Katie Ledecky Blasts the American, NCAA Record in the 500 Free — Video Interview

Photo Courtesy: Peter Bick

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Katie Ledecky reset her NCAA, American and US Open Record from the Pac-12 Championships a few short weeks ago. Ledecky broke all the records at 4:24.06, a second under the old record at 4:25.15. An equally impressive swim, Leah Smith broke 4:30 for the first time with a 4:28.90, moving her up to the 11th fastest performance of all time.

Ledecky and Smith were way ahead from the rest of the field the entire way, the only question was how far they could both go under their best times. Smith had been knocking on the 4:30 barrier for two years now and she finally did it tonight while trailing one of the best swimmers in history. This is Stanford’s first title in the 500 free since 2001 when Jessica Foschi won it at 4:37.81. It is the eighth title in the 500 for Stanford as Marybeth Linzmeier won three titles from 1982-1984 and Janet Evans won two in 1990 and 1991.

Watch Swimming World’s video interview from after the race with Ledecky.

The battle for third was very exciting as outside smoke, Kennedy Goss of Indiana had a monster last 50 with a 4:36.13 to out-touch Louisville’s Mallory Comerford at 4:36.16. Hannah Moore (4:36.85), Rose Bi (4:37.30), Danielle Valley (4:38.31) and G Ryan (4:40.28) rounded out the A-final.

Event 3  Women 500 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 4:25.15  2/23/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
         Meet: C 4:28.37  3/16/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
     American: A 4:25.15  2/23/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
    U.S. Open: O 4:25.15  2/23/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
         Pool: P 4:28.37  3/16/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals NISCA Points
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Katie Ledecky    FR Stanford          4:28.37    4:24.06N  198   20  
    r:+0.68  24.41        50.65 (26.24)
        1:16.83 (26.18)     1:43.49 (26.66)
        2:10.07 (26.58)     2:37.07 (27.00)
        3:04.11 (27.04)     3:31.14 (27.03)
        3:58.03 (26.89)     4:24.06 (26.03)
  2 Leah Smith       SR Virginia          4:31.10    4:28.90   189   17  
    r:+0.72  24.83        51.42 (26.59)
        1:18.19 (26.77)     1:45.34 (27.15)
        2:12.62 (27.28)     2:39.89 (27.27)
        3:07.28 (27.39)     3:34.57 (27.29)
        4:02.00 (27.43)     4:28.90 (26.90)
  3 Kennedy Goss     JR Indiana           4:38.09    4:36.13   175   16  
    r:+0.65  25.53        53.56 (28.03)
        1:21.73 (28.17)     1:49.93 (28.20)
        2:18.08 (28.15)     2:46.06 (27.98)
        3:14.37 (28.31)     3:42.44 (28.07)
        4:09.87 (27.43)     4:36.13 (26.26)
  4 Mallory Comerfo  SO Louisville        4:36.91    4:36.16   175   15  
    r:+0.69  25.52        53.39 (27.87)
        1:21.84 (28.45)     1:50.19 (28.35)
        2:18.52 (28.33)     2:46.40 (27.88)
        3:14.22 (27.82)     3:41.87 (27.65)
        4:09.40 (27.53)     4:36.16 (26.76)
  5 Hannah Moore     JR NC STATE          4:37.12    4:36.85   173   14  
    r:+0.70  25.96        53.80 (27.84)
        1:21.76 (27.96)     1:49.92 (28.16)
        2:18.00 (28.08)     2:46.16 (28.16)
        3:14.17 (28.01)     3:42.17 (28.00)
        4:09.85 (27.68)     4:36.85 (27.00)
  6 Rose Bi          SO Michigan          4:37.81    4:37.30   172   13  
    r:+0.66  25.81        53.58 (27.77)
        1:21.47 (27.89)     1:49.46 (27.99)
        2:17.50 (28.04)     2:45.73 (28.23)
        3:13.88 (28.15)     3:42.09 (28.21)
        4:10.24 (28.15)     4:37.30 (27.06)
  7 Danielle Valley  SR Wisconsin         4:38.07    4:38.31   171   12  
    r:+0.75  26.15        54.00 (27.85)
        1:22.00 (28.00)     1:50.18 (28.18)
        2:18.25 (28.07)     2:46.42 (28.17)
        3:14.48 (28.06)     3:42.46 (27.98)
        4:10.73 (28.27)     4:38.31 (27.58)
  8 G Ryan           JR Michigan          4:36.46    4:40.28   167   11  
    r:+0.73  26.10        54.18 (28.08)
        1:22.53 (28.35)     1:51.25 (28.72)
        2:19.64 (28.39)     2:48.03 (28.39)
        3:16.24 (28.21)     3:44.57 (28.33)
        4:12.67 (28.10)     4:40.28 (27.61)

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