The third leg of the 2019 TYR Pro Swim Series kicks off tonight in Richmond, VA with just two events: the women’s and men’s 800 free. World record holder Katie Ledecky is returning to the series after missing the Pro Swim Series stop in Des Moines, and will be competing in tonight’s 800 free for the first time during the 2019 circuit (she swam the mile at the opening stop in Knoxville).
U.S. Open record holder Zane Grothe will be entering as the top seed in the men’s 800 free tonght.
Women’s 800 Free
As expected, Katie Ledecky ran away from the rest of the field, taking the lead early to put up the #1 time in the world for 2019 with a 8:14.24. That puts the world record holder just ahead of China’s Wang Jianjiahe, who was ranked #1 with her recent Asian record from the 2019 Chinese Nationals. Second place went to Leah Smith, who posted a fantastic time of 8:16.33 to move to #3 in the world rankings.
Second place went to Leah Smith, who posted a fantastic time of 8:16.33 to move to #3 in the world rankings.
Notably, that is a lifetime best time for Smith. The 23-year old’s previous best was a 8:17.21 from the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships where she finished third behind Ledecky and Australian Ariarne Titmus. Titmus herself swam the 800 this week at the Australian National Championships, where she posted a time of 8:18.61, which currently ranks right behind Smith. Smith’s previous best from this year was an 8:29.10 from the Des Moines Pro Series meet.
2019 World Rankings
1) Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:14.24
2) Wang Jianjiahe (CHN), 8:14.64
3) Leah Smith (USA), 8:16.33
4) Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 8:18.61
5) Simona Quadarella (ITA), 8:25.55
6) Mireia Belmonte (ESP), 8:27.12
7) Madeleine Gough (AUS), 8:27.44
8) Kiah Melverton (AUS), 8:27.72
9) Li Bingjie (CHN), 8:27.96
10) Ajna Kesely (HUN), 8:28.19
Men’s 800 Free
Zane Grothe and Marcelo Acosta battled it out through the men’s 800, with the two neck and neck for much of the race before Grothe put some distance between the two over the final 200 meters. Grothe ended up with the win tonight, touching first in 7:55.78. Acosta couldn’t quite match Grothe’s pace coming home, but he ended in second also under 8:00 with a 7:59.17.
That was just off of Grothe’s season best from the Des Moines stop of the TYR Pro Swim Series, where he finished in 7:54.28. In third was NC State’s Gil Keisler (8:07.00), followed by True Sweetser (8:08.99), who is swimming under Gator Swim Club.
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