Ledecky Wins Gold, Smith Takes Silver on Day 2 of the Phillips 66 National Championships

Ledecky Wins Gold, Smith Takes Silver on Day 2 of the Phillips 66 National Championships

Wednesday, July 27, 2022 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

Katie Ledecky wins her second national title of the week; Kieran Smith claims silver

By: Nick Yuska

IRVINE, Calif. – Volunteer Coach Katie Ledecky continued her reign in the pool, winning the women's 200-meter freestyle for her second national championship in as many days while Kieran Smith found himself on the podium after taking second in the men's 200-meter freestyle during the second day of the Phillips 66 National Championships. Florida now has claims to three national titles this week after Ledecky won the 800-meter freestyle and Natalie Hinds took gold in the 100-meter freestyle last night.

Ledecky posted a time of 1:54.60, over a second and a half ahead of second place. A trio of Gators competed in the women's 200-meter freestyle B-final between Hinds, Kathleen Golding, and Ekaterina Nikonova. Hinds finished second with a 1:59.82, Golding took fifth at 2:00.49, and Nikonova touched the wall in 2:01.07 to take eighth in the consolation final.

Kieran Smith swam a 1:46.32 in the men's 200-meter freestyle, missing gold by just .18 seconds. Jake Mitchell stormed back during the final 50-meter stretch to secure a fifth place finish.

Rosie Zavaros climbed two spots from the prelims to the 200-meter A final, finishing sixth with a time of 2:11.42.

In the 200-meter breast B-final, Dillon Hillis and Kevin Vargas went two-three, each shaving time off their prelim swims with Hillis finishing 2:12.51 and Vargas at 2:13.12.

Women's 200m Free
During Wednesday mornings prelim session, Volunteer Coach Katie Ledecky took first with a 1:56.75. Kathleen Golding (2:00.42), Ekaterina Nikonova (2:00.67), and Natalie Hinds (2:01.03) all qualified for the B final. Tylor Mathieu finished 25th at 2:01.16, winning the second heat of the morning.

Men's 200m Free
Kieran Smith and recent transfer Jake Mitchell both posted top-five finishes during the preliminary session, as Smith finished second at 1:46.90 and Mitchell at 1:47.29 to advance to the A final. Adam Chaney finished 25th, touching the wall in 1:50.14, the same exact time he would post later in the C final, while Chance Tirheimer's time of 1:55.75 put him in 65th.

Men's 200m Breast
The duo of Dillon Hillis and Kevin Vargas led the charge in the 200m breast prelims, as Hillis finished 10th with a time of 2:12.67 and Vargas' time of 2:13.98 put him in 16th as both Gator swimmers advanced to the B final. Peter Bretzmann touched the wall in 2:16.03 to finish 32nd, Raphael Rached Windmuller tallied a 37th place finish at 2:16.36, and Julian Smith finished 71st in the nation at 2:19.92.

Women's 200m Back
Rosie Zavaros advanced to the A final following an eighth-place finish and 2:12.07 in the preliminary session, while Talia Bates recorded a 2:16.73 to finish 34th.

The third day of the 2022 Phillips 66 National Championships will begin with the preliminary session beginning at 12 p.m. ET and the finals at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSports.