Katie Ledecky holds off Claire Weinstein to win 400 free at US Swimming Championships
Katie Ledecky competes in the 400m free at the US Swimming Championships. PHOTO: AFP
Katie Ledecky holds off Claire Weinstein to win 400 free at US Swimming Championships
CHICAGO – Nine-time Olympic champion Katie Ledecky notched another impressive victory at the US Swimming Championships on June 6, clocking 3min 58.56sec to win the 400m freestyle to add another event to her 2025 World Championships programme.
The American, who had already punched her ticket to the World Championships in Singapore with a victory in the 800m free, was under world-record pace at the 200m mark and came home 1.49sec in front of Claire Weinstein – who led Ledecky in a one-two finish in the 200m free this week.
'I just wanted to put together a solid race, start to finish,' Ledecky said after capturing her 32nd national title.
'I was definitely hurting the last 100, but overall I'm pretty happy with that.'
Ledecky, who is also slated to swim the 1,500m free as the championships conclude in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 7, will be heading to worlds in Singapore in July on a high note.
In May she swam the second-fastest 1,500m free in history behind her own world record, her second-best 400m free ever and an 800m free world record.
'It's just a lot of consistency year after year and always believing that I had something more in me... just kind of trusting that would pay off,' she added.
Meanwhile, Kate Douglass surged past world record-holder Lilly King in the final 20 metres to win the 100m breaststroke in 1:05.79, three-time Olympic gold medallist King taking second in 1:06.02.
Douglass denied King a victory in what the veteran has said was her last race in a US pool, having announced this season will be her last.
'It's been such a great ride, and can't wait to rep USA this summer,' said King, who will have a chance to add to her tally of 11 world titles in Singapore before she says goodbye for good.
King also admitted that the prospect of racing in front of home fans for the last time brought out some unfamiliar emotions.
'I had a little moment after the race, but this isn't my last meet,' she said. 'I was trying not to think too much about it... it was a weird feeling (before the race). That was an interesting thing to deal with for the first time.'
World record-holder Regan Smith won the women's 100m backstroke, overtaking Katharine Berkoff on the second lap to win in 57.69.
Smith claimed her first victory of the week after three runner-up finishes, with Berkoff second in 58.13.
Rex Maurer won the men's 400m free in 3:43.53, slicing more than three seconds off his personal best with the second-fastest time in the world this season behind the world record of 3:39.96 set by Lukas Martens in April.
Luka Mijatovic, 16, was second in 3:45.71.
Teenager Campbell McKean added the men's 100m breaststroke title to his 50m victory, clocking an impressive 58.96sec to finish 22-hundredths of a second in front of Josh Matheny.
Tommy Janton won the men's 100m back in a personal best 53.00sec to make his first World Championships team. Jack Aikins, winner of the 200m back, was second in 53.19. AFP
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Will it be deja vu as Spurs' Daniel Levy presses reset button again?
