Ledecky Anchoring U.S. 400 Free Relay Final; Full Line-Ups Now Available

Photo Courtesy: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

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The final line-ups for tonight’s heat of the women’s 400 free relay have been released and the competition is tight!

The Australian women’s 400 free relay team lit up the pool in prelims for day one of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games setting a new Olympic Record in the event. The Aussies were anchored by 100 Free World Record holder Cate Campbell and included sister Bronte, Madison Wilson, and Brittany Elmslie. Tonight the Aussie’s will sub in Emma McKeon for Wilson as the lead leg.

The women of the USA enter the finals heat ranked second in lane five and will put their two fastest sprinters from the Olympic Trials as 1-2. Simone Manuel will get them started before exchanging to sprint star Abbey Weitzeil. In what will be a quick cool-down/warm-up transition “Momma On A Mission,” Dana Vollmer, will swim third for the USA. Vollmer was sixth in the Trials with a 53.92. Anchoring for the USA will be distance ace Katie Ledecky who proved this morning that she’s a threat in the shorter events as well. Ledecky threw down a 52.64 to edge past Canada and finish second.

Canada’s relay team will remain very similar to this morning’s line-up. Sandrine Manville and Chantal van Landeghem maintain their spots as 1-2, while Taylor Ruck will move from anchor to the third leg. This leaves the anchor spot for the young Penny Oleksiak and giving Canada some serious closing speed.

The Netherlands will add Ranomi Kromowidjojo into the mix as anchor, giving them some strong closing speed as well.

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