Leah Smith Adds 400m Individual Medley to World Championships
June 29, 2017
INDIANAPOLIS – Leah Smith qualified her second event of the week for the 2017 World Championships after placing first in the 400m individual medley on Thursday (June 29) at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.
Smith recorded a time of 4:33.86 to capture the national title. The first-place swim qualified her for the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary at the end of July (23-30).
Smith reached the wall with over a four-second gap, after second-place swimmer Ella Eastin was disqualified for an underwater kick violation known as the Lochte Rule. The official second-place finish went to Elizabeth Beisel (4:38.55)
The 400m individual medley was the second qualifying event for Smith. She finished second in the 200m freestyle on Wednesday (June 28), earning a spot on the U.S. team at the World Championships. She is waiting for qualify results from Tuesday’s 800m freestyle swim. Smith finished second in the event. An official release of qualified swimmers will be released after the meet concludes on Saturday.
Also in action on Thursday evening, rising sophomore Maddy Vonderhaar (Lakeside Park, Ky.) finished seventh in the C finals of the 50m breaststroke. She recorded a time 32.59, placing 23rd overall.
Day four of the Phillips 66 National Championships and World Championship Trials will continue tomorrow with preliminary races beginning at 9 a.m.