Ledecky Adds Another National Title In 800 Free After Pushing Pace Early

Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

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Stanford’s Katie Ledecky added another national title in the women’s 800 free to kick off her first finals swim of Nationals, hitting the wall in 8:11.98. Ledecky pushed the pace early (as she often does), leading the race from start to finish and sitting under world record and U.S. Open record pace at different points throughout the race.

While she was flipped under world record pace at the 200 mark (1:58.24) she had fallen off to just under U.S. Open record pace at the 400 (4:02.29) at the halfway point before fading in the second half of the race. While she was able to keep her splits under 31 seconds through about the 300, she crept up gradually to 31-mids in the second half of the race. Her season best stands at 8:07.27 from the TYR Pro Series meet from Indianapolis.

In second was Leah Smith in 8:22.79, who was about five seconds off of her personal best time of 8:17.22 from last summer, while Haley Anderson finished third in a best time of 8:24.13. That wipes about 3 seconds off of Anderson’s best time of 8:27.11 from 2011. Just behind Anderson in fourth was Ally McHugh (8:24.22).

Rounding out the rest of the top-8 was Erica Sullivan (8:26.98), Mariah Denigan (8:28.15), Megan Byrnes (8:31.04), and Ashley Twichell (8:32.01).

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Sarah Douglas Cox

5 years ago

Love her suit!!

Tony

5 years ago

Always best of the best,looking forward at 2020 Olympic.Hope all records falling by the time the meet start.

Thomas A. Small

5 years ago

Congratulations