American superstar Katie Ledecky worked her way to a National Age Group Record in the 500 free on Thursday – which went unnoticed by most of the swimming community for good reason: it wasn’t even her own best.
However, this is sometimes the nature of National Age Group Records for swimmers as special as Ledecky.
Her 4:29.54 in the 500 free on Thursday is the second-fastest 500 free of all-time, her second-fastest 500 free personally, and faster than the 4:30.47 that Katie Hoff went back in 2007.
Previously, Ledecky’s 17-18 best was a 4:30.92 from earlier this year at the Delaware First State Cup, where she was 4:30.92.
The all-time top 5 list for 17-18’s is starting to look stunningly similar to the all-time list, period. The top 7 swims in the history of this event were all done by 18 & unders. Youth has dominated this event so thoroughly that it’s almost time to start recognizing Brittany MacLean as the “non Age Group Record holder.”
The top 10 performances of all-time, along with ages.
- Katie Ledecky, 4:28.71 (16)
- Katie Ledecky, 4:29.54 (17)
- Katie Hoff, 4:30.47 (18)
- Katie Ledecky, 4:30.92 (17)
- Dagny Knutson, 4:31.18 (17)
- Katie Ledecky, 4:31.38 (15)
- Katie Ledecky, 4:32.37 (16)
- Brittany MacLean, 4:32.53 (20 + 17 days)
- Missy Franklin, 4:32.66 (19)
- Kate Ziegler/Allison Schmitt, 4:32.71 (19/20)
And immediately a new name comes onto the board.
Leah Smith just went 4:32.61 in prelims at Georgia. Boom goes the dynamite.
Minor tweak to that list:
Missy Franklin was still 18 at NCAAs when she went 4:32.66. She turned 19 in May.
You’re right. I’ve missed it live.
She was of course in my NAG record watching list.
Updated list. Some youngsters have changed age category so I removed them.
BOYS
Andrew Rogers (10 and under)
Winn Aung (11/12)
Christopher Hardt (11/12)
Ethan Dang (11/12) Already 1 NAG record!
Zachary Hils (13/14)
Reece Whitley (13/14)
Michael Andrew (15/16)
Ryan Hoffer (15/16) Already 1 NAG record!
Grant House (15/16)
Maxime Rooney (15/16)
Matthew Hirschberger (15/16)
Caeleb Dressel (17/18)
Townley Haas (17/18)
Andrew Seliskar (17/18)
GIRLS
Claire Tuggle (10 and under)
Jeremiah Leah Tandingan (10 and under)
Sophie Housey (11/12)
Regan Smith (11/12)… Read more »
In that list of impressive age group swimmers , i see the future of Us swimming without a doubt , Hopefully they will be ready for 2016 to give a solid shoulder to the rest of the veterans group .