AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Katie Ledecky broke her own world record in the women’s 800-meter freestyle Sunday night, finishing in 8 minutes, 6.68 seconds in the Arena Pro Swim Series.
The 18-year-old American smashed her mark of 8:07.39 set at the 2015 world championships in Russia.
Ledecky has dominated the event since 2013 and owns nine of the top 10 times in history.
She wasn’t challenged Sunday night as the crowd, knowing she was on record pace, cheered her on. American Becca Mann was second, but far back at 8:24.49.
Ledecky’s record came shortly after Michael Phelps beat Olympic teammate and longtime rival Ryan Lochte in the 200 individual medley. Lochte led after two lengths, only to be caught over the final 10 meters as Phelps ripped through the freestyle leg to win in 1:58.00. Lochte was second at 1:58.43.
Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu won the 100 backstroke in 59.91 seconds. With American Missy Franklin, the 2012 Olympic champion, swimming in the lane to her immediate left, Hosszu made the turn in first, then had to hold off a charge from Franklin over the final five meters. Franklin was second in 1:00.03.
Hosszu followed that win with another dominant performance in the 200 individual medley, an event she has owned for years. Hosszu has the world record and six of the top 10 times, and easily won again in 2:10.69.
Matt Grevers, who won the Olympic gold medal in 2012 and finished third at the 2015 world championship, won the men’s 100 backstroke in 53.35 seconds, beating his U.S. Olympic teammates Ryan Murphy and David Plummer.
Cammile Adams won the 200 butterfly in 2:08.21. Singapore’s Quah Zheng Wen won the men’s 200 butterfly in 1:58.07.
Andrew Wilson, who won the U.S. championship in 2015 and will be competing in his first Olympic trials this year, won the men’s 100 breaststroke in 1:00.42.