Gators Sweep 400-meter IM on Day 3 of Phillips 66 National Championships

Gators Sweep 400-meter IM on Day 3 of Phillips 66 National Championships

Thursday, July 28, 2022 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

Kevin Vargas, Katie Ledecky secure titles and set personal-bests

By: Nick Yuska

IRVINE, Calif. – Kevin Vargas and Katie Ledecky both claimed national titles and personal bests in the 400 IM on the third day of the Phillips 66 National Championships, as the Gators have now won five golds in the first three days at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.

Vargas, who finished second in the morning preliminary session, swam a 4:11.45 during the final, shaving nearly three seconds from his prelim time, and ranking him in the top-10 in the world this year.

In his home state of California, Vargas used a strong breastroke leg of 1:10.48 to pull ahead for good.

Ledecky's personal-best time of 4:35.77 in the 400-meter IM would have been third at this year's FINA World Championships, and dropped nearly three seconds off her previous best. It was the first personal best for Ledecky since 2018, and her third national title in as many days.

Kieran Smith finished with a bronze medal in the 400-meter IM, using a freestyle split of 57.40 to climb back to put himself on the podium. Smith now has two medals on the week after winning silver in the 200-meter freestyle last night.

Kathleen Golding finished seventh in the women's 400-meter IM, touching the wall in 4:45.35.

In the consolation finals, Rosie Zavaros started off the evening session with a 4:47.78 in the women's 400-meter IM B final, and a sixth-place finish. Mason Laur finished fourth in the men's 400-meter IM B final, notching a time of 4:19.69, while Anna Auld secured seventh in the women's 400-meter IM C final at 4:52.23. Jack VanDeusen finished sixth in the men's 400-meter IM C final with a time of 4:24.15, while Talia Bates notched a sixth-place finish in the women's 100-meter fly C final at 1:00.16.

Prelims:
Women's 400 IM
Katie Ledecky led the way during the morning preliminary session, finishing second in the prelims with a time of 4:41.84, ahead of Kathleen Golding who was fifth at 4:46.93. Rosie Zavaros, who finished sixth in last night's 200-meter backstroke, was 14th to advance to the B final, while Anna Auld qualified for the C final after an 18th place finish.

Men's 400 IM
Eight Gators competed in the Men's 200 IM prelims, the most in any event so far this week. Kevin Vargas and Kieran Smith went two-three to qualify for the A final, while the trio of Mason Laur, Bobby Finke, and Jake Mitchell all advanced to the B final. The 200 IM marked the first event of the national championships for Finke, who scratched the 1500-meter freestyle earlier this week. Jack VanDeusen placed 26th, just ahead of Peter Bretzmann at 28th. Brennan Gravley came in 40th.

Women's 100 fly
Talia Bates, in her fourth of six events of the week, placed 23rd with a 1:00.39 to advance to the C final.

The fourth 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.