Courtney Harnish Explains 3 500’s in One Day (Video)

^{Reported by Lauren Neidigh.}

WOMEN’S 500 FREE:

• NCAA Record: Katie Ledecky (Stanford), 2017, 4:24.06
• American Record: Katie Ledecky (Stanford), 2017, 4:24.06
• Championship Record: Katie Ledecky (Stanford), 2017, 4:24.06
• 2017 Champion: Katie Ledecky (Stanford), 4:24.06

Early Heats- Virginia’s Jenn Marrkand had a big swim from heat 6, dropping a 4:35.53 to lead the way into the circle seeded heats. That was a 4-second drop for her. Stanford’s Megan Byrnes was also sub-4:40 there in 4:38.87. NC State’s Tamila Holub made a big drop to win heat 2, knocking 3.5 seconds off her time to win it in 4:40.22. Teammate Anna Jahns dropped about 3 seconds in 4:40.99. Minnesota’s Chantal Nack dropped over a second in 4:40.47.

*We have a TIE for 16th at 4:38.87 between Georgia’s Courtney Harnish and Stanford’s Megan Byrnes*

WOMEN’S 500 FREE (SWIMOFF):

• NCAA Record: Katie Ledecky (Stanford), 2017, 4:24.06
• American Record: Katie Ledecky (Stanford), 2017, 4:24.06
• Championship Record: Katie Ledecky (Stanford), 2017, 4:24.06
• 2017 Champion: Katie Ledecky (Stanford), 4:24.06

WINNER: Courtney Harnish (Georgia)- 4:45.33

Stanford’s Megan Byrnes and Georgia’s Courtney Harnish were neck-and-neck through the 300. Byrnes started to make a move, taking a slight lead, but Harnish fought back with 100 yards to go. She took over the lead heading into the final 50, but Byrnes pulled back up down the final stretch. It was a close call at the finish, but Harnish held off Byrnes by a nail to win 4:45.33 to 4:45.38.

WOMEN’S 500 FREE (FINALS):

Penn State’s Ally McHugh dropped almost 2 more seconds off her best time, winning the B heat in 4:36.17. Georgia’s Courtney Harnish was also sub-4:37. In her 3rd 500 free of the day, she put up her fastest time of the day in 4:36.91.