American Caitlin Leverenz struck again when she broke her third Pan American Games record of the meet thus far in order to take the top seed in the 200m IM.
Leverenz was a 2:11.04 in the third heat of the women’s 200m IM during the final day of competition to break the previous record of 2:13.07 set by American Julia Smit at the 2007 Games in Brazil.
That time for Leverenz is the fastest that she’s been since last year’s Pan Pacific Championships in Gold Coast, Australia. It ranks her fifth in the world this year, bettering her previous seventh-ranked 2:11.40 from the Arena Pro Swim Series at Orlando.
2014-2015 LCM Women 200 IM
HOSSZU
2:06.12*WR
2 | Siobhan-Marie O'CONNOR | GBR | 2.08.45 | 08/02 |
2 | Kanako WATANABE | JPN | 2.08.45 | 08/03 |
4 | Maya DiRADO | USA | 2.08.99 | 08/03 |
5 | Sydney PICKREM | CAN | 2.10.08 | 08/02 |
Leverenz’s Splits
- Fly – 28.45
- Back – 33.93
- Breast – 37.45
- Free – 31.21.
Leverenz was locked in a tight battle with Canadian Sydney Pickrem who joined her on the podium in the 400m IM earlier in the meet.
Leverenz took out the first 50 hard, splitting a 28.45 in order to generate a huge lead for herself. Her backstroke showed decent improvement, and she was able to maintain her lead in a sense, tying with Pickrem at the halfway point.
On the breaststroke, Leverenz turned on the jets and powered home in 37.45. With 50 to go, Leverenz had created a lead for herself and all she had to do was hold on.
Holding off a charging Pickrem, Leverenz managed to win the heat, set the record, and take the top seed heading into finals tonight.
Cal Bears Women swimmers are doing great, so does anyone know why the Head Coach would remove her Assistant Coach Cunnane? This coaching duo took their team to the top of the NCAA, so this move does not make sense. This news is troubling for recruitments reasons, etc.