Swimming in a dual meet against the University of Texas Longhorns today, Katie Ledecky took down Leah Smith‘s NCAA record in the 1000 yard freestyle. Ledecky lapped the competition on her way to a 9:10.49.
That time destroyed Smith’s mark of 9:20.15, swum as the opening 1000 of her 1650 NCAA record at the 2016 ACC Championships. Ledecky also obliterated Janet Evans‘ pool record at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center. Evans posted a 9:30.69 in 1990.
Ledecky opened the race in a 1:48.38 200 freestyle. At the halfway mark her split was 4:34.35.
Photo Courtesy:
Ledecky holds the American Record with an 8:59.65. She swam that time in a tech suit in December at the 2015 PV NCAP Invitational.
Stanford went on to win the meet, setting six pool records on the day. The Longhorns also set a pool mark as well.
Full results are available here.
Watch the race here:
One of many to go!
Well duh…
I mean, 9:10.49… that’s crazy! She’s sprinting 40 lap splits averaging 26 sec. and placed in 3 other events. Wow. Really amazing Katie!!
That time is insane!!!Congrats!
Unbelievable !
Of course she did!
Awesome swimming!
Nick Radziul
and she broke evan’s 500 free team record twice, once during her first 500 in the 1000, and again during the 500 free…The non-ledecky swims in this DUAL meet were nuts too Jen Townsend
@stanfordwswim What was “SILLY” to the race announcer. Curious!!
@stanfordwswim holy bageezus! Amazing
what do you mean she swam the American Record in a tech suit in 2015? I thought they are banned now. Or do you mean she swam this race in a regular suit and swam the other in a championship suit?
There are still racing suits that are noticeably faster than regular suits. Just not the insanely fast ones they had in 2009.
She’s amazing!
Katie is rewriting the record book.
I think the scribe meant Ledecky swam that 8:59-plus un a racing suit and today she was wearing a dragsuit, pull buoys, floats and 5000-pound weights on her wrists/ankles to make things more fair.
For NCAAs Stanford coach Greg Meehan may let her ditch the floats.
Incidentally…her 4:34.35 500 split is or rather was fastest 500 all- time in a dual meet but then she broke it w/ her 4:33.9 straight 500 several events later.
If she stays all four years on The Farm and doesn’t burn out I can see by ’20 NCAAs something on order of 1:36-7 plays 200 free, 4:07-8 500 and — don’t laugh — a sub 15:00.0 1650.
And if she goes 400 IM on Day 2 3:50-plus.
How does she do it? Faster, more muscular, better technique? A combo of things I’m sure…just wondering if there is any idea?
You go Girl!!!!
AMAZING !!!!
I was there to see it. Out in 25.2 in the first 50!
Teigan Tarapi
Tess Hayward look at her splits!
Phenomenal girl!
Bill Spaulding
Hey if that’s Bill Spaulding from Jamestown NY HS he was my YMCA and high school teammate.
Eliana Belden Crawford Sarah Manz
What were you expecting….
That’s insane!!!!!
This one was for the girls. You go Katie!
What gift God has given her. Wow.!
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!
Like!
Wow! Fantastic!
Wow!!
KICK/PUSH! Bjs
Lauryn Donahue
Paula Louise Armstrong
Almost disgusting. Almost.
What is pool length here?
Amazing!
Knew she could do it.
100% NATURAL? I wouldn’t bet a dyme