Leah Smith, a sophomore at Virginia, had a breakout summer season in 2014, earning a place on the Pan Pacific championships team as well as a spot on the 800 free relay for this year’s world championships.
Though initially deemed a distance swimmer, working on the “shorter” distances in the past year should pay off in next week. Smith has something to prove in the 500 after placing ninth in the event at last year’s NCAAs, and it’s likely that she’ll not only get into the final, but she will be in the thick of the race. Thanks to her new found early speed and her traditional closing speed, Smith has the perfect balance to contend for the 500 free title. As for the mile, she is hungry to move up a place or two this year after getting third in 2014. MacLean will be the pacesetter, and Smith might be one of the few who can not only match that pace but sustain it for 15-plus minutes.
This episode of the Morning Swim Show takes us back to the 2014 NCAA Championships where Smith talks about her swims, how she trains and what she needs to do better. Obviously she stuck to her plan!
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