Sierra Schmidt, one of the best junior distance swimmers in the world, was out incredibly hard in the 800 free, shooting out to a lead of 2.69 seconds at the 200 mark over Canada’s Brittany MacLean. Schmidt continued to push ahead, distancing herself from the pack, although Chile’s Kristel Köbrich, the defending champion in this race, made a move at around the 500 mark. She split three 31 highs while Schmidt stayed at 32 lows, but the NBAC 17-year-old Schmidt closed strong and came to the wall at 8:27.54 for the win and a new Pan Ams record. Köbrich finished in 2nd (8:29.79), while Venezuela’s Andreina Pinto won bronze (8:31.08).
Schmidt, who recently grabbed a personal best of 8:28.91 in June at the Arena Pro Swim Series at Santa Clara, took down a record from 1999 that belonged to American great Kaitlyn Sandeno. Sandeno’s 16-year-old record sat at 8:34.65, and the top four finishers in this race actually got under that. Canada’s Brittany MacLean was 4th in 8:32.06, significantly under the old record herself.
A look at Schmidt’s splits, by 200:
2:02.91/2:08.06/2:09.06/2:07.51 = 8:27.54
It’s clear that Schmidt took this race out with plenty of tenacity, though she was still able to come home nicely. Regardless of her race strategy, Schmidt now possesses the 12th-best time in the world this year, which is the 5th fastest time by an American.
2014-2015 LCM Women 800 Free
LEDECKY
8.07.39*WR
| 2 | Lauren BOYLE | NZL | 8.17.65 | 08/08 |
| 3 | Jazmin CARLIN | GBR | 8.18.15 | 08/08 |
| 4 | Jessica ASHWOOD | AUS | 8.18.41 | 08/08 |
| 5 | Lotte FRIIS | DEN | 8.21.36 | 08/08 |
| 6 | Boglarka KAPAS | HUN | 8.22.93 | 08/08 |
| 7 | Sarah KOHLER | GER | 8.23.67 | 08/08 |
| 8 | Sharon VAN ROUWENDAAL | NED | 8.24.12 | 08/08 |
| 9 | Becca MANN | USA | 8.24.13 | 01/30 |
| 10 | Leah SMITH | USA | 8.24.74 | 06/19 |
| 11 | Lindsay VROOMAN | USA | 8.26.67 | 07/10 |
| 12 | Leonie Antonia BECK | GER | 8.27.37 | 04/09 |
That was Schmidt’s only swim of the meet, but she has proven herself to be a top distance force this year and has paved the way for future success with a great time and some valuable experience.
Good to see a young swimmer so happy at the end of her race.
Great Swim by Sierra!! — But come on Swimswam- surely you can come up with a better photo than that
Possibly, but her warm-up dances are legendary. That pic just caught her in mid-groove.
Susan! She likes to get funky. I had to use a picture of her while she was jamming out, it’s becoming a big part of her presence at meets nowadays.
Her 400 split would’ve placed her 5th in the 400 final, ahead of Kiera Janzen.