Reported by Mitch Bowmile.
WOMEN’S 400M FREESTYLE FINAL
Top seed: Katie Ledecky (4:02.62)
World record: 3:58.37 – Katie Ledecky
American record: 3:58.37 – Katie Ledecky
U.S Open record: 3:58.86 – Katie Ledecky
U.S Nationals record: 3:58.86 – Katie Ledecky
JR World record: 3:58.37 – Katie Ledecky
2012 Winning Time: 4:02.84 – Allison Schmitt
Katie Ledecky is going to be the headline of every article related to swim trials tonight. It’s going to talk about how Ledecky went out over two-seconds under world record pace at the 100, and how she held on to finish within roughly half-a-second of her own world record.
The real story, is that Katie Ledecky is beatable. And the woman who proved that Ledecky is in fact human: Leah Smith.
Smith went out fast, although Ledecky was about a body-length and a half ahead of Smith at the first 100, Smith maintained that position for the remainder of the race. Towards the end, she even chased down Ledecky towards the wall.
At the touch, Ledecky was 3:58.98, Smith was a 4:00.65. In major meets, Ledecky has never won by a shorter margin in the 400m freestyle.
Smith actually split a faster second 200 than Ledecky, putting up splits of 1:58.16 and 2:02.49 compared to Ledecky’s 1:56.28 and 2:02.70.
Smith’s performance now makes her the fourth fastest performer of all time in the 400m freestyle, and the second fastest (only behind Ledecky) in a textile suit.
- Katie Ledecky (3:58.98)
- Leah Smith (4:00.65)
- Cierra Runge (4:07.04)
- Lindsey Vrooman (4:08.99)
- Allison Schmitt (4:09.25)
- Stephanie Peacock (4:09.53)
- Hannah Moore (4:09.54)
- Hannah Cox (4:09.72)
For official results click here.
Unbelievable swim from Smith… but calling Ledecky “beatable” still seems like a stretch. She went out in Smith’s best 200 time and held on to swim the 3rd fastest 400 of all time. Great race from both ladies though.
Agreed, though I also couldn’t help but notice that Smith was ahead of the red WR line somewhere around the 200 that Ledecky was so far ahead of. She can see her feet and she’s in the same zip code as Ledecky now. It was great to see. I would love to see Smith get under 4:00, if not by Rio then later on.