SWIMMING: World leader for Ledecky, PR for Smith in 800 m Free headlines Tyr Pro Swim

Freestyle superstar Katie Ledecky (USA)

The third leg of USA Swimming’s Tyr Pro Swim Series in Richmond, Virginia showcased some of the world’s best swimmers in the middle of a hard training time. And it showed.

The marks were good, but not great compared to the world’s top marks as most of the other important swimming nations are in the middle of their national championships. But then there was Katie Ledecky.

The American distance superstar won the women’s 800 m Free on Wednesday with a world-leading time of 8:14.24, followed by Leah Smith, whose 8:16.33 was a lifetime best and produced a big grin when she looked back at the scoreboard.

It’s the no. 3 time of the year, behind Ledecky and China’s Jianjiahe Wang (8:14.64) and moves Smith no. 6 on the all-time list.

Said Ledecky before the meet, “Sometimes we go right to a meet after altitude and sometimes that’s really tough and sometimes it’s great. Just getting back into training, sometimes the first couple of days at sea level are hard getting back into it, feeling a little different, feeling a little funky getting back into it, but then you start to see that you’re at a better place than where you were when you left for altitude.”

Ledecky won the 200 m Free on Thursday, timing 1:56.28, not as fast as her 1:55.78 in the Tyr Pro Swim opener in Knoxville, Tennessee in January, still no. 3 on the world list for 2019.

The only double winner on the men’s side was sprint star Caeleb Dressel, who took the 200 m Free in 1:47.31 (no. 9 for 2019 so far) and the 100 m Butterfly in 52.08, not as fast as his 51.51 back in March in Des Moines.

Michael Andrew impressed with a prelim mark of 24.66 in the 50 m Back, and won the final in 24.76. The prelim mark was .02 faster than his Knoxville mark and leaves him no. 2 on the world list.

The meet continues tomorrow, televised on the NBC Olympic Channel, beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern time. Summaries:

USA Swimming/Tyr Pro Swim Series no. 3
Richmond, Virginia (USA) ~ 10-13 April 2019
(Full results here)

Men

200 m Freestyle: 1. Caeleb Dressel, 1:47.31; 2. Zane Grothe, 1:48.12; 3. Jack Conger, 1:49.21.

800 m Free: 1. Zane Grothe, 7:55.78; 2. Marcelo Acosta (ESA), 7:59.17; 3. Gil Kiesler (ISR), 8:07.00.

50 m Backstroke: 1. Michael Andrew, 24.76; 2. Ryan Held, 25.16; 3. Matt Grevers, 25.18.

100 m Breaststroke: 1. Cody Miller, 1:00.98; 2. Andrew Wilson, 1:01.04; 3. Nic Fink, 1:01.05.

100 m Butterfly: 1. Dressel, 52.08; 2. Giles Smith, 52.72; 3. tie, Zach Harting and Santiago Grassi (ARG), 52.87.

400 m Medley: 1. Chase Kalisz, 4:13.45; 2. Tomas Peribono (ECU), 4:16.87; 3. Zachary Tan (SGP), 4:25.91.

Women

200 m Freestyle: 1. Katie Ledecky, 1:56.28; 2. Leah Smith, 1:57.54; 3. Madisyn Cox, 1:58.76.

800 m Free: 1. Ledecky, 8:14.24; 2. L. Smith, 8:16.33; 3. Kristel Kobrich (CHI), 8:36.19.

50 m Backstroke: 1. Bobbie Gichard (NZL), 29.14; 2. Lisa Bratton, 29.32; 3. Laura Laderoute, 29.38.

100 m Breaststroke: 1. Annie Lazor, 1:06.72; 2. Sophie Hansson (SWE), 1:08.05; 3. Bethany Galat, 1:08.26.

100 m Butterfly: 1. Kelsi Dahlia, 57.99; 2. Claire Curzan, 58.61; 3. Farida Osman (EGY), 58.89.

400 m Medley: 1. Ella Eastin, 4:38.80; 2. Cox, 4:40.55; 3. L. Smith, 4:41.08.