low. That would leave the other two legs to average 1:56-low. With her swim today – in prelims, remember – Smith certainly puts herself in a position to accomplish that feat.
Interesting to see Natalie Coughlin on that list. I didn’t remember her swimming it internationally even on a relay. She was (and still is but to a lesser degree) such a versatile swimmer.
Natalie led off the gold medal winning 4×200 relay in Athens (in a time that would have won gold in the individual 200). The time listed above is the lead-off for the relay that won gold at Worlds in Melbourne. She swam the 200 freestyle frequently in her career up until 2008. She would have entered it even more if it were not for the usual scheduling conflicts with the 100 back (She wasn’t eager to try the Missy double). I seriously doubt she will ever contest another 200 free at this stage in her career as she doesn’t really train for this event any longer.
And her usual pattern was to throw down a really good 200 free time at Santa Clara to show she was fit in the event before not swimming it at the year’s selection meet because of the usual 100 back conflict. She’d then get added back onto the 4×200 finals squad as an ‘any available swimmer’ because her time from Santa Clara held up well against the women who swam the 200 at the selection meet.
Natalie earlier in her career was extreamly versitle. 100 fly,back free. 50 free, 200IM, 200 Free
What do you think about her 400 time? She may almost be fast enough to not need a full taper as it doesnt appear anyone else is going under 4:05. If she got a draft off KL she could go 4:00
If she wants to medal in Rio, she can’t fully taper for trials. That’s my opinion about all US swimmers who want to shine at olympic games and I know it’s not popular on swimswam.
Her only rival for the second spot seems to be Cierra Runge if she finds again her pre Cal shape of summer 2014. But even at 100% I doubt she’s got the speed to swim under 4.04.
The best scenario for Leah Smith would be to swim 4.03 at trials at 95% of her potential and swim 4.02 low in Rio. With that time you are in silver.
If she wants to medal in Rio, she has to swim in Rio. She can save her taper all she wants and join 2008 Nick Thoman swimming medal-winning times from the US Open later this summer.
You do know it is possible to double taper well right? You act like it’s absolutely impossible
TAA, this is very interesting! I agree with your analysis on paper, but it also her first chance to make the team and there is only 1 spot left in the 400 free. If she tapers 95%, it’s got to be perfect. Trials is a wildcard of a meet; I think you give it your all to be an Olympian first and then switch to plan b – hail mary hold onto you taper at the games!
1.56.6 is just about a guarantee for the relay and to be an Olympian that is partly why I bring it up. She could gamble and try for the silver medal as Bobo points out. She is swimming so well only two months after NCAA taper maybe she just ramps up her training full bore after Omaha and does a mini taper in Rio. I think she is still 4:03 in Rio with that approach and of course that may only give her 4th place but still gold favorite on the relay. Either way I love seeing a swimmer being aggressive with their swims and dropping time in season
Yes, so much fun to see that aggresiveness! And perhaps it is this positive mindset and momentum trumping whether she has perfect tapers or not.
Imagine if Missy can find again her 1.54 high shape and Allison Schmitt at least a 1.55 shape!
Add KL in 1.53 high/1.54 low and Leah Smith in 1.56 low.
All times flat-start
You have a monster world record!
There will be a monster WR comes Rio in that relay .
8th fastest performer? I’m assuming the other ladies in front of her have put up times like that on a few occasions.
But still, pretty fantastic swim.
Article reads “8th-fastest performance”, per USA Swimming. – thanks, Retta
Yes. It’s not the 8th fastest US performance ever. For example Katie Ledecky swims 1.54 or 1.55 at every meet.
Leah Smith becomes the 8th fastest US performer ever.
I wouldn’t say it’s a fantastic swim. Let’s keep that kind of words for the monster swims. That’s a great swim. It’s great for her 400 free and it’s a great news for the US relay too.
It’s a fantastic swim for a presumably untapered swim, and she just recently went her best time before this. The time itself is great, but the circumstances make it fantastic
Agreed. A performance like that would be pretty good at Trials, so doing it now is a good sign.