It was fun speculation while it lasted.
While Katie Ledecky‘s aptitude for the 400 IM has been a popular topic of conversation (and her American record at the Pac-12 Championships proves it), Ledecky is not entered in the event on the 2017 NCAA psych sheets, instead choosing the 200 free.
It shouldn’t come as a major surprise, given that Ledecky is the defending Olympic champion in the 200 free. But there was at least some intrigue in Ledecky’s decision, especially after she added the 400 IM to her Pac-12 lineup at the expense of the 1650 free. Stanford already has the likely 200 free NCAA champ (if Ledecky doesn’t swim it) on its roster in Simone Manuel, and the team could hedge its bets by trying to get three wins each from Manuel and Ledecky, rather than relegating one of them to second. But Stanford also has the defending NCAA champ returning in the 400 IM – Ella Eastin.
Ledecky’s IM last week was 3:57.68, the fastest time in the nation this year by almost three seconds. It was an American record and closing in on the U.S. Open record of 3:56.54 set by Katinka Hosszu. That Hosszu swim from 2012 is the fastest ever on record.
But Ledecky will return to her native 200 free, 500 free, 1650 free lineup for NCAAs next month, where she’s also very likely to break American and U.S. Open records. Giving up one NCAA title and American record for another… it’s a tough life being Katie Ledecky.
I realize that the NCAAs will be the KL and SM show, but what about Mallory Comerford? I know she’s over a second off, but she hasn’t had a tight race to swim against anyone in the 200 all season, especially rested. The 200 is the event she seems to be training for and isn’t just an afterthought like KL (1650/500) and SM (50/100). She beat Leah Smith pretty handily at ACCs (1.5 seconds) and has seen solid drops in the race this season. If Simone takes it out too fast trying to get KL out of her race plan and can’t hold on, does anyone see her sneaking in at the wall?
You all need to remember her mind is telling her she won the OLYMPICS 200 FREE!!! So coming down to SCY is just helping her.
“coming down to SCY” isn’t always a help to swimmers. A swimmer with a very powerful stroke can be hindered by SCY instead of LCM. With 7 turns in a SCY race vs. 3 in a LCM race, turns become more important. That very powerful stroke (like KL’s) doesn’t have as much room to make a difference. Please do not read this as saying that KL isn’t the best mid/long distance freestyler we’ve ever seen (she is! and she’s one of my favorites), but if you watch her in LCM races, her powerful stroke gains her distance over her opponents every revolution. 14 strokes per 25Y vs. 42ish strokes per 50M gives a swimmer plenty of time to make up… Read more »
I think it would be Katie Ledecky’s the first and the last NCAA Championships. She got college swimming experience already this year. It’s enough. She won’t get anything new to stay longer. She will make her impressive marks for generations of college students to approach. She will move on. Beating Hosszu’s 400IM record in yards is not a target of importance or prestige. If outracing Katinka is on Katie’s goal list it will be done in meters at World Championships or Olympics.
Missy Franklin’s and Federica Pellegrini’s records are two of a kind outliners. They should belong to Katie as she is the most consistently improving swimmer and her records are in no way a coincidence of lucky circumstances.
It certainly is not a tough life for Katie but well may be a tough life for her opponents!
I’m curious about Simone’s long-term interest in 200 LCM. I know she’s said before that she wants to be better at that race. Do you think Simone will shoot to join the 800 relay this summer? That relay seems a bit open with Alison and Maya DiRado gone and Missy uncertain. In 2015 the relay included Leah Smith and Katie McLaughlin. Leah seems like a good bet while Katie is more uncertain because of last year.
Agree except Katie McL seemks to be coming along nicely from what we saw at Pac 12’s. And she is still either a freshman or sophomore, I believe. too.
Katie McL is a sophomore, and i’d love to see her on the worlds relay! She seems to be coming back nicely from her injury as well. Also I hope Missy is able to return to her form, we’ll need veteran leadership this summer. Does anyone know when Missy will be back into racing?
Somone was practically on relay this summer. If not her 100m semi that night I’m pretty sure that coaches would choose her over DiRado.
Why is nobody talking about Mallory Comerford for that relay spot? She has had big drops this season, beat Leah (granted it was SCY) in the 200 at ACC’s by 1.5 seconds. She seems to be coming into her own as a big name swimmer. Wouldn’t surprise me to see her right up there with both SM and KL in the finals. Sprinter speed (46.75 100- seeded 2nd at NCAA) and 500 endurance (4:37) seems like a pretty good combo to me.
I’m just excited to see a fully tapered SCY Ledecky. She’s never had reason to have more than just a rest for a SCY meet in a long while. We saw her stupify the worlds best in LCM time and time again against her own tapered records. Can’t imagine how ridiculous some of these times are gonna seem. I’m ready for an NCAA’s for the record books for sure.
I’m no expert in SCY swimming, but I could not see Manuel holding off Ledecky, who’ll have a lot more speed post-taper. She seems to struggle more in shorter races while in training.
Boo. 138 would be cool, but cooler than a 3:54? I would love her to take up 400 IM and smash Katinka in Tokyo.