SHENANDOAH, Texas, June 20. AFTER setting a new world record in the 1500 free last night, Katie Ledecky continued her stellar meet with a world-best time in the 400 free this evening at The Woodlands Swim Team Senior Invite.
Ledecky turned in a time of 4:03.09, which moves her ahead of Spain’s Mireia Belmonte to first in the world this year. Ledecky and Belmonte had been tied for first with matching 4:03.84s, a time Ledecky posted at the Mesa Grand Prix in April. As was the case in the mile last night, NCAP teammate Isabella Rongione finished a distant second in the event in 4:18.83. Eryn Eddy of Loveland swam a 4:21.87 for third.
A couple of sprint events kicked off the second night of racing, with the women’s and men’s 50 back finals first up on the schedule. The Woodlands’ Lucie Nordmann dropped almost a full second from her prelim time to take the women’s title in 30.14, not far ahead of the Denver Hilltoppers’ Abigail Kochevar (30.25). Bayley Stewart of Loveland rounded out the top three in 31.48. Carter Griffin of the Denver Hilltoppers dominated the men’s final, winning by more than a second in 26.80. Rose Bowl Aquatics’ Sascha Subarsky touched second in 28.10, one one-hundredth ahead of Loveland’s Jack Thorne (28.11).
Ledecky wasn’t close to a record in the women’s 200 IM, but she still finished well ahead of the field with a 2:16.61 for the win. Haley Rowley of the Denver Hilltoppers finished second in 2:20.26, while her TOPS teammate Bridgette McNally grabbed third in 2:20.69. Loveland swept the top two spots in the men’s 200 IM, with Ryan Ball (2:08.97) and Nick Hatanaka (2:11.09) leading the pack. Justin Ress of the Marlins of Raleigh slipped into third position with a 2:11.42.
The Woodlands’ Lucie Nordmann earned her second victory of the night in the women’s 50 free, but this time she had company. Nordmann tied for first with Rose Bowl’s Katherine Wagner, as both swimmers posted times of 26.96 in the final. Brooke Hansen of Loveland came in third with a 27.08. James Jones of Nation’s Capital had the quickest time in the men’s 50 free at 23.86, the only sub-24 swim of the day. Tripp Cooper of The Woodlands nearly broke 24 in finishing second, touching at 24.01. Grant Goddard, also from Nation’s Capital, rounded out the top three in 24.55.
NCAP’s Andrew Gemmell, last night’s winner of the men’s 800 free, added a second win tonight in the men’s 400 free. Gemmell touched first in 3:55.66, well ahead of The Woodlands’ Nic Munoz (4:00.28). Jake Ores of Loveland came in third in 4:01.01.
Loveland’s Morgan Friesen topped the women’s 50 breast field by a sizeable margin, winning by more than seven-tenths in 33.55. Teammate Brooke Hansen posted a 34.27 to take second, just ahead of Rose Bowl’s Kirsten Vose, who touched in 34.37. Silas Dejean of Crawfish Aquatics claimed the men’s 50 breast title in 29.52, the only sub-30 swim of the meet. Ryan Sorensen of The Woodlands hit the wall second in 30.43, just over a tenth ahead of the Denver Hilltoppers’ Mike McCormick (30.55).
Nation’s Capital took home the women’s 800 free relay title, with Kristina Li, Ledecky, Stephanie Romano and Rongione teaming up for an 8:28.46. Ledecky split a 1:58.99 swimming the second leg. Rose Bowl came in second at 8:34.51, ahead of Loveland (8:40.11). A foursome of unattached-Nation’s Capital swimmers brought home the men’s relay win as Grant Goddard, Gavin Springer, Andrew Gemmell and Matthew Hirschberger touched in 7:47.60. Loveland placed second in 7:54.42, while Marlins of Raleigh took third in 8:00.69.
Full results can be found on the Meet Mobile app.