Katie Grimes, Claire Weinstein Swim Sub-4:30 in 500 Free; Sandpipers Three of Top Six Ever in Event
Nearly every major record in the women’s 500 freestyle belongs to Katie Ledecky, who is the fastest swimmer in history by three-and-a-half seconds at 4:24.06. From her high school days, she owns the 15-16 and 17-18 National Age Group records, both of which were American records at the time as she became the first woman under 4:30. But now, six different women have hit 4:29s or better, and three of them hail from the same club team.
Prior to last December, the sub-4:30 club consisted only of Ledecky and Leah Smith before Canadian Summer McIntosh plus Sandpipers of Nevada swimmers Bella Sims and Katie Grimes all went that fast on the same day between East and West Junior Nationals. Now, Sims has departed club swimming for the University of Florida, but Saturday at the Huntington Beach, Calif., Sectionals, Grimes went under 4:30 again while a third Sandpipers swimmer, Claire Weinstein, also recorded a 4:29.
Grimes won the race in 4:28.27, beating her previous best time of 4:29.53 by one-and-a-quarter seconds and jumping both Smith and Sims to move to No. 3 all-time in the event. Meanwhile, Weinstein clocked 4:29.38 to become the sixth-fastest performer in history. Thanks to Ledecky, neither can claim the NAG record, but both swimmers were much faster than the 4:36.62 that Kensey McMahon swam to win the NCAA title in the event last year. They are also ahead of the top time in college swimming thus far this season, the 4:32.53 that Sims clocked in November.
Grimes has also won the 400 IM (4:00.10) and 200 butterfly (1:54.46) at the Sectionals meet, and she led off the Sandpipers 800 free relay in 1:42.90. Weinstein anchored that group in a blistering time of 1:42.29, and she also won the 1000 free (9:17.85) and 200 free (1:43.77) while anchoring her team’s 400 medley relay in 48.84.
Grimes is the only American swimmer to have qualified for the Paris Olympics, having secured her spot with a bronze medal in the 10K open water swim at last year’s World Championships. Grimes also took silver in the 400 IM at that meet.
Congratulations to the Sandpiper swimmers and coaches for showing what hard teamwork can produce. I am looking forward to what is next.