Katie Ledecky Throws Down 1:54.66 200 Free at Speedo Sectionals Orlando
Performance of the Week, sponsored by LumaLanes
For a second straight swim at Speedo Sectionals Orlando, Katie Ledecky posted a faster time than she did at last summer’s Tokyo Olympics in winning an event.
Friday night, on day 2 of the meet, it was the 200 freestyle, where Ledecky won in 1:54.66. That’s quicker than the three 1:55s she turned in in Tokyo, the fastest a 1:55.21 in finals that landed her sixth. Ledecky had gone 1:56.09 in morning prelims.
Ledecky did the same in the 800 free on Thursday, opening the four-day meet at the Rosen Aquatic Center. She won that event in 8:11.83.
Ledecky also won the 400 individual medley on Friday, clocking in at 4:39.68. She was nearly nine seconds up on runner-up Michaela Mattes. Second in the 200 free to Ledecky was fellow Olympian and University of Florida training companion Natalie Hinds in 2:00.60.
The other Orlando Olympic headliner is Caeleb Dressel, who took on the 200 free and 100 butterfly on Friday. He won both, with a 1:49.96 in the 200 free. He was 1:53.41 in the morning. He finished 2.5 seconds clear of Andres Dupont Cabrera. Dressel coasted to victory in the 100 fly, though nowhere near the pace of his world record, which is to be expected. He won by 2.4 seconds in 51.95.
Also on the Olympian front, Summer McIntosh won the women’s 100 fly, the Canadian clocking in at 59.28. Zoe Skirboll claimed the 100 breast in 1:10.47, ahead of Nicole Frank Rodriguez and Gracie Weyant.
Julio Horrega won the men’s 100 breast in 1:02.23. That’s slower than the 1:02.21 put down by Michael Andrew in a time trial. The Olympic sprinter was disqualified in prelims of the 400 IM, his only scheduled event of the day. Michael Mullen of Boles School won the 400 IM in 4:29.68.
Mark Szaranek, a teammate of Dressel and Hinds for the Cali Condors in the International Swimming League, third in the 400 IM and fourth in the 200 free.