Arizona State’s Emma Nordin threw down a 4:04.60 to win the 400 freestyle in a huge best time as she hadn’t broken 4:10 before this year and is now ranked fifth in the world and second in the US for 2021. Leah Smith, who has long been the second best American in this event, put herself third in the US and fifth in the world with her 4:04.83 for second as she improved on her season best of 4:06.3 from last month.
2021 World Rankings 400 Freestyle:
- 3:59.25, Katie Ledecky, USA
- 4:01.34, Ariarne Titmus, AUS
- 4:02.36, Li Bingjie, CHN
- 4:04.10, Anna Egorova, RUS
- 4:04.60, Emma Nordin, USA
- 4:04.83, Leah Smith, USA
- 4:05.15, Tang Muhan, CHN
- 4:05.19, Isabel Gose, GER
- 4:05.68, Wang Jianjiahe, CHN
- 4:05.99, Sarah Kohler, GER
Nordin had flown under the radar since she redshirted this NCAA season for Arizona State and missed the opportunity to swim at the 2020 NCAAs due to the meet getting cancelled, but the Carmel, Indiana native had a nice homecoming to Indianapolis to put herself in the talks to make the Olympic team.
Nordin on her race: I’ve felt great. I feel comfortable with my training and I know what I came here to do. I’m pretty excited about things. I’m just pretty focused on what I’m doing right now and am having a good time.”
NCAA champ Paige Madden finished in third at 4:09.49 as she was a 4:09.2 this morning and is ranked sixth in the country. Ally McHugh finished in fifth at 4:09.59 ahead of teenager Cavan Gormsen (4:10.00).
Results:
- Emma Nordin, 4:04.60
- Leah Smith, 4:04.83
- Paige Madden, 4:09.49
- Ally McHugh, 4:09.59
- Cavan Gormsen, 4:10.00
- Sierra Schmidt, 4:10.07
- Kaersten Meitz, 4:13.71
- Joanna Evans, 4:15.07
In the men’s race, Marwan El Kamash missed the FINA A cut in winning the final with a 3:48.17 as he back halfed the race, running down Florida’s Alfonso Mestre in the process, who was second at 3:49.16. El Kamash flipped at a 1:54.17, while Mestre set the pace at 1:52.11 on the front 200. The A standard was a 3:46.78 as El Kamash would represent Egypt and Mestre Puerto Rico. Both were under the B standard of 3:53.58.
Chris Wieser finished in third at 3:50.26 ahead of Mitch D’Arrigo (3:53.39) and Patrick Callan (3:53.59).
Results:
- Marwan El Kamash, 3:48.17
- Alfonso Mestre, 3:49.16
- Chris Wieser, 3:50.26
- Mitch D’Arrigo, 3:53.39
- Patrick Callan, 3:53.42
- Josh Dannhauser, 3:53.87
- Zane Grothe, 3:54.96
- Will Roberts, 3:57.38