RACE VIDEO: Katie Ledecky Smashes 1000 Freestyle NCAA Record

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Photo Courtesy: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Swimming in a dual meet against the University of Texas Longhorns today, Katie Ledecky took down Leah Smith‘s NCAA record in the 1000 yard freestyle. Ledecky lapped the competition on her way to a 9:10.49.

That time destroyed Smith’s mark of 9:20.15, swum as the opening 1000 of her 1650 NCAA record at the 2016 ACC Championships. Ledecky also obliterated Janet Evans‘ pool record at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center. Evans posted a 9:30.69 in 1990.

Ledecky opened the race in a 1:48.38 200 freestyle. At the halfway mark her split was 4:34.35.

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Photo Courtesy:

Ledecky holds the American Record with an 8:59.65. She swam that time in a tech suit in December at the 2015 PV NCAP Invitational.

Stanford went on to win the meet, setting six pool records on the day. The Longhorns also set a pool mark as well.

Full results are available here.

Watch the race here:

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Laura M Wanco
7 years ago

One of many to go!

Melissa Dorre
7 years ago

Well duh…

Denise Connolly
7 years ago

I mean, 9:10.49… that’s crazy! She’s sprinting 40 lap splits averaging 26 sec. and placed in 3 other events. Wow. Really amazing Katie!!

Megan Quinn Brennan
7 years ago

That time is insane!!!Congrats!

Melanie Williams O'Daniel

Unbelievable !

Tammy Lee
7 years ago

Of course she did!

Mike Sherrill
7 years ago

Awesome swimming!

Jen Townsend
7 years ago

Nick Radziul

Nick Radziul
7 years ago
Reply to  Jen Townsend

and she broke evan’s 500 free team record twice, once during her first 500 in the 1000, and again during the 500 free…The non-ledecky swims in this DUAL meet were nuts too Jen Townsend

GAMascal345
7 years ago

@stanfordwswim What was “SILLY” to the race announcer. Curious!!

Blake Bryant
7 years ago

@stanfordwswim holy bageezus! Amazing

Jeff
Jeff
7 years ago

what do you mean she swam the American Record in a tech suit in 2015? I thought they are banned now. Or do you mean she swam this race in a regular suit and swam the other in a championship suit?

Leader
Leader
7 years ago
Reply to  Jeff

There are still racing suits that are noticeably faster than regular suits. Just not the insanely fast ones they had in 2009.

Carrie Smith
7 years ago

She’s amazing!

Halim Yussuf
7 years ago

Katie is rewriting the record book.

Bill Bell
Bill Bell
7 years ago

I think the scribe meant Ledecky swam that 8:59-plus un a racing suit and today she was wearing a dragsuit, pull buoys, floats and 5000-pound weights on her wrists/ankles to make things more fair.
For NCAAs Stanford coach Greg Meehan may let her ditch the floats.
Incidentally…her 4:34.35 500 split is or rather was fastest 500 all- time in a dual meet but then she broke it w/ her 4:33.9 straight 500 several events later.
If she stays all four years on The Farm and doesn’t burn out I can see by ’20 NCAAs something on order of 1:36-7 plays 200 free, 4:07-8 500 and — don’t laugh — a sub 15:00.0 1650.
And if she goes 400 IM on Day 2 3:50-plus.

Stephanie Ellen
7 years ago

How does she do it? Faster, more muscular, better technique? A combo of things I’m sure…just wondering if there is any idea?

Jeanne Jones
7 years ago

You go Girl!!!!

Deborah White
7 years ago

AMAZING !!!!

Lynn Jolly
7 years ago

I was there to see it. Out in 25.2 in the first 50!

Debs Tarapi
7 years ago

Teigan Tarapi

Morgan Campbell Haney
7 years ago

Tess Hayward look at her splits!

Kjell Lauwers
7 years ago

Phenomenal girl!

Rachel Spaulding
7 years ago

Bill Spaulding

liquidassets
7 years ago

Hey if that’s Bill Spaulding from Jamestown NY HS he was my YMCA and high school teammate.

Morgan Perrett
7 years ago

Eliana Belden Crawford Sarah Manz

Dave Hoover
7 years ago

What were you expecting….

Elke Veenendaal
7 years ago

That’s insane!!!!!

Melanie Zee
7 years ago

This one was for the girls. You go Katie!

Wayne Carlson
7 years ago

What gift God has given her. Wow.!

Pat Kennedy
7 years ago

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!

Carolyn Voss
7 years ago

Like!

Felix Andrei
7 years ago

Wow! Fantastic!

Steven Roberts
7 years ago

Wow!!

Gonçalo Aragão
7 years ago

KICK/PUSH! Bjs

Judy Donahue
7 years ago

Lauryn Donahue

Kerri Anderson
7 years ago

Paula Louise Armstrong

Paula Louise Armstrong
Reply to  Kerri Anderson

Almost disgusting. Almost.

Balázs Szűcs
7 years ago

What is pool length here?

Matt Gentry
7 years ago

Amazing!

Vivian Sandkamp
7 years ago

Knew she could do it.

Luca Andrea Antonio Botti

100% NATURAL? I wouldn’t bet a dyme

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