2020 PRO SWIM SERIES – DES MOINES
- March 4-7, 2020
- Des Moines, Iowa
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Info
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
U.S. Olympian Melanie Margalis had a huge swim in the 400 IM on night 3 of the 2020 Pro Swim Series in Des Moines. Margalis, a Georgia postgrad, dominated the event in 4:32.53. She’s now the 4th fastest American woman in history in the event and the fastest currently active U.S. swimmer by far. It was a lifetime best by 3 seconds, as her former best was a 4:35.50 from 2018.
Margalis’ Splits:
- 100 Fly- 1:02.48
- 100 Back- 1:11.69
- 100 Breast- 1:15.66
- 100 Free- 1:02.70
- Final Time- 4:32.53
Margalis battled closely with Worlds 200 IM medalist Madisyn Cox through the front half, but pulled away on the breast leg as she outsplit Cox by nearly 4 seconds on that leg alone. Cox was 2nd in tonight’s race with a 4:38.88. Ally McHugh, who has represented the U.S. at Worlds in this event, was 3rd in 4:42.50. McHugh is now bumed to #7 on the all-time top Americans list.
The only Americans who have been faster than Margalis are Olympic medalists Katie Hoff, Maya DiRado, Elizabeth Beisel. Hoff still owns the American Record with her 4:31.12 from 2008. Margalis is about a second and a half shy of the U.S. Open Record, as well, as Katinka Hosszu, the Olympic Champion and World Record holder, set it at a 4:31.07 in 2015.
ALL TIME TOP 10 AMERICAN PERFORMERS – WOMEN’S 400 IM
| 1 | Katie Hoff | 4:31.12 |
| 2 | Maya DiRado | 4:31.15 |
| 3 | Elizabeth Beisel | 4:31.27 |
| 4 | Melanie Margalis | 4:32.53 |
| 5 | Leah Smith | 4:33.86 |
| 6 | Caitlin Leverenz | 4:34.48 |
| 7 | Ally McHugh | 4:34.80 |
| 8 | Kaitlin Sandeno | 4:34.95 |
| 9 | Brooke Forde | 4:35.09 |
| 10 | Julia Smit | 4:35.33 |
😍😍😍😍
I’ve been saying for years now that Margalis is criminally underrated, but I think that phase of her career is over. Holy buckets. What an amazing time. I can’t wait to see what she does this summer!
I wouldn’t even call the state of affairs in women’s IM events a stagnation. It was decaying after veterans retired. Thank you Melanie for bringing some fresh air and a reasonable hope. The only problem is that you belong to same cohort of “old guard” and we still don’t have young talents in IM events.
I think it maybe a result of strong specialization that each stroke/distance require nowadays if a swimmer wants compete at highest level. One of example is 50 and 100 distances that look so close but require actually different abilities and skills. I think we won’t see the progress in IM type of competition in the future.
Emma Weyant (DOB 24 Dec 2001) begs to differ.
https://www.usaswimming.org/meet-the-team/national-team-bios?personid=E5220F13-1B35-49F3-ABAF-635C7F38043D
Alex Walsh (DOB 31 July 2001) begs to differ.
https://www.usaswimming.org/meet-the-team/national-team-bios?personid=f1c0dcdf-14d8-48be-9780-e8ec45a3a6b0
Oh really?
https://staging.swimswam.com/ranking/2019-2019-lcm-women-200-im/
Alex Walsh (DOB 31 July 2011) recent performance in the women’s 200 individual medley says otherwise.
And then some young buck will come along and prove us wrong
Alex Walsh (DOB 31 Jul 2001) recently posted a 2:09.01 (5 Dec 2019) in the women’s 200 m individual medley.
Just saw Phoebe throw down a solid 2br at PVS Sr champs. Swimmers normally don’t taper for this meet or even swim the max number of events since they are off to travel meets in a week or two. rumor, great 🦡 distance coaches
Alex Walsh (DOB 31 Jul 2001) posted a 2:09.01 in the women’s 200 m individual medley on 5 Dec 2019.
That is #18 all time. Is it good for the 18 years old swimmer? Yes, it is. But that is all that we can say about it. It isn’t Katie Ledecky nor Regan Smith nor Lilly King nor Simone Manuel nor the wave of young backstrokers or sprinters in freestyle nor the international push of young swimmers in 200 free and long distances.
How far she will go from this point you don’t know. As of now it is just a good swimmer who may win some medals in competition with competitors of her level.
What I actually I meant was the following:
you can hear from you girl – I want to be a great in… Read more »
And BTW if you believe that I’m an underpaid sleeper agent of Vladimir Putin be careful to get on my nerve. These guys are well trained to deal with obstacles. I recommend you to watch “The Americans” to get the idea. It never hurts to be careful.
😀
Is that a threat?
Your response is pure gibberish.
Mel rocks
She still has time to make her backstroke 2 sec better to win in Tokyo. She swam individual 100 BK by 1:02.27 last year. 1:11.67 today is too much. It may helped her super second half but it is still too much.
Good for her. Well deserved.
Nice swim, Melanie!
She’s not a baby anymore.
Did anyone ever say she was a baby?
She did in her post race interview. What she was alluding to was how the 400IM in particular is such a mentally (and physically) challenging race, and that her race strategy for it was to “stop being a baby” about it.
Her brother was an outstanding 400 IMer. I wonder how much of her apprehension has to do with watching how hard he worked and how short he kept coming up at Trials. Really glad she is willing to embrace this event. The US needs her!