U.S. Long Course Nationals: Katie Hoff Reclaims 400 Free Throne – Coverage Sponsored by TYR

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IRVINE, California, August 3. AFTER a tumultuous two years since the 2008 Beijing Games, FAST's Katie Hoff looks to be back in the saddle with her third long course 400 free national title in Irvine.

Hoff cruised through the middle distance in what looked to be an easy 4:05.50. That swim jumped her into a fourth-place tie in the world with Australia's Bronte Barratt. Italy's Federica Pellegrini (4:03.12), France's Coralie Balmy (4:05.40) and France's Camille Muffat (4:05.49) are the only people to have swum faster this year. Hoff's previous long course national titles in the event came in 2006 (4:09.27) and 2008 (4:02.32). NBAC's Allison Schmitt picked up the 2009 crown with a 4:06.77.

This year, Schmitt barely edged a hard-charging Chloe Sutton of Mission Viejo for the second spot. Schmitt clocked a 4:06.19, while Sutton turned in a personal-best time of 4:06.33. Sutton, an open-water star, trailed Schmitt by more than a second at the 350-meter mark but did not have enough juice to cut the gap. Schmitt took seventh in the world, while Sutton grabbed eighth in the world.

ASK's Dagny Knutson, swimming out in lane one, posted a personal-best time of 4:08.08 for fourth – cutting her previous top time from 4:09.60. She pushed into the top 20 with the effort, while FAST's Kate Ziegler took fifth in 4:08.84 to also earn a top 20 ranking.

Terrapins' Chelsea Chenault (4:09.80), SwimFlorida's Stephanie Peacock (4:11.83) and Cascade's Amber McDermott (4:13.26) also vied for the national title.

Fort Lauderdale's Lauren Driscoll, 16, enjoyed a strong outing in the B final with a winning time of 4:10.24, just outside the top 25 in the world.

Day One Finals Results

Coverage Sponsored by TYR

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