Tottenham Hotspur's head coach Ange Postecoglou gestures on the touchline during the match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur on April 13. PHOTO: AFP Spurs' first trophy in 17 years did not protect Ange Postecoglou. At the party held in the streets of north London, speaking from a dais at Tottenham town hall he declared the third season would be better than the second, like 'all the best television series'. Daniel Levy chose not to recommission the Australian. The real damage was done in the 22 games they lost in the Premier League, an unrepeatable situation. Those who paid good money at the Tottenham Stadium to watch such historic mediocrity had seen their fill, the glory of winning the Europa League in Bilbao was probably not enough. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Straits Times
Trayvon Bromell scorches 100m as Beatrice Chebet shines at Rome Diamond League
Trayvon Bromell celebrates after winning the men's 100m event of the Diamond League meet in Rome on June 6. PHOTO: AFP ROME – American Trayvon Bromell admitted that he had the 'jitters', even as he set the fastest time over the 100m this season in 9.84 seconds at the Rome Diamond League on June 6. Bromell, a two-time world outdoor bronze medallist and 2016 world indoor champion, dominated the field, with compatriot Fred Kerley coming in fifth in 10.06sec. Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme (9.99sec) and Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala (10.01sec) rounded out the podium in the blue riband event. 'It is a blessing... I executed the race, it was a great feel,' said Bromell. 'It was definitely a lot of jitters, I'm not going to lie and say that the nerves weren't there. 'I did not know what to expect, but I just wanted to go and be the person that I know I am. I work hard so I don't expect anything but fast times and execution.' Kenya's Beatrice Chebet, who won Olympic golds in the 5,000 and 10,000m in Paris last summer, posted the second-fastest time of all time in the women's 5,000m, clocking 14:03.69 after a stunning solo breakaway at the Stadio Olimpico. It was just three seconds off Gudaf Tsegay's world record set in Eugene in 2023, the Ethiopian finishing third in the Italian capital as the field struggled with Chebet's kick four laps out from the finish. 'I was planning to run 14:15, but I felt like my body was moving and I decided to go,' said Chebet. 'So I see that my body is in a good shape and I am capable of of the world record. So now I am going home and will prepare for it. Everything is possible. If I get someone who will push me up to 3000, it is possible.' Another Olympic champion, Quincy Hall of the USA, held his nerve to claim victory in the men's 400m in 44.22sec, winning in a photo finish from fast-finishing South African Zakithi Nene. There was a first Diamond League win since 2022 for Sandi Morris in the women's pole vault, the American clearing 4.80m for the victory. 'Today is monumental for me on a personal level,' said Morris, a three-time world silver medallist. 'I have been fighting with problems with my shoulder so I have to keep the volume of jumps lower. I really wanted to keep jumping but I also listen to my goals.' There was, however, no glory for Gianmarco Tamberi in the men's high jump in front of his adoring fans. The joint 2020 Olympic gold medallist, also the current European and world champion, bombed out at a lowly 2.16m in a competition won by South Korea's Woo Sang-hyeok, with a best of 2.32m. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Straits Times
‘Honoured' Novak Djokovic hints at possible Roland Garros farewell after semi-final loss
PARIS – Novak Djokovic suggested he may well have bidden adieu to Roland Garros after the 38-year-old was defeated in the semi-finals by Jannik Sinner on June 6. Following his 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) loss to world No. 1 Sinner, the Serb stopped briefly on his way off Court Philippe Chatrier and took a moment to 'show his gratitude' to the Paris crowd. 'This could have been the last match ever I played here... That's why I was a bit more emotional even in the end,' said three-time champion Djokovic. 'But if this was the farewell match of Roland Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd. 'Not the happiest because of the loss, but I tried to show my gratitude to the crowd.' Djokovic has on occasion had a fraught relationship with the Parisian public, but hailed the backing he received against Sinner. 'I don't think I have ever received this much support in this stadium in my career in big matches against the best players in the world. So very, very honoured to experience that,' he added. However, the Serb allayed fears he would be calling time on his career just yet. He stills stands on the brink of history after his latest tilt at a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title was foiled. One more Major victory would take him beyond Margaret Court and into outright-first on the list of players with the most Grand Slams. 'At the moment I will try to stick with the plan what I had, which is play the Grand Slams,' he said. 'Those tournaments are the priorities of my schedule, my calendar. Wimbledon and US Open, yes, they are in plans. That's all I can say right now. Those two, for sure. For the rest, I'm not so sure.' Despite the latest setback, Djokovic insisted he still has the record in his sights and hoped it will be seventh time lucky when Wimbledon starts on June 30. 'I'm going to do everything possible to get myself ready,' he said. 'I guess my best chances (of winning) maybe are Wimbledon, you know, to win another Slam, or faster hard court, maybe Australia or something like that.' Djokovic has won the title at Wimbledon seven times and is the the most dominant men's player in the history of the Australian Open with 10 victories in Melbourne. When asked how long he had been considering his future at Roland Garros, Djokovic cryptically replied: 'Not long. I don't know. I don't know really what tomorrow brings in a way at this point in my career.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
