Katie Ledecky, Mallory Comerford Tie For 200 Freestyle Title — Video Interviews

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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At Louisville’s Ralph Wright Natatorium, there is a banner on the wall next to Carlos Almedia’s, Joao de Lucca’s and Kelsi Worrell’s NCAA title banners that reads “reserved for future NCAA Champion.” They will be able to fill that banner now that sophomore Mallory Comerford is the fourth person from Louisville to win an NCAA title. But Comerford did not win that title alone, as she touched at the same time as the legendary Stanford freshman Katie Ledecky. The duo touched first in 1:40.36.

Watch interviews with Mallory Comerford and Louisville head coach Arthur Albiero:

It was expected to be a duel between Stanford’s Simone Manuel and Ledecky, with Comerford lurking behind them. Manuel took it out first at the 100 and held the lead going into the last 50. But Comerford was charging hard and almost held off the 200 free Olympic champion, touching literally at the same time. Manuel was third at 1:40.70. Ledecky and Comerford are now tied for second all time behind Cal’s Missy Franklin.

Michigan’s Siobhan Haughey (1:41.21), Virginia’s Leah Smith (1:42.66), Michigan’s Gabby DeLoof (1:43.11), Cincinnati’s Jackie Keire (1:43.69) and Texas A&M’s Claire Rasmus (1:44.32) swam in the final as well.

This is not the first time that we have had joint winners in the 200 free at the NCAA championships. Auburn’s Heather Kemp and North Carolina’s Jessi Perruquet tied for first in 2003. This is Stanford’s third 200 free title after Marybeth Linzmeier won in 1982 and 1984.

Event 10  Women 200 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:39.10  3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
         Meet: C 1:39.10  3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
     American: A 1:39.10  3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
    U.S. Open: O 1:39.10  3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
         Pool: P 1:41.85            Allison Schmitt, Georgia
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals NISCA Points
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Katie Ledecky    FR Stanford          1:42.02    1:40.36P  188   18.5
    r:+0.69  23.71        48.90 (25.19)
        1:14.74 (25.84)     1:40.36 (25.62)
  1 Mallory Comerfo  SO Louisville        1:42.99    1:40.36P  188   18.5
    r:+0.67  23.95        49.46 (25.51)
        1:14.83 (25.37)     1:40.36 (25.53)
  3 Simone Manuel    SO Stanford          1:41.81    1:40.70P  186   16  
    r:+0.70  23.28        48.46 (25.18)
        1:14.26 (25.80)     1:40.70 (26.44)
  4 Siobhan Bernade  SO Michigan          1:43.03    1:41.21P  184   15  
    r:+0.69  23.71        49.64 (25.93)
        1:15.62 (25.98)     1:41.21 (25.59)
  5 Leah Smith       SR Virginia          1:42.86    1:42.66   176   14  
    r:+0.73  24.14        49.99 (25.85)
        1:16.28 (26.29)     1:42.66 (26.38)
  6 Gabby Deloof     JR Michigan          1:43.50    1:43.11   174   13  
    r:+0.70  24.74        50.82 (26.08)
        1:16.98 (26.16)     1:43.11 (26.13)
  7 Jackie Keire     SR Cincinnati        1:43.27    1:43.69   171   12  
    r:+0.66  24.19        50.50 (26.31)
        1:17.34 (26.84)     1:43.69 (26.35)
  8 Claire Rasmus    SO TAMU              1:43.73    1:44.32   168   11  
    r:+0.70  25.09        51.77 (26.68)
        1:18.10 (26.33)     1:44.32 (26.22)

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Bill Bell

7 years ago

Do I put an asterisk after Katie’s and Malliry’s times on my all- time list?

What a second- half by Comerford. Made up mire than a half- second deficit.

Manuel’s 1:40.70 fastest-ever non- winning tine.

Had Manuel won and then presumably won the 100 Saturday she would have become first woman to ever win thus triple. And w/ Ledecky all but guaranteed gold in the mile she’ll become first swimmer if either sex to sweep 200-500-1650 frees @ same NCAAs. She’s already first swimmer to break AR/NCAA record in 500 free thrice in same season.

Cal’s Matt Biondi in 1987 still only swimmer to win 50-100-200frees @ same NCAAs.

Nick Voikos

7 years ago

“Did not share that title?”

At Louisville’s Ralph Wright Natatorium, there is a banner on the wall next to Joao de Lucca’s and Kelsi Worrell’s NCAA title banners that reads “reserved for future NCAA Champion.” They will be able to fill that banner now that sophomore Mallory Comerford has won the school’s third NCAA title in men and women’s swimming. But Comerford did not share that title, as she touched first with the legendary Stanford freshman Katie Ledecky. The duo touched first in 1:40.36.

Sounds like she DID share that title.

Leander

7 years ago

Ms. Comerford passed Ms. Ledecky in the last 50, which is quite remarkable, yet the article states that she could not hold off Ms. Ledecky. Try to get your facts close to correct if you are writing a news article.

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Andy Ross

7 years ago

Reply to Leander

Pretty sure she flipped ahead of Ledecky at the 175.

Ana Paula Ambrosio

7 years ago

Carlos Almeida also won 200 breast for Louisville in 2012.

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Andy Ross

7 years ago

Reply to Ana Paula Ambrosio

Thank you for that!

Connie Sharpe Ruohomaki

7 years ago

These interviews are so terrific!