Katie Ledecky will not swim the 400 IM on day 2 of the 2016 Arena Pro Swim Series at Austin, focusing only on the 200 freestyle.
Ledecky was originally entered in the event, but said in a pre-meet press conference that her lineup was subject to change day-to-day. The 18-year-old phenom hit a lifetime-best in the 100 free on day 1 along with one of the fastest 400 frees in history, and could be in line for a huge 200 free, especially now that she’ll remain fresh for that event with no other Saturday entries.
The other big questionable 400 IM name is Ryan Lochte, who is still listed on the heat sheets as swimming the event. Lochte was the 2012 Olympic champion in the event, but hasn’t swam it very often since London. At age 31, he’ll give that race a prelims shot, and is not entered in any other events on the day.
Most of the major scratches are names we already knew about from day 1. Allison Schmitt won’t compete, though she was originally entered in the 400 free. Most of the Trojan Swim Club contingent has scratched out, including sprinters Vlad Morozov and Derek Toomey and Olympian Conor Dwyer. Tuscon Ford’s Brad Tandy won’t compete in the 50 free after bowing out of the 100, and Cal freshman Katie McLaughlin is out with a neck injury.
Also of note: Texas Longhorn Jack Conger will not contest the 200 free. He scratched the 100 free yesterday, but did swim the 100 fly.
One final note of interest: 18-year-old Swedish sprinter Therese Alshammar is still listed in the heat sheets for her final event, the 50 free. Alshammar was a no-show for the 100 free on day 1, so it’s hard to say for sure if she’ll be competing until her heat steps up on the blocks.
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