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WATCH: Katie Ledecky 200 Fly, Leah Smith 100 Breast Time Trials

2022 US SUMMER NATIONALS

Reported by Sophie Kaufman.

After treating us to an epic battle in the women’s 400 IM on Day 3 of U.S. Nationals, neither Katie Ledecky nor Leah Smith raced any of Day 4’s events. However, they did each time-trials events; Ledecky swam the 200 fly, and Leah Smith the 100 breast.

Ledecky teased that she would swim “fun events” in Irvine, including time-trialing the 200 fly and 200 IM. On Day 4, she raced the 200 fly, which she described as her “best event when she was younger.”

She clocked 2:15.20 in her race. That’s actually a new best time for her; her previous best was 2:15.62, which she swam eight years ago at the 2014 Virginia State Championships. Ledecky took the race out fast, splitting 1:02.81 at the 100 turn. She paid for it on the way back; her second 100 split was a 1:12.39. Still, it’s a best time for Ledecky, who until last night hadn’t swum one since May 2018. Ledecky is expected to time-trial the 200 IM on Day 5.

In the 100 breast, Smith swam 1:11.10, a personal best by almost five seconds. Like Ledecky, her best time in this off-event had stood for a long time: she set her previous mark in 2015 at a Virginia Last Chance Meet. Smith was out in 32.99, and back in 38.11.

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Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
2 years ago

The women’s 200 meter butterfly is fun? Nah!

The women’s 100 meter freestyle should be fun for a female swimmer who swam in the final of the women’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Last edited 2 years ago by Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
UCswim
2 years ago

Who is in the red cap? Bragging rights for life.

Elise Lasecki
Reply to  UCswim
2 years ago

Alivia Lindorfer bragging rights is right! Awesome swim for the Badger!!!! 2:13 🔥

Drewbrewsbeer
2 years ago

Flyers gonna be smug AF with the distance group.

Last edited 2 years ago by Drewbrewsbeer
fighter
Reply to  Drewbrewsbeer
2 years ago

No, because “red cap” is swimming the mile today.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Drewbrewsbeer
2 years ago

Flickinger to Ledecky:

“Don’t quit your day job.”

Mike
2 years ago

I fixed your headline: “LEDECKY DROPS 2:15.20 200 FLY, DID NOT & WOULD NOT MEDAL THIS EVENT AT WORLDS”

Becky D
Reply to  Mike
2 years ago

You must be fun at parties.

Elise Lasecki
Reply to  Mike
2 years ago

😳

Last edited 2 years ago by Elise Lasecki
Jason
Reply to  Mike
2 years ago

Guys I think he’s salty he didn’t medal at worlds

Fraser Thorpe
2 years ago

Always wanted to see her take on a 200 fly. That was fun. That damn piano jumped on her back at the 120 mark tho. Ouch.

Awsi Dooger
Reply to  Fraser Thorpe
2 years ago

I thought she started to lose it just beyond the 90 meter mark. That’s when she was noticeably coming out of the water considerably higher. But the second wall gave her a brief reprieve. Then beyond 120 nothing was going to save her.

Still not too bad. And I imagine the 200 medley will look good and be a very competitive time, to the point there will be calls for her to attempt it during events.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Fraser Thorpe
2 years ago

….. and then the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg.

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