Summer McIntosh Becomes Seventh-Fastest Performer Ever in 400-Yard IM
Currently training in the U.S. with coach Brent Arckey and the Sarasota Sharks, Summer McIntosh has made a few appearances in short-course-yards competition over the past year-plus, and as might be expected from a swimmer who won four individual world titles before her 17th birthday, McIntosh has quickly made an impact on the all-time rankings. At last year’s Winter Junior Nationals, for instance, McIntosh quickly moved herself to No. 2 all-time in the 500-yard freestyle, seventh ever in the 200 free and 17th in the 200 butterfly
Even fewer eyeballs were watching as she raced this weekend at her club’s Halloween meet, but McIntosh quietly became the seventh-fastest performer in history in the 400-yard IM, nearly eclipsing the time required to win last year’s NCAA title despite swimming at an early point in the season. McIntosh swam a mark of 3:57.59, making her the seventh-fastest performer in history in the event.
That McIntosh could swim so fast is no surprise considering that McIntosh broke the world record in the 400-meter IM this year, clocking an absurd time of 4:25.87 in April. before winning her second consecutive world title in July, but no one has ever recorded a swim this swift in October.
The six women who have ever beaten that time represent an elite crew: Ella Eastin, Katie Ledecky, Katinka Hosszu, Bella Sims, Katie Grimes and Alex Walsh, all swimmers who recorded their top times at championship-level meets or other taper meets. McIntosh moved ahead of Caitlin Leverenz, the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist in the 200-meter IM, by three tenths to grab the seventh spot. McIntosh will never race in NCAA swimming, but her time would have made her the runnerup to Walsh at the most recent NCAA Championships and put her well ahead of actual second-place finisher Ella Nelson (3:59.54).
McIntosh also swam two other events in Sarasota this weekend, clocking 1:54.43 in the 200 IM and 28.96 in the 50 breast. The time in the shorter medley was just off the required time to qualify for the A-final at the NCAA Championships in March.
Smokin’ FAST!