The young woman who is the recipient of this week’s Performance of the Week made history this week, becoming the youngest woman ever to break the 4-minute barrier in the 400 IM. Just a freshman at Stanford, Ella Eastin announced herself as a serious contender in multiple events at NCAA’s later this month with some eye-popping swims at Pac-12’s.
Eastin won the 400 IM on the second day of the meet, clocking a swift 3:59.30 to set a new 17-18 NAG record in the event. That broke National Teamer, 2016 Olympic hopeful, and fellow Stanford Cardinal Maya DiRado’s 3:59.88 record that was set at the 2012 NCAA Championships in what was one of the deepest 400 IM fields ever on the women’s side.
With that swim, Eastin has the fastest time in the country by nearly 4 seconds, putting her as a veritable favorite going into the meet in a few weeks. She also has also become the sixth fastest performer of all-time, behind greats including Katinka Hosszu, Caitlin Leverenz, and Elizabeth Beisel. In addition to her win the 400 IM, Eastin won two more individual events en route to setting 17-18 NAG records: the 200 IM (1:52.77) and 200 butterfly (1:52.01).
Congratulations to Ella Eastin for earning the Swimming World Performance of the Week!
Wow, and this was at the Pac-12’s. Watch out for the Stanford IMers at the NCAA!
Wow, and this was at the Pac-12’s. Watch out for the Stanford IMers at the NCAA!