Katie Ledecky Destroys 500 Free American, High School Record
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BOYDS – Katie Ledecky is a threat to set a record every single time she touches the water. Tonight, she did just that as she obliterated her American record in the 500-yard free during prelims of the 2015 D.C. Metro High School Championships.
Ledecky, swimming for Stone Ridge in her final high school meet before heading off to Stanford or a gap year to focus on the Olympics, blasted a time of 4:26.58 in prelims tonight, demolishing her previous American record and high school record of 4:28.71 set a year ago at this meet.
Katie Ledecky American Record Splits
24.94, 51.74 (26.80), 1:18.70 (26.96), 1:45.77 (27.07), 2:12.96 (27.19), 2:39.80 (26.84), 3:06.63 (26.83), 3:33.76 (27.13), 4:00.63 (26.87), 4:26.58 (25.95).
Yes, she came home in 25.95. That’s just unreal.
Dagny Knutson remains in control of the national public school record with her 4:34.78 swimming for North Dakota in 2008.
And, for good measure, Ledecky anchored Stone Ridge’s 400-yard free relay with a sizzling 48.26. The team of Marielle Gasaway, Kelleigh Haley, McKenzie Crafton and Ledecky posted a 3:34.80 to make finals.
Earlier in the night, Prep’s Matt Hirschberger became the second-fastest 15-16 year old ever in the 500-yard free with a blistering 4:17.13.
That swim moved him ahead of Townley Haas (4:17.45) into second behind Sean Grieshop’s (4:16.59) 15-16 U.S. National Age Group record from the Winter Junior Nationals in December.
Coming into tonight, Hirschberger’s top 500 free had been a 4:20.14 from December Winter Nationals while swimming for Nation’s Capital.
Hirschberger still owns the 11-12 U.S. National Age Group record for the 1000-yard free with a 9:38.50 from 2011.
2015 Metro Swimming Championships, Day One – Results
National Records for High School Are Pending Application Verification. Click Here to Learn More: http://www.niscaonline.org/
Congratulations to Katie..
Beast.
Here’s video of the swim last night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu7SFIpzG18
Compare to NCAA DI Men’s result of the past…
1969 Mark Spitz, Indiana, 4:33.48