Katie Ledecky Takes Down 400 IM American Record at Pac-12 Championships — Race Video

Photo Courtesy: Matt Rubel of Rubel Photography

Katie Ledecky trailed Stanford teammate Ella Eastin at the 300-yard mark as the two went head-to-head in the 400 IM at the women’s Pac-12 championships, but then Ledecky unleashed her freestyle. Ledecky split a ridiculous 52.67 on the way home and pulled into the wall in 3:57.68.

That beat the previous American record of 3:57.89 set by Caitlin Leverenz at the 2012 NCAA championships. Ledecky also improved to second all-time in the event, behind only Katinka Hosszu’s NCAA and U.S. Open record of 3:56.54, also set at the 2012 NCAA championships.

Watch the finish of Ledecky’s race here:

ANOTHER ONE. @stanfordwswim's Katie Ledecky claims the 400 IM AND sets a new American + Pac-12 Championship record! ? pic.twitter.com/cAyretUknw

— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 25, 2017

Eastin ended up finishing second in 4:00.96, just off the 4:00.36 she swam at the Ohio State Invite in November that had ranked first in the nation this season before Ledecky’s outburst.

Stanford completed the sweep with Allie Szekely, who touched in 4:02.34. That time ranks fourth in the country this season, behind Ledecky, Eastin and Texas’ Madisyn Cox, who swam a 4:01.15 earlier in the evening.

Event 8  Women 400 Yard IM
=========================================================================
    Name                 Year School            Prelims     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Ledecky, Katie         FR STAN-PC           4:01.92    3:57.68   32  
       26.03    29.15    30.89    29.44
       34.74    34.76    26.91    25.76
  2 Eastin, Ella           SO STAN-PC           4:03.13    4:00.96   28  
       25.99    29.30    30.06    29.92
       34.39    34.57    28.47    28.26
  3 Szekely, Allie         FR STAN-PC           4:02.70    4:02.34   27  
       25.86    29.36    29.95    29.27
       34.92    35.39    28.92    28.67
  4 Cox, Hannah            FR ARIZ-AZ           4:10.11    4:07.96   26  
       26.32    30.31    31.46    30.67
       35.87    36.64    28.69    28.00
  5 Li, Celina             SR CAL-PC            4:09.29    4:09.49   25  
       26.02    29.66    31.03    31.48
       35.54    36.84    29.72    29.20
  6 Stevens, Leah          SO STAN-PC           4:09.21    4:10.00   24  
       27.07    31.02    31.66    31.24
       35.99    35.89    28.60    28.53
  7 Schanz, Emma           SO UCLA-CA           4:11.75    4:12.10   23  
       27.92    31.68    31.75    30.75
       35.32    35.36    29.96    29.36
  8 Ross, Marlies          SO ASU-AZ            4:12.03    4:12.67   22  
       26.57    31.12    32.27    31.61
       34.98    35.86    30.86    29.40

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

24 Comments

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Allison Serventi Morgan

7 years ago

daaaaaaaang !!! ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

Andrew Schrag

7 years ago

Force. Of. Nature.

Cynthia Granata

7 years ago

Caitlin Jokubaitis

Christopher Barttelbort

7 years ago

Sydney Pickrem also has a faster time than Szekely. 4:02.25.

Halim Yussuf

7 years ago

Ledecky is creating a legend, that one day, will rival that of Phelps’.

Andrew Webber

7 years ago

Reply to Halim Yussuf

That day is here I think

Kellie Sweeney Beno

7 years ago

Way to go Allie!

Nancy Petrick

7 years ago

Is there anything she can’t do? Wow!

Jill Anna Schvartz

7 years ago

Can’t wait to see her in the next Olympics!!!

Carlene Capobianco-Messinger

7 years ago

Beth Capobianco-Tally

7 years ago

Reply to Carlene Capobianco-Messinger

What the? Since when does she do I’m? The 400 I’m is hardest raise in swim; did you notice how out of breath she was?

Dan Seidberg

7 years ago

Stephanie Carpico Antshel

7 years ago

Reply to Dan Seidberg

of course she did.

Heidi Ho

7 years ago

Laurie Ann O’Shea

Susan Shern-macke

7 years ago

What can she not do!!!!

Steve Friederang

7 years ago

She was pretty conservative in the first 100. She has more. I see a 3:54 in the near future. Three more year swimming in yard pools — tall girl with speed, tougheer than nails, huge suit compared to the guys, great aerobic base and continues to improve her strokes each season. Really really hard to beat. Oh and a great student too. Congratulations Katie! You are inspiration to all of us!