Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Hinds, Ledecky, Apple Start Phillips 66 National Championships Off with Titles
Olympians Katie Ledecky, Zach Apple and Natalie Hinds all picked up their first wins of the meet as night one of the Phillips 66 National Championships kicked off Tuesday at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine, California.
Ledecky won her signature event, the women’s 800m free, by almost 20 seconds to start off her meet. The swim marks her 20th summer-national-championships title of her career. Her 8:12.03 topped Indiana’s Mariah Denigan (8:31.12) and Alabama’s Kensey McMahon (8:31.92), who rounded out the podium.
“I just wanted to put together a good race and go out for it, and I had no expectations going into that so I’m pretty satisfied," Ledecky said.
Apple, meanwhile, tied Cavalier Aquatics’ Matt King in the men’s 100m free final as the two swimmers shared the podium with identical 48.44. Shaine Casas of Longhorn Aquatics nearly made it a three-way tie but came up just shy with a 48.46 for third.
“It was good," Apple said. "You know, coming in off a rough April, but was nice to come in and get a win. Legs have come in a little faster but can’t complain when you touch first.”
“I didn’t know what to expect," King added. "I totally had a different training schedule these last few months and I was hoping I could do something, and it worked out pretty nicely and I’m really happy with it. Really happy with the win, the co-win with (Zach) Apple. I mean, it was a great swim all around.”
Olympic bronze medalist Natalie Hinds of Gator Swim Club got to the wall first in the women’s 100m free final, shaving .02 off her personal best time that she set at last summer’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming to win in 53.53.
“I just kind of tried to stay in my own lane," Hinds said. "It’s been a long season and I was kind of getting a little tired mentally – when I get tired I kind of (start) looking around at other folks and focus on other people, so I just promised myself I was going to focus on my own race.”
Nashville Aquatic Club’s Gretchen Walsh took almost a second off her time from prelims to take second in 53.86, just off her personal best of 53.74. Louisville’s Gabi Albiero swam a 54.39 to finish third.
The finals in the women’s 200m butterfly came down to the final few meters as Longhorn Aquatics’ Dakota Luther just held off Sun Devil’s Lindsay Looney, 2:07.02 to 2:07.25. Long Island Aquatic Club’s Tess Howley grabbed third in 2:08.07.
In the men’s 200m fly, 19-year-old Gabriel Jett chopped nearly two seconds off his personal best to win convincingly in 1:54.37, a time that would have placed fifth at the FINA World Championships last month. Sandpipers’ Ilya Kharun finished a distant second in 1:56.66, just in front of Sterling Crane (1:56.75).
Wolfpack’s Will Gallant was the only swimmer to crack 15 minutes in the men’s 1500m free as his 14:57.08 was good enough to top The Swim Team’s David Johnston (15:02.37) by five seconds. Australia’s Alec Mander finished well back in third at 15:19.35.
The meet continues tomorrow with prelims at 12pm EST and finals at 8 p.m. ET.
Ledecky won her signature event, the women’s 800m free, by almost 20 seconds to start off her meet. The swim marks her 20th summer-national-championships title of her career. Her 8:12.03 topped Indiana’s Mariah Denigan (8:31.12) and Alabama’s Kensey McMahon (8:31.92), who rounded out the podium.
“I just wanted to put together a good race and go out for it, and I had no expectations going into that so I’m pretty satisfied," Ledecky said.
Apple, meanwhile, tied Cavalier Aquatics’ Matt King in the men’s 100m free final as the two swimmers shared the podium with identical 48.44. Shaine Casas of Longhorn Aquatics nearly made it a three-way tie but came up just shy with a 48.46 for third.
“It was good," Apple said. "You know, coming in off a rough April, but was nice to come in and get a win. Legs have come in a little faster but can’t complain when you touch first.”
“I didn’t know what to expect," King added. "I totally had a different training schedule these last few months and I was hoping I could do something, and it worked out pretty nicely and I’m really happy with it. Really happy with the win, the co-win with (Zach) Apple. I mean, it was a great swim all around.”
Olympic bronze medalist Natalie Hinds of Gator Swim Club got to the wall first in the women’s 100m free final, shaving .02 off her personal best time that she set at last summer’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming to win in 53.53.
“I just kind of tried to stay in my own lane," Hinds said. "It’s been a long season and I was kind of getting a little tired mentally – when I get tired I kind of (start) looking around at other folks and focus on other people, so I just promised myself I was going to focus on my own race.”
Nashville Aquatic Club’s Gretchen Walsh took almost a second off her time from prelims to take second in 53.86, just off her personal best of 53.74. Louisville’s Gabi Albiero swam a 54.39 to finish third.
The finals in the women’s 200m butterfly came down to the final few meters as Longhorn Aquatics’ Dakota Luther just held off Sun Devil’s Lindsay Looney, 2:07.02 to 2:07.25. Long Island Aquatic Club’s Tess Howley grabbed third in 2:08.07.
In the men’s 200m fly, 19-year-old Gabriel Jett chopped nearly two seconds off his personal best to win convincingly in 1:54.37, a time that would have placed fifth at the FINA World Championships last month. Sandpipers’ Ilya Kharun finished a distant second in 1:56.66, just in front of Sterling Crane (1:56.75).
Wolfpack’s Will Gallant was the only swimmer to crack 15 minutes in the men’s 1500m free as his 14:57.08 was good enough to top The Swim Team’s David Johnston (15:02.37) by five seconds. Australia’s Alec Mander finished well back in third at 15:19.35.
The meet continues tomorrow with prelims at 12pm EST and finals at 8 p.m. ET.