Claire Weinstein Again Visits Rare Territory in the 500-Yard Freestyle at Sectionals
Rare are the moments when a female swimmer dips under the 4:30 mark in the 500-yard freestyle, but Team USA standout Claire Weinstein once again visited that territory on Friday night. Representing the Sandpipers of Nevada, Weinstein clocked a time of 4:29.42 at Sectionals in Justin, Texas. Weinstein’s performance was just off her personal best, which sits at 4:29.38, posted in late 2023.
Weinstein is one of only six women who have gone faster than 4:30, in a club that also includes Katie Ledecky, Summer McIntosh, Katie Grimes, Bella Sims and Leah Smith. Grimes, now at the University of Virginia, and Sims, now at the University of Florida, also achieved their sub-4:30 marks while with the Sandpipers, under the direction of Ron Aitken.
In her latest trip under 4:30, Weinstein was out in 51.22 at the 100-yard mark and came through the 200-yard checkpoint at 1:45.67. She followed with a 300-yard split of 2:40.37 and she touched at 400 yards in 3:35.28.
Weinstein competed last summer at the Olympic Games in Paris, finishing eighth in the 200 freestyle and helping the United States to a silver medal in the 800 freestyle relay. Weinstein led off that relay in 1:54.88.
In the men’s 500 freestyle, the Sandpipers’ Luke Ellis, one of the top recruits in the Class of 2025, posted a strong effort. Ellis was timed in 4:15.56.
