With Claire Weinstein Sidelined, Who Will Comprise the United States 800 Freestyle Relay?
As one of the United States’ premier 200-meter freestylers for several years, Claire Weinstein has played a key role for Team USA in the 800 freestyle relay at multiple international competitions. But with the 2024 Olympian and Cal standout announcing her withdrawal from the Pan Pacific Championships following a bout with viral meningitis, the U.S. has a relay opening to fill at next week’s meet.
Without Weinstein, there seem to be six primary options for the four legs of the 800 freestyle relay. Erin Gemmell (1:55.23) and Katie Ledecky (1:55.26) own the best non-Weinstein times on the Pan Pacs roster. Ledecky has long been a go-to performer for the Stars & Stripes while Gemmell has been a member of the American 800 freestyle relay in the finals of the 2024 Olympic Games and a pair of World Championships (2023/2025).
Anna Peplowski also appears to be well-positioned for duty, as she clocked a personal best of 1:55.67 in the 200 freestyle earlier this year. More, Peplowski came through at last summer’s World Championships in Singapore, where she split 1:54.75 on the second leg of an American-record setting team (7:40.01). That squad also included Weinstein, Gemmell and Ledecky, the distance legend anchoring in 1:53.71.
If Gemmell, Ledecky and Peplowski occupy three relay spots, who will get the fourth? The remaining position will likely come from the trio of Torri Huske, Rylee Erisman and Simone Manuel. Huske has been the fastest of the group, with a best of 1:55.71 delivered at last year’s Nationals. Meanwhile, Erisman just went 1:55.86 at this summer’s National Champs, and Manuel owns a best of 1:56.09.
The 200 freestyle is scheduled for the opening day of the meet, so the U.S. coaching staff will have additional data to dissect before making a final decision. An American squad has not won the 800 freestyle in major international competition since the 2022 World Championships, but with Australia missing Mollie O’Callaghan (back injury) and the American depth in a good place, this summer is a major opportunity.
Pan Pacific Championships – Meet Page
