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Katie Grimes Breaks SCM World Junior Record In Women’s 1500 Free – 15:42.05

2022 FINA WORLD CUP – INDIANAPOLIS

U.S. Olympian Katie Grimes took hold of the World Junior Record in the women’s 1500 freestyle (SCM) on Friday afternoon in Indianapolis.

Grimes, racing alongside French native Alexa Reyna in an official WJR attempt that took place following the conclusion of the prelim session of the FINA World Cup, finished in a time of 15:42.05 in the event, taking down the previous record of 15:45.29 set by Turkey’s Merve Tuncel in December 2020.

The 16-year-old Grimes was racing the event for the first time in short course meters, though she’s no stranger to success in the event in the long course pool, having won silver behind Katie Ledecky at the 2022 World Championships in a time of 15:44.89.

The event was offered during the second leg of the World Cup last week in Toronto—where Ledecky smashed the world record in a time of 15:08.24—but was not on the schedule here in Indianapolis. Instead, the women’s 800 free will be contested on Saturday.

Grimes now ranks 17th all-time in the event, and third among Americans.

All-Time Performers, Women’s 1500 Freestyle (SCM)

  1. Katie Ledecky (USA), 15:08.24 – 2022
  2. Sarah Wellbrock (GER), 15:18.01 – 2019
  3. Anastasiya Kirpichnikova (RUS), 15:18.30 – 2021
  4. Mireia Belmonte (ESP), 15:19.71 – 2014
  5. Lauren Boyle (NZL), 15:22.68 – 2014
  6. Lani Pallister (AUS), 15:24.63 – 2022
  7. Lotte Friis (DEN), 15:28.65 – 2010
  8. Simona Quadarella (ITA), 15:29.74 – 2021
  9. Maddy Gough (AUS), 15:31.19 – 2020
  10. Katie Ziegler (USA), 15:32.90 – 2007
  11. Kareena Lee (AUS), 15:34.31 – 2020
  12. Martina Rita Caramignoli (ITA), 15:36.43 – 2021
  13. Erika Villaecija Garcia (ESP), 15:37.78 – 2010
  14. Phoebe Hines (AUS), 15:38.64 – 2020
  15. Moesha Johnson (AUS), 15:40.52 – 2020
  16. Li Bingjie (CHN), 15:41.80 – 2022
  17. Katie Grimes (USA), 15:42.05 – 2022

Reyna, who recently turned 17, came into the competition with a best time of 16:06.55, and went well under that in 16:02.61. The swim marks a new French Age Record for 17-year-olds, downing the previous mark of 16:18.02 set by Margaux Bernard in 2016.

Reyna now becomesthe leading candidate to represent France at the Short Course World Championships, as the top time at the French Elite Championships on Thursday was a 16:12.92 from Madelon Catteau.

The silver medalist behind Tuncel at the 2022 European Junior Championships in this event, Reyna represents France internationally but trains out of White Plans, N.Y., with the Badger Swim Club and recently committed to Arizona State University.

The World Junior Record in the long course women’s 1500 remains significantly faster, with Ledecky owning it at 15:28.36 from the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships.

In the 800 free, the WJR stands at a blistering 7:59.44, just one-tenth shy of the world record, done by China’s Wang Jianjiahe in October 2018.

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mahaney
2 years ago

ledecky could have probably put the WJR to a 15.15 or so back then. really wish she would have taken the time to do a proper scm meet just once back then

Eli
Reply to  mahaney
2 years ago

Can you stop? This is about KG and her HUGE accomplishment

Yozhik
2 years ago

She prefers probably the open water events to SCM. But the record is the record: congratulations!

Sectional Spectator
2 years ago

Is Grimes doing Winter Jrs again?

Noise
2 years ago

Reminder that Sandpiper group is not rested.

Noise
Reply to  Noise
2 years ago

Slowvember

Swimgeek
Reply to  Noise
2 years ago

…not resting until Paris, according to Grimes, right?

oxyswim
Reply to  Swimgeek
2 years ago

If you listen to them talk about what they did right before trials this year it’s clear they really don’t eat much even for that. They’ve been much better at worlds and the Olympics than the trials meets before because they finally get a taper for those meets, but maybe they’d be faster with even more. Aitken is clearly one of the best coaches in the country, but i think their long term development matters way more to him than any single meet

Steve Nolan
2 years ago

 In fact, her long course meters personal best of 15:44.89 is faster than the short course world junior record.

Just got her LCM PR, lol.

Last edited 2 years ago by Steve Nolan
Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
2 years ago
Noah
2 years ago

Grimes can be way faster than a 15:42

Lisa
Reply to  Noah
2 years ago

She’s new in SC and this is a progress anyway can’t wait for tomorrow cause we could see another world record

jim
Reply to  Noah
2 years ago

Right – obviously this race takes several attempts to get your optimal time, but I think next time she swims this, assuming similar rest and training, she’s about 10 seconds faster. That would immediately put her in the top 10 all time. I know this particular race isn’t swum often, but it’s nice to see it being swum now and being recognized by the best swimmers in the world as something to take on. First Katie, now Katie!

Fred
2 years ago

Add
Anastasiya Kirpichnikova RUS – 15:18.30 – Kazan 2021 –
Lani Pallister AUS – 15:24.63 – Sydney 2022
Li Bingjie CHN – 15:41.80 – Beijing 2022

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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