Ledecky happy with Ultra Consistent racing (Video)

^{Produced by Coleman Hodges.}

^{Reported by Reid Carlson.} 

WOMEN’S 200 FREE – FINALS

1. Katie Ledecky, Nation’s Capitol, 1:54.82
2. Simone Manuel, Stanford, 1:57.90
3. Shannon Vreeland, Athens Bulldogs, 1:58.88

Katie Ledecky lowered her prelims time by 3-one-hundredths tonight, finishing over 3 seconds ahead of Simone Manuel who took second in a 1:57.90, a time which will be very competitive in Omaha.  Rounding out the top three wasShannon Vreeland who took nearly a full second off of her prelims time.

Vreeland showed great pacing on the back half of her race.  Ledecky and Manuel were out fast, 55.76 and 56.61, respectively, whereas Vreeland was only a 58.20.  However, Vreeland came home in a 1:00.68; Ledecky’s final 100 was a brisk 59.06 and Manuel’s a 1:01.29.

Veteran Amanda Weir came in 8th with a 2:00.69.  Elizabeth Beisel moved from 20th to 11th in the B final with a 2:00.60, dropping 3.10 seconds from her prelims time.  Beisel actually tied for 20th this morning with Rachel Mullerfrom Swim Atlanta.  A swim-off would have been required if Felicia Lee of Stanford who placed 13th in this morning’s heats had not scratched the finals of the 200 in order to focus on the 100 fly, where she is seeded 3rd.