Swimmer Leah Smith setting sights on qualifying for another Olympics

Oakland Catholic graduate Leah Smith is making good progress in her quest to make the Olympic Games this summer in Tokyo.

Smith, who will turn 25 in April, produced this year’s fastest time in the world in the women’s 800-meter freestyle in 8 minutes, 23.46 seconds in the TYR Pro Swim Series meet March 7 in Des Moines, Iowa. She finished close to 6 seconds ahead of 2016 Olympian Hali Flickinger (8:29.96) in a U.S. Olympic Team Trial cut.

“I’m pumped about my 800,” said Smith, a 2016 Olympian and two-time Olympic medalist. “It was like 6 seconds faster than I was last year at this exact time in Des Moines.

“I think it’s a solid spot for me to be in in March. I’m looking forward to carrying that momentum into the next Pro Series and building on that.”

Peter Richardson, Smith’s coach at Tuscon Ford Dealers Aquatics in Arizona, said Smith has made some adjustments.

“December’s U.S. Open gave us a read on where she can improve,” he said.

Smith (8:27.49) took third in the meet at Georgia Tech.

Smith is scheduled to compete next in the TYR Pro Swim Series on April 16-19 in Mission Viejo, Calif., the fourth of five stops the world’s top swimmers are making in the U.S. in preparation for their run to the Olympic Games.

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials are scheduled for June in Omaha, Neb.

“I’m getting excited to see how far I can go,” said Smith, who grew up in Mt. Lebanon and swam at Virginia.