U.S. Nationals Day 2 Finals: Claire Weinstein Chases Down Field to Win Women’s 200 Freestyle
The second night 2025 U.S. National Championships kicked off in Indianapolis with the finals of the women’s 200 freestyle.
Another completely stacked final on the women’s side that featured seven Olympians.
No one has reached Allison Schmitt‘s American record in more than a decade. She swam the stunning 1:53.61 at the 2012 London Olympics. We have had three more Olympic cycles and her name is still on top.
But the U.S. has seen some great performances from Katie Ledecky in and others in this event.
It was Claire Weinstein that won the race and has had a Ledecky-like performance so far in Indy.
She attempted a 100 free, 800 free double, then won the 200 free.
She didn’t make the team in the 100, but used her comeback speed to finish second to Ledecky in the 800 and win the 200 free, passing Ledecky and most of the field in the final 50.
Torri Huske took the early lead at the 50 mark. She led at the 100 mark, too, though that lead was narrower. She turned at the 150 in the lead as Weinstein and others chased.
Then Ledecky turned it up a notch and tried to chase, but Weinstein, just like in the 800 on Day 1, completed a comeback with a final split of 29.26 and a swim of 1:54.92.
Ledecky finished second and will swim the individual event at World Championships after delivering a 1:55.26.
Huske finished third and made the team on the relay with a 1:55.71 and Erin Gemmell and Anna Peplowski tied for the fourth spot (1:55.82).
