Incredible Feat: Ledecky and Clark Leave Competition in Awe with 800m Freestyle Wins at Toyota U.S. Open. Katie Ledecky (Bethesda, Md./Gator Swim Club) and 2023 World Aquatics Championships. Teammate Charlie Clark (Sandusky, Ohio/The Ohio State University) won the 800-meter freestyle on Wednesday at the Greensboro Aquatic Centre. Kicking off the competition at the 2023 Toyota U.S. Open.
FINAL 1 – Katie Ledecky (Bethesda, Maryland/Gator Swim Club), 8:15.91
Paige Madden (Mobile, Ala./New York Athletic Club), second (8:29.91).
Jillian Cox (Cedar Park, Texas/Longhorn Aquatics), third at 8:33.77.
Ledecky on the finish line: “It’s exciting to start the year off with this meet and see what I can do this week.”
FINAL 1 MEN’S 800M FREESTYLE: Charlie Clark (Sandusky, Ohio/The Ohio State University), 7:50.49
David Johnston (Dallas, Texas/The Swim Team), second, 7:53.87.
7:54.36 – Ilia Sibirtsev (University of Louisville).
“That was my first 800m since the world championships back in July. So I was really just focusing on my race plan more than anything.” Clark said of his race. I was trying to focus on starting off slowly but being relevant in the race. And not falling too far behind then developing the race as I went to see how far I could go.”
“My best time is about 3 faster than that so I was like right on my best unrested this time of year. So I couldn’t be happier with a time like that,” Clark said. It’s quicker than I was at [nationals] last year.”
Competition continues through Saturday, with the 400m freestyle, 200m individual medley, and 50m freestyle scheduled for tomorrow. Thursday-Saturday prelims begin at 9 a.m. The whole competition schedule and meet details may be found here.
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