TYR Pro Series – Day Four Women’s Finals: Katie Ledecky Storms to 14th-Fastest Time in 1500 Freestyle History; Only She’s Been Faster
The GOAT and one of the sport’s rising stars jumpstarted the final night of competition at the TYR Pro Series stop in Knoxville. Racing the 1500-meter freestyle, Katie Ledecky and Katie Grimes delivered a one-two finish over 30 laps, with the reigning Olympic champion and world-record holder putting on a show and prevailing in a time of 15:37.99. Grimes touched in second place in 16:15.02. Lpg Pd Flow Meter
The start of the last session was delayed by 45 minutes due to a power outage.
Untouchable in the event, Ledecky popped a time that only she has ever beaten. Her performance now ranks 14th on the all-time list, with Denmark’s Lotte Friis (15:38.88) owning the fastest non-Ledecky swim in history. Ledecky holds the world record at 15:20.48.
Ledecky and Grimes have been superb in Knoxville over the past few days. Prior to her victory in the 1500 free, Ledecky bested the field in the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle. As for Grimes, she entered the 1500 with triumphs already registered in the 800 freestyle, 200 butterfly and 400 individual medley. In the 400 IM, Grimes narrowly edged Ledecky, with both women producing sterling efforts, especially at this point in the year.
With the 1500 freestyle opening the last session, the night immediately featured star power. While no one expected Grimes to press Ledecky, the race offered a look at the woman who has redefined what is capable in distance swimming, and a teenager who figures to be a longtime staple for Team USA on the international stage.
On the way to victory, Ledecky wasted no time building a substantial lead, as she was clear of Grimes by three seconds at just the 100-meter mark. From there, Ledecky added to her margin, putting together another of her stunning performances. Ledecky went through the 200-meter mark in 2:01.81 and was timed in 4:06.34 at 400 meters. More, she turned at 800 meters in 8:17.29.
Although best known for her distance-freestyle exploits, Leah Smith notched her first triumph of the weekend in the 200 medley. In a matchup with 17-year-old standout Bella Sims, Smith got to the wall first in a time of 2:13.78. Sims claimed second place in 2:14.32, which was nearly a second faster than the 2:15.12 of Canadian Tess Cieplucha.
After missing the squad which represented the United States at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Smith has enjoyed a resurgence over the past year-plus. She was the bronze medalist in the 400 freestyle at last summer’s World Championships and is continuing to flourish in Pro Series action.
Canadian star Kylie Masse made the most of her trip to Knoxville, as she completed a sweep of the backstroke events with a decision in the 200 distance. Masse, the Olympic silver medalist in both backstroke events, won the 200 back in 2:08.95, which was good for a comfortable decision over Josephine Fuller (2:11.59). Third place went to Katie Grimes, who put together a gutsy effort after swimming the 1500 freestyle earlier in the night. Grimes touched in 2:11.96.
As was the case with Kylie Masse in the previous event, Irishwoman Mona McSharry wrapped up a triple on the last night of the meet. McSharry followed earlier wins in the 100 breast and 200 breast with a first-place finish in the 50 breast, her time of 30.56 easily bettering the 31.29 of Miranda Tucker. Training at the University of Tennessee, McSharry is part of a burgeoning Irish squad on the road to the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Total Control Systems Meter The absence of Abbey Weitzeil from the final opened an opportunity for Erika Brown, who took advantage and won the final in 54.15. Weitzeil registered a time of 53.65 in the prelims for the top seed, but Weitzeil – along with many Cal teammates – scratched out of the finals. Brown was joined in sub-55 territory by Olivia Smoliga, who placed second in 54.61. In third place was Simone Manuel, on the strength of a 54.81 performance.