Thursday, December 1, 2022
Ledecky Takes Night One at 2022 Toyota U.S. Open
Night one of the Toyota US Open Championships, which happened to fall on the first day of the qualifying period of the 2024 Olympic Trials, featured wins by Katie Ledecky and Guilherme Costa in the women’s and men’s 800m free, respectively.
Ledecky, who represents Gator Swim Club, finished nearly 24 seconds ahead of the field, swimming an 8:13.90 to outdistance second place finisher Michaela Mattes of Sarasota Sharks, who touched in 8:37.89. Cavan Gormsen of Long Island Aquatic Club rounded out the top three in 8:38.15.
"I am happy with that," Ledecky said. "First long course swim of the year, and I’m about where I thought I would be.”
On the men’s side, Brazil’s Guilherme Costa just out-touched Florida’s Alfonso Mestre, 7:54.10-7:54.80. Stephen Steverink, also from Brazil, came in third at 8:01.08.
In relay action, only two teams contested the men’s 4x200m free relay, with NSW Swim coming out ahead of SwimMAC Carolina, 7:22.51 to 7:39.90. Cougar Aquatics was the lone relay entrant in the women’s meet and they swam an 8:25.21 for the win.
The meet continues tomorrow with the first full day of action, with prelims at 9am ET and finals at 6pm ET.