Leah Smith’s 4:03.33 Makes Her 4th Fastest American Ever in 400 Free

2016 ARENA PRO SWIM SERIES AT INDIANAPOLIS

• Friday, June 3 – Sunday, June 5, 2016
• IUPUI Natatorium / Indianapolis, IN
• Prelims 9AM / Finals 6PM (U.S. Central Time)
• Meet website
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results

At the 2016 Arena PSS – Indianapolis, Leah Smith crushed the 400 free final, winning in a time of 4:03.33. That’s the 4th-best on America’s top performers list, and it also makes her the 15th-fastest performer ever in this event with all nations considered.

Smith split 2:00.59/2:02.74– her first 200 was 58.71/1:01.68, and her second 100 was 1:02.32/1:00.62.

Fastest 400 freestyle performers in American history:

1. Katie Ledecky 3:58.37
2. Allison Schmitt 4:01.77
3. Katie Hoff 4:02.20
4. Leah Smith 4:03.33
5. Janet Evans 4:03.85

Smith moved past American legend Janet Evans on this list, and is getting closer and closer to the territory held by Allison Schmitt and Katie Hoff.

After much positive speculation over Smith’s potential for the American 800 free relay in Rio following her back-to-back 1:56 lifetime bests at this meet in Indy, she now looks prepared to get some glory of her own in the form of an individual Olympic medal. Her time tonight, in addition to making marks in the history books, vaults her to the 2nd-fastest time in the world this year behind only Ledecky.

The 400 free will in all likeliness be a race for second behind Ledecky in Rio, and Smith is putting herself in a great position to win that fight for silver. Of course, she has to first qualify for the Olympics in Omaha at the end of the month, but with her performances this year, Smith has really distanced herself from the pack and made herself a favorite for the 2nd spot on the U.S. team in this event.