SWIMMING: Ledecky first Olympic Trials qualifier at Winter Nationals

Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky (USA)

No surprise, really, that Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky became the first Olympic Trials qualifier at the USA Swimming Winter Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina. After all, the women’s 800 m Freestyle was the first event on the program … and she’s the world-record holder!

Nevertheless, the qualifying rush was on at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, with Ledecky starting off with a win in 8:14.40, not near her world-leading time of 8:07.27 from May, but more than two seconds faster than anyone else in the world this year!

She led a parade of eight U.S. qualifiers in the event, to be followed by six men, with open-water star Jordan Wilimovsky winning in 7:56.88.

Ledecky came back on Thursday to win the 400 m Free in 4:00.35, a mark only she and Australian Ariarne Titmus (3:59.66) have bettered this year. Wilimovsky also won the men’s 400 m Free in 3:50.78.

The sprints went to Olympic gold medalists Nathan Adrian (21.94) and Simone Manuel (24.39), as six of the men’s finalists and all eight of the women’s finalists had Trials qualifying marks.

Said Adrian of the 21.94 time, “I was happy with that. I was really pleased with the way it felt more than anything.

“The 50 is such an interesting stroke, and definitely through the fall we’re not working on that top, top, top end speed stuff. But it all came together pretty decently here, and that’s my sweet spot. I’m definitely going to take that and move forward as we go into the winter training cycle.”

The meet continues through Saturday. Click here for the USA Swimming Webcast and NBC-NBCSN-Olympic Channel broadcast schedule.

USA Swimming Winter Nationals
Greensboro, North Carolina (USA) ~ 28 November-1 December 2018
(Full results here)

Men

50 m Freestyle: 1. Nathan Adrian, 21.94; 2. Payton Sorenson, 22.45; 3. Aaron Greenberg, 22.71; 4. Erik Risolvato, 22.74; 5. Cameron Kidd (CAN), 23.11.

400 m Free: 1. Jordan Wilimovsky, 3:50.78; 2. Mitch D’Arrigo, 3:51.91; 3. Kevin Litherland, 3:54.34; 4. Dare Rose, 3:55.00; 5. Jay Litherland, 3:55.76.

800 m Free: 1. Wilimovsky, 7:56.88; 2. Brennan Gravely, 8:09.95; 3. Ross Dant, 8:10.99; 4. Lleyton Plattel, 8:12.02; 5. Rose, 8:12.36.

200 m Medley: 1. Christopher Reid (RSA), 2:02.18; 2. Nic Fink, 2:02.97; 3. Jonathan Tybur, 2:03.41; 4. Scott Piper, 2:03.69; 5. Sean Conway, 2:03.82.

Women

50 m Freestyle: 1. Simone Manuel, 24.39; 2. Madison Kennedy, 24.87; 3. Anna Hopkin (GBR), 24.93; 4. Margo Geer, 24.97; 5. Grace Cooper, 25.34.

400 m Free: 1. Katie Ledecky, 4:00.35; 2. Hali Flickinger, 4:09.71; 3. tie, Kaersten Meitz and Ashley Twichell, 4:11.52; 5. Erica Sullivan, 4:12.19.

800 m Free: 1. Ledecky, 8:14.40; 2. Twichell, 8:28.16; 3. Sullivan, 8:29.02; 4. Meitz, 8:37.11; 5. Chase Travis, 8:38.84.

200 m Medley: 1. Madisyn Cox 2:10.76; 2. Kelsey Wog (CAN), 2:11.69; 3. Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson (CAN), 2:14.24; 4. Meg Bailey (AUS), 2:15.53; 5. Emily Escobedo, 2:15.83.