Katie Ledecky Dominates 400 Free For Third National Title This Week

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Katie Ledecky won her third National title of the meet to kick off the penultimate night of finals, leading through the entire race to touch in 3:59.09. While that it off of her season best of 3:57.94 (which also stands as the U.S. Open record), that time is still nearly two seconds faster than anyone else in the world. Ledecky was under her own world record pace through the first half of the race but couldn’t quite stay there through the final meters of the race.

Leah Smith was second in 4:02.21, about a 1.5 seconds off of her lifetime best and two seconds faster than she has been so far this season. That swim moves her up one spot in the world rankings to third, jumping past China’s Jianjiahe Wang (4:03.14) and moving behind Australia’s Ariarne Titmus (4:00.93).

In third was Haley Anderson in 4:07.21, which is her first time under 4:08 and another big best time for the Trojan swimmer at this meet after her third place finish in the 800 free on night one. Just behind her was former Purdue swimming Kaersten Meitz in 4:07.60, which was also her first time under 4:08.

Sierra Schmidt (4:08.98), Geena Freriks (4:09.04), Hali Flickinger (4:10.42), and Kirsten Jacobsen (4:11.14) made up the rest of the A-final. Allison Schmitt, who is already on the Pan Pacs team after her second place finish in the 200 free, won the B final in 4:08.46.

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Carole Machol-Atler

5 years ago

I used to love Rowdy Gaines commentary…now I find him quite annoying

Pat Laughlin

5 years ago

Dominating!