Oli Scarff/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
GWANGJU, South Korea — In her first individual race since illness knocked her out of two events this week at the world swimming championships, Katie Ledecky posted the second-fastest qualifying time in the 800-meter freestyle on Friday, behind her American teammate Leah Smith.
Ledecky, a two-time Olympic champion in the event who owns the 22 best times in its history, closed fast over the final 150 meters to nearly catch Smith, who was in an adjoining lane. Ledecky touched the wall in 8 minutes 17.42 seconds, almost 13 seconds slower than her world record and a blink behind Smith’s 8:17.