Watch Epic Katie Ledecky-Sarah Sjostrom 200 Free Battle

Jan 16, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Katie Ledecky reacts after winning the women's 200 meter free final final during the 2016 Arena Pro Swim Series at Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

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Original 200 free report:

NCAP’s Katie Ledecky just missed clocking a U.S. Open record in the women’s 200-meter free at the 2016 Arena Pro Swim Series Austin as she smoked Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom in the finale.

Ledecky clocked a personal best time of 1:54.43, just missing Allison Schmitt’s U.S. Open record of 1:54.40 set during the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Ledecky’s time would have ranked her second in the world behind Sjostrom’s top-ranked 1:54.31.

On top of smashing through the 1:55 barrier for the first time by beating her career best of 1:55.16, Ledecky also blasted Schmitt’s record for a January 200 free of 1:55.83 set here in Austin back in 2012.

Ledecky now moves to fourth all time in the event.

All Time 200 Free

Time	Name	Year
1:52.98	Federica Pellegrini	2009
1:53.61	Allison Schmitt	2012
1:54.31	Sarah Sjostrom	2015
1:54.43	Katie Ledecky	2016
1:54.66	Camille Muffat	2015

Sjostrom had to settle for a silver-winning time of 1:56.14 after nailing a pair of U.S. Open records last night.

Colorado Stars’ Missy Franklin posted an easy-speed time of 1:57.49 for third.

Saint Petersburg’s Melanie Margalis (1:58.01), Virginia’s Leah Smith (1:58.32), Aggie’s Sarah Henry(2:00.34), Mission Viejo’s Stephanie Peacock (2:00.84) and Athens Bulldog’s Shannon Vreeland(2:02.26) closed out the top eight.

Scottsdale’s Taylor Ruck closed out Camille Cheng for the B final win, 1:58.74 to 1:59.66. NBAC’sCierra Runge picked up third in 2:00.07.

                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Ledecky, Katie   18 Nation's Capital  1:56.54    1:54.43 OLY    
             27.38        56.19 (28.81)
        1:25.31 (29.12)     1:54.43 (29.12)
  2 Sjostrom, Sarah  22 Sweden            1:58.07    1:56.14 OLY    
             27.20        56.65 (29.45)
        1:26.69 (30.04)     1:56.14 (29.45)
  3 Franklin, Missy  20 Colorado Stars    1:59.65    1:57.49 OLY    
             27.86        57.48 (29.62)
        1:27.64 (30.16)     1:57.49 (29.85)
  4 Margalis, Melan  24 Saint Petersburg  1:59.42    1:58.01 OLY    
             28.44        58.53 (30.09)
        1:28.53 (30.00)     1:58.01 (29.48)
  5 Smith, Leah      20 UN                1:59.11    1:58.32 OLY    
             28.25        58.35 (30.10)
        1:28.62 (30.27)     1:58.32 (29.70)
  6 Henry, Sarah     24 Aggie Swim Club   2:00.39    2:00.34 OLY    
             28.96        59.41 (30.45)
        1:30.17 (30.76)     2:00.34 (30.17)
  7 Peacock, Stepha  23 Mission Viejo Na  2:00.56    2:00.84 OLY    
             29.02        59.57 (30.55)
        1:30.38 (30.81)     2:00.84 (30.46)
  8 Vreeland, Shann  24 Athens Bulldog S  2:00.40    2:02.26 OLY    
             28.48        58.90 (30.42)
        1:30.61 (31.71)     2:02.26 (31.65)
 
                            === B - Final ===                            
 
  9 Ruck, Taylor     15 Scottsdale Aquat  2:00.56    1:58.74 OLY    
             27.65        58.02 (30.37)
        1:28.64 (30.62)     1:58.74 (30.10)
 10 Cheng, Camille   22 Una Cal           2:00.77    1:59.66 OLY    
             27.46        57.32 (29.86)
        1:28.17 (30.85)     1:59.66 (31.49)
 11 Runge, Cierra    19 North Baltimore   2:01.08    2:00.07 OLY    
             28.28        58.63 (30.35)
        1:29.56 (30.93)     2:00.07 (30.51)
 12 Lee, Easop       15 North Baltimore   2:01.43    2:00.09 OLY    
             28.63        58.62 (29.99)
        1:29.83 (31.21)     2:00.09 (30.26)
 13 Coates, Georgia  16 Great Britain     2:01.19    2:00.72 OLY    
             28.89        59.48 (30.59)
        1:30.66 (31.18)     2:00.72 (30.06)
 14 Mann, Becca      18 North Baltimore   2:00.67    2:00.93 OLY    
             28.79        59.23 (30.44)
        1:30.28 (31.05)     2:00.93 (30.65)
 15 Case, Lauren     17 Chattahoochee Go  2:00.91    2:01.25 OLY    
             28.57        59.40 (30.83)
        1:30.48 (31.08)     2:01.25 (30.77)
 16 Weir, Amanda     29 SwimAtlanta       2:01.05    2:02.91 NAT    
             28.59        59.34 (30.75)
        1:30.49 (31.15)     2:02.91 (32.42)

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