Virginia’s Leah Smith Unleashes NCAA Record in 500 Free

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

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Virginia’s Leah Smith unleashed an NCAA record in the women’s 500-yard free at the NCAA Division I Women’s Championships.

Smith threw down an epic time of 4:30.37 for the top time in her heat in qualifying.

Smith’s splits:

24.86, 51.35 (26.49), 1:18.49 (27.14), 1:45.73 (27.24), 2:13.24 (27.51), 2:40.76 (27.52), 3:08.45 (27.69), 3:36.08 (27.63), 4:03.69 (27.61), 4:30.37 (26.68).

That time lowered the previous NCAA record of 4:31.90 set by California’s Cierra Runge last month at the Pacific 12 Championships.

Runge’s splits:

24.91, 51.63 (26.72), 1:18.81 (27.19), 1:46.04 (27.22), 2:13.64 (27.60), 2:41.33 (27.69), 3:09.36 (28.03), 3:36.98 (27.62), 4:04.80 (27.82), 4:31.90 (27.10)

Smith now stands second all time behind only Katie Ledecky’s American and U.S. Open record of 4:26.58 from last month while swimming for Stone Ridge High School.

Ledecky’s splits:

24.94, 51.74 (26.80), 1:18.70 (26.96), 1:45.77 (27.07), 2:12.96 (27.19), 2:39.80 (26.84), 3:06.63 (26.83), 3:33.76 (27.13), 4:00.63 (26.87), 4:26.58 (25.95)

Smith had been the sixth-fastest swimmer all time with a 4:32.61 from December for Virginia, but definitely dropped the hammer today.

2015 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving, Live Results – Results

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Bill Bell

9 years ago

Yeah but Smith is shaved, tapered and rested whereas Runge was not only quite the opposite @ Pac-12s but she had the added burden of taking three finals while Racing!

Wait ‘ till tonite. Four twenty/five coin ‘up.

Katie who?

Debi Sanders

9 years ago

Awesome!!!

Laura Petrini

9 years ago

Way to go Leah!

Merci McCarthy

9 years ago

“Stick to the Plan” Leah…..

Jeanine

9 years ago

Fist pumping you from Edgewood, Leah! Proud and happy for you. Way to go,,