UF S&D | Freeman, Smith Take Top Two Spots of the 400M Freestyle

Both Kieran Smith and Katie Ledecky qualified for the FINA World Championships on the fourth night of the Team Trials.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A couple of Gators took the top two spots of the 400M freestyle as Kieran Smith and Trey Freeman placed first and second, respectively, in the event to highlight night four of the Phillips 66 International Team Trials.

The 400M men’s freestyle was stacked with Gators as three Florida swimmers competed in the event. Placing first in his second event of the meet was Smith, who also won the 200M free on Thursday. Posting a time of 3:46.61, Smith would take first place in the event to qualify for the FINA World Championships in his second event.

Freeman had an incredible second half of the race, pushing himself to the second-place spot with a time of 3:46.93. Freeman, who was in fifth at the 200M mark, propelled himself to second as both him and Smith were the only swimmers to go under 3:47 in the event. Tyler Watson also had himself a good swim as he finished in sixth with a mark of 3:52.40.

Competing in the A Finals of the 400M freestyle was Ledecky, who put up the fastest time in the world this season with a swim of 3:59.52 to win the event. This marks her third event win as she was the only swimmer in the 400M free to put up a time under the four-minute mark.

Also swimming in the 400M free were Tylor Mathieu and Elise Bauer in the B Finals. Mathieu placed third in her heat and 11th overall with a time of 4:11.90, while Bauer finished fifth in her heat and 15th overall with a swim of 4:14.94.

Adam Chaney was the sole competitor in the 100M backstroke as he finished second in the B Final and 10th overall with a time of 54.51. Dillon Hillis swam in the B Final of the 100M breaststroke and finished fifth in his heat and 13th overall in the event.

Olivia Peoples also competed for the Gators on Day 4, finishing 36th in the 100M breaststroke with a time of 1:13.81.

Tomorrow’s races will begin at 9 a.m. with the women’s 200-meter Individual Medley.

Finals Times:
Women’s 400M Free – A Final

* Katie Ledecky – 3:59.52 (1st place)
Women’s 400M Free – B Final

* Tylor Mathieu – 4:11.90 (3rd in heat, 11th overall)
* Elise Bauer – 4:14.94 (5th in heat, 15th overall)
Men’s 400M Free – A Final

* Kieran Smith – 3:46.61 (1st place)
* Trey Freeman – 3:46.93 (2nd place)
* Tyler Watson – 3:52.40 (6th place)
Men’s 100M Breaststroke – B Final

* Dillon Hillis – 1:01.46 (5th in heat, 13th overall)
Men’s 100M Backstroke – B Final

* Adam Chaney – 54.51 (2nd in heat, 10th overall)

*Bold indicates qualification for FINA World Championships

Preliminary Times:
Women’s 400M Free

* Katie Ledecky – 4:00.38*
* Elise Bauer – 4:14.53^
* Tylor Mathieu – 4:14.75^
Men’s 400M Free

* Trey Freeman – 3:50.58*
* Kieran Smith – 3:50.72*
* Tyler Watson – 3:52.98*
Women’s 100M Breaststroke