Pan Pacific Championships, Night One Finals: Katie Ledecky Adds to Legacy in 1500 Freestyle
A pair of Olympic titles. Six world championships. Three Pan Pacific crowns. Those are the international credentials for the United States’ Katie Ledecky in the 1500-meter freestyle, an event the 29-year-old has dominated without peer for the past 13 years. The latest of those gold medals was mined on Wednesday night, as Ledecky roared to victory over 30 laps at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California.
Pushed by Australia’s Lani Pallister at the William Woollett Aquatics Center, Ledecky uncorked an insane first 500 meters and survived the hurt it inflicted to win the 1500 freestyle in 15:36.09, the 21st-fastest time in history. Ledecky needed almost every bit of that effort, as Pallister recorded an Australian record of 15:38.62 and gave the American one of the biggest challenges of her career in the event. The 10k open-water champ at Pan Pacs, Aussie Moesha Johnson picked up bronze in 15:53.49.
Ledecky and Pallister attacked the first 500 meters, splitting 5:04.21 and 5:05.57, Ledecky’s time putting her more than two seconds under her world-record pace. Ultimately, that pace caught up with the athletes over the final 20 laps, but their willingness to go hard from the start enthralled the crowd. After her early challenge from Pallister, Ledecky gradually pulled away and collected her first international title on American soil.
“It was ok,” Ledecky said. “We took it out pretty fast and I expected it because that’s what Lani did last year (at the World Championships). I didn’t have the back end I wanted but…I don’t want to read too much into the final time. I know I have more in me.”
Pallister pulled a gutsy double on the opening night of Pan Pacs, racing the 200 freestyle earlier in the session. In that event, the Aussie clocked 1:53.67 to earn the title, beating Canada’s Summer McIntosh. Right off the start in the 1500 free, Pallister stayed even with the American, the swimmers cruising away from the rest of the field.
More to come…
