2021 PRO SWIM SERIES – MISSION VIEJO (#3)
- April 8-11, 2021
- Marguerite Aquatics Center, Mission Viejo, CA
- LCM
- Prelims – 4:00pm PST/Finals – 10:00am PST
- Meet central
- Meet information
- Psych sheets
- Live stream (USA Swimming – evening prelims & 800 free Thursday)
- Live stream (Olympic Channel – mid-day finals)
- Live results
Day 2 Finals Recap
Kicking off the first morning finals session of the 2021 Pro Swim Series in Mission Viejo was Olympic champion Katie Ledecky with her win in the 200 free. Ledecky stormed to a top time in the world this season at 1:54.40, dropping a full second from her evening prelims swim of 1:55.40. That time knocks three one-hundredths off her own 2016 Pro Swim Series record of 1:54.43.
Ledecky’s swim also tied Allison Schmitt‘s 2012 U.S. Open record of 1:54.40 as the fastest swim on U.S. soil. At the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, Ledecky won the 200 free final at 1:54.88, followed by her Olympic title-winning swim and lifetime best of 1:53.73. That swim was also just off Schmitt’s 2012 American record of 1:53.61 from her own Olympic title in London.
Earlier at the San Antonio stop of the 2021 Pro Swim Series, Ledecky put up efforts of 1:56.62/1:57.09. Schmitt finished second behind Ledecky in the Mission Viejo at 1:58.04, which ranks 20th in the world this season.
2020-2021 LCM Women 200 Free
Titmus
1:53.09
| 2 | Siobhan Haughey | HKG | 1:53.92 | 07/28 |
| 3 | Yang Junxuan | CHN | 1:54.37 | 07/29 |
| 4 | Katie Ledecky | USA | 1:54.40 | 04/09 |
| 5 | Penny Oleksiak | CAN | 1:54.70 | 07/28 |
Originally reported by Karl Ortegon.
WOMEN’S 200 FREE – FINALS
Pro Swim Record: 1:54.43 Katie Ledecky (2016)- Trials Wave II: 2:00.24
- Trials Wave I: 2:01.69
- Katie Ledecky – 1:54.40
- Allison Schmitt – 1:58.04
- Katie McLaughlin/Madisyn Cox – 1:58.14
Katie Ledecky was out in 56.01, pulling away from the field and coming down the final stretch with a huge lead. She blazed to a 1:54.40, taking down her own 2016 PSS record of 1:54.43 from five years ago. That’s a phenomenal swim for her, and she moves to the top time in the world this year ahead of China’s Yang Junxuan (1:54.70).
That’s Ledecky’s best time ever on U.S. soil, and it’s her second-best performance ever. She’s only been faster at the Rio Olympics, when she went her lifetime best 1:53.73.
Allison Schmitt of Sun Devil Swimming was 1:58.04, winning a tight battle over Cal Aquatics’ Katie McLaughlin and Longhorn Aquatics’ Madisyn Cox, who tied for third at 1:58.14.
17-year-old Justina Kozan of Mission Viejo Nadadores broke 1:59 for the first time ever, going 1:58.50 to win the B-final ahead of Leah Smith (1:58.76). Kozan’s old best of 1:59.21 was from 2019.
If she wants to break more world records, it’ll happen this year or it’ll never happen
She looked ready to rumble too, sleek & strong
Very happy for Katie Ledecky. Since outstanding performances in Rio (5 years already) that is her best by quality performance after 15:20.48 in May 2018.
But look how many things happened during these 5 years. The amazing race today that is her second best ever at this event is only 11th among all time best performances. And this list has only 2 high-tech suits results. All swimmers with better historical performances are still very active and probably besides Allison Schmitt have a real chance for the Olympic gold medal.
The splits of the second half of today’s race are almost identical to what was shown in Rio. With minor difference : in Rio she was sprinting all the… Read more »
*55.43
… and when we think that the 200 FR is arguably Katie’s “weakest,” or most competitive, event! The mind boggles: keep it up, Ledecky!
Katie is such a great ambassador for our sport!
Great swim, congrats to Katie!
“. . . the fastest swim on U.S. soil.” Soil?!?
There is soil under the pool
Katie going for that 200 free gold. Should be an amazing race!
Keep an eye out for her, looks like she has a good shot at making the team this year
Punchers chance. Real underdog.