Katie Ledecky Takes Down American and NCAA Records in 500 Free

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Photo Courtesy: Chuckarelei / Pac-12

Stanford’s Katie Ledecky demolished her own American and NCAA records in the women’s 500 free Thursday night at the Pac-12 championships in Federal Way, Wash. Ledecky touched in 4:25.15, obliterating her previous top mark of 4:26.46 set at the Ohio State Invite in November.

Ledecky was never challenged and finished 20 meters ahead of the field. Ledecky now owns the nine fastest performances in history in the event, and no one has swum within five seconds of her new record.

Stanford’s Katie Drabot finished second in the race in a quick 4:35.69, good for sixth in the country this season, and Cal’s Katie McLaughlin finished third in 4:36.04.

  1 Ledecky, Katie         FR STAN-PC           4:28.37    4:25.15   32  
       24.74    26.58    26.80    27.03
       27.01    26.92    26.69    26.91
       26.78    25.69                  
  2 Drabot, Katie          FR STAN-PC           4:37.49    4:35.69   28  
       25.56    28.03    28.21    28.11
       28.31    27.66    27.76    27.79
       27.39    26.87                  
  3 McLaughlin, Katie      SO CAL-PC            4:40.03    4:36.04   27  
       25.62    27.96    28.00    28.11
       27.96    28.04    27.87    27.81
       27.61    27.06                  
  4 Byrnes, Megan          FR STAN-PC           4:39.66    4:39.14   26  
       25.91    27.77    28.04    28.41
       28.34    28.30    28.30    28.37
       28.20    27.50                  
  5 Cox, Hannah            FR ARIZ-AZ           4:40.85    4:39.66   25  
       25.54    27.84    28.09    28.54
       28.31    28.23    28.31    28.18
       28.65    27.97                  
  6 Simonovic, Kat         SR ASU-AZ            4:41.22    4:40.53   24  
       25.92    28.25    28.07    28.43
       28.93    28.78    28.28    28.12
       28.37    27.38                  
  7 Stevens, Leah          SO STAN-PC           4:40.36    4:40.79   23  
       25.93    27.74    27.97    28.38
       28.37    28.54    28.48    28.39
       28.46    28.53                  
  8 Wade, Tatum            FR USC-CA            4:42.18    4:41.12   22  
       25.42    27.62    28.05    28.39
       28.59    28.70    28.75    29.04
       28.80    27.76

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