Kathleen Ledecky wins Women’s 500 yards freestyle heats – AT&T Winter National Championships
Kathleen Ledecky of NCAPPV won the qualification round of the Women’s 500 yards freestyle on opening day of the 2012 AT&T Winter National Championships in Austin, TX, USA on Thursday, November 29.
Ledecky devastated hopes of her opponents in the distant freestyle discipline and qualified in to the playoff as top contender for gold medal.
With her unrelenting efforts, Ledecky enjoyed a comfortable lead over her following swimmer and touched the wall for first position with an effort of 4 minutes and 36.82 seconds.
Her fastest finish remained 0.97 seconds ahead of Leah Smith of JCCSAM, who proved her eligibility for second best spot of the race by concluding her race in a time of 4 minutes and 37.79 seconds.
Third fastest qualification spot of the race was obtained by Haley Anderson of USC-CA, who stayed almost four seconds slower from her foregoing finisher and surfaced on the finishing blockade by touching the wall with an effort of 4 minutes and 41.87 seconds.
Anderson was followed by Jasmine Tosky of USC-CA, who stayed only a half body length behind and emerged on the finishing end for fourth position by producing a time of 4 minutes and 42.34 seconds.
Tosky was traced by Kelsey Leneave of UT-ST, who stayed 0.54 seconds slower from her former finisher and touched the wall for fifth position with an effort of 4 minutes and 42.88 seconds.
Sixth position of the event was obtained by Kaitlin Pawlowicz of UT-ST, who stayed 0.02 seconds slower and surfaced on the finishing end by producing a time of 4 minutes and 42.90 seconds.
Pawlowicz was trailed by Ashley Steenvoorden of UN01MN, who was 0.18 seconds slower and tapped the wall with an effort of 4 minutes and 43.08 seconds.
Last qualification spot of the event was obtained by Lindsay Vrooman of IU-IN, who 0.30 seconds slower and surfaced on the finishing end for eighth position by submitting an effort of 4 minutes and 43.38 seconds.
In addition, Ledecky was happy with her fastest qualification effort and was optimistic about securing the title by continuing the same in the playoff.
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