Kathleen Golding Makes A Final; Katie Ledecky Wins Third Event; Gator Swim Club Leads Women’s Teams At Phillips 66 National Championships

By Sharon Robb
IRVINE, Calif., July 28, 2022—Kathleen Golding made the most of her second chance at the Phillips 66 National Championships Thursday at William Woollett Aquatics Center.

Golding, 21, of Gator Swim Club, finished seventh in the 400-meter individual medley in a best time 4:45.35, shaving 2.59 seconds off her previous best.

Golding was originally disqualified after swimming 4:46.93 in the early heats. The disqualification was overturned shortly after the conclusion of the event and Golding advanced into the “A” final as fifth seed.

GSC teammate and grad assistant coach Katie Ledecky, 25, won her third event of the meet. She overtook top seed Leah Smith on the final freestyle leg to win the 400 IM in 4:35.77, her best time in four years. Ledecky also has the 800 and 200 freestyle titles.

Mitchell Ledford of Treasure Coast was fourth in the B final and 12th overall of the 100-meter butterfly in 52.85. He was 11th in prelims, also in 52.85.

Erika Pelaez, 16, of Eagle Aquatics, was second in the B final of the 100-meter butterfly in 59.23, just 2/100ths behind winner Lillie Nordmann of Alto. Pelaez was 16th in prelims in 59.97.

Josh Zuchowski was 46th in the 100 butterfly in 54.77 to make D final. Anna Auld of Gator Swim Club was 18th in the 400 IM prelims in 4:50.85 to make the C final and was 23rd in 4:52.23.

COMBINED TEAM TOTALS: 1. Indiana Swim Club 180.5, 2. Gator Swim Club 160, 3. Cal Aquatics 153.5, 4. Longhorn Aquatics 117, 5. Long Island Aquatic Club 84.
MEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. Cal Aquatics 110, 2. Indiana Swim Club 81.5, 3. SwimAtlanta 54, 4. Longhorn Aquatics 50, 5. Ridgefield 47.
WOMEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. Gator Swim Club 131, 2. Indiana Swim Club 99, 3. Long Island 75, 4. tie, Nashville, Longhorn Aquatics 67.

WOMEN
400-meter individual medley: 1. Katie Ledecky, GSC 4:35.77, 2. Leah Smith, TXLA 4:36.66, 3. Felicia Pasadyn, OSU 4:42.79, 7. Kathleen Golding, GSC 4:45.35.

100-meter butterfly: 1. Gretchen Walsh, NAC 57.44, 2. Gabi Albiero, UF 57.82, 3. Dakota Luther, TXLA 59.39.

MEN
400-meter individual medley: 1. Kevin Vargas, RMDA 4:11.45, 2. Max Litchfield, DVSC 4:13.08, 3. Kieran Smith, RAC 4:14.04.

100-meter butterfly: 1. Shaine Casas, TXLA 50.40, 2. Shaun Champion, AUS 51.54, 3. Gabriel Jett, CAL 52.19.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com