2022 ACC Championships: Virginia Undefeated in Swimming Behind Weyant, A. Walsh, Douglass
The reigning national-champion Virginia women have kicked off the ACC Championships with a bang, including a dominant performance in the women’s 800 freestyle relay Tuesday evening and breaking a three-year-old American record in the 200 free relay. Then, Virginia swept the three individual swimming events on Wednesday as Emma Weyant won the 500 freestyle, Alex Walsh cruised to first in the 200 IM and then Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh went 1-2 in the 50 free.
However, Virginia is not running away with this team title as NC State is putting up an impressive performance. The Wolfpack have two runnerup finishes in relays and just one individual top-three finish, but they currently sit just six points behind the Cavaliers in the standings as depth has helped NC State keep pace.
2022 ACC Championships Links
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- Meet Information Page
- Day one finals recap
- Day two prelims recap
- Day two men’s recap
Women’s Team Standings
1. Virginia, University of 421 2. North Carolina State Universit 415 3. Louisville, University of 274 4. Duke University 232 5. VA Tech 221 6. North Carolina, University of, 216 7. Notre Dame, University of 176 8. University of Miami (Florida) 167 9. Florida State University 148 10. Georgia Institute of Technolog 109 11. Pittsburgh, University of 94 12. Boston College 75
Women’s 200 Freestyle Relay
In the first event of the night, Virginia’s team of Kate Douglass (21.10), Alex Walsh (21.38), Lexi Cuomo (21.41) and Gretchen Walsh (20.58) swam a time of 1:24.47 in the sprint relay, eight hundredths faster than the 1:24.55 that Cal set at the 2019 NCAA Championships.
Douglass led off in a 21.10, just one hundredth off her best time of 21.09 that ranks her as the third-fastest performer in history, while Gretchen Walsh anchored in an insane 20.58, which is the sixth-fastest 50 freestyle relay split ever. Virginia’s time was almost a second-and-a-half faster than the 1:25.78 that Cal swam at last season’s NCAA Championships.
Virginia crushed the conference record of 1:25.97 set by a Cavaliers foursome also featuring Douglass, Cuomo and Alex Walsh at last year’s NCAA Championships. But the addition of the younger Walsh sister to the squad gives the Cavaliers a group that looks essentially untouchable heading into the national championships.
NC State finished second in 1:26.51 with Katharine Berkoff, Kylee Alons, Sophie Hansson and Heather Maccausland, while Louisville’s Gabi Albiero, Christiana Regenauer, Tristan Ulett and Arina Openysheva took third in 1:27.08.
Event 5 Women 200 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
MEET: # 1:26.15 2/21/2019 North Carolina State Universit, NC St
K Perry, K Alons, S Rowe, S Hansson
CONF: % 1:25.97 3/18/2021 University of Virginia, UVA
K. Douglass, A, Cuomo, K. Valls, A.Walsh
AMER: $ 1:24.55 3/21/2019 California
M Murphy, K McLaughlin, A Bilquist, A Weitzeil
USOP: & 1:24.55 3/21/2019 California, California
M Murphy, K McLaughlin, A Bilquist, A Weitzeil
NCAA: ! 1:24.55 3/21/2019 California
M Murphy, K McLaughlin, A Bilquist, A Weitzeil
Pool: ^ 1:26.80 3/17/2016 California, Calif
F Osman, K Vredeveld, V Hull, A Bilquist
1:28.43 A
1:29.21 B
School Seed Finals Points
==================================================================================
1 UVA 'A' 1:26.61 1:24.47$A 64
1) Douglass, Katherine C JR 2) r:0.39 Walsh, Alexandra SO
3) r:0.19 Cuomo, Alexa JR 4) r:0.12 Walsh, Gretchen FR
r:+0.66 21.10 42.48 (21.38)
1:03.89 (21.41) 1:24.47 (20.58)
2 NCSU 'A' 1:27.61 1:26.51^A 56
1) Berkoff, Katharine F JR 2) r:0.17 Alons, Kylee SR
3) r:0.29 Hansson, Sophie SR 4) r:0.07 Maccausland, Hether JR
r:+0.69 21.63 42.74 (21.11)
1:04.55 (21.81) 1:26.51 (21.96)
3 Louisville 'A' 1:27.83 1:27.08 A 54
1) Albiero, Gabriela M SO 2) r:0.06 Regenauer, Chriiana JR
3) r:0.28 Ulett, Tristen SO 4) r:0.16 Openysheva, Arina SR
r:+0.61 21.92 43.51 (21.59)
1:05.33 (21.82) 1:27.08 (21.75)
4 UNC 'A' 1:29.30 1:27.13 A 52
1) Countie, Grace K SR 2) r:0.08 Nel, Olivia FR
3) r:0.12 Pattison, Greer FR 4) r:0.07 Lowe, Heidi SR
r:+0.70 21.63 43.35 (21.72)
1:05.30 (21.95) 1:27.13 (21.83)
5 VT 'A' 1:29.60 1:27.96 A 50
1) Landon, Anna G SR 2) r:0.19 Shackelford, Sarah JR
3) r:0.04 Bentz, Caroline SO 4) r:0.15 Atkinson, Emma SO
r:+0.67 21.96 43.58 (21.62)
1:05.77 (22.19) 1:27.96 (22.19)
6 FSU 'A' 1:29.57 1:29.39 48
1) Moynihan, Rebecca E SR 2) r:0.32 Halden, Jenny SO
3) r:-0.02 Quaglieri, Tania JR 4) r:0.17 McDonald, Madeleine SR
r:+0.70 22.64 44.86 (22.22)
1:07.14 (22.28) 1:29.39 (22.25)
7 Duke 'A' 1:31.68 1:29.65 46
1) Smith, Mckenna A FR 2) r:0.23 Snyder, Sarah JR
3) r:0.14 Truong, Kyanh FR 4) r:0.23 Hollander, Shayna SR
r:+0.69 22.65 44.90 (22.25)
1:07.48 (22.58) 1:29.65 (22.17)
8 ND 'A' 1:30.31 1:30.07 44
1) Christman, Madelyn T FR 2) r:0.05 Gillilan, Coleen JR
3) r:0.01 Potter, Madison JR 4) r:0.08 Scannell, Quinn 5Y
r:+0.64 23.10 45.23 (22.13)
1:07.78 (22.55) 1:30.07 (22.29)
Women’s 500 Freestyle
Virginia freshman Emma Weyant is best known for her skills in the 400-meter IM, the event in which she won the Olympic silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, but she is skilled in the longer freestyle events as well. She showed off those abilities Wednesday evening as she took over the lead from Louisville’s Liberty Williams on the third 50 and then pulled away to win the 500 free in 4:37.23. That time would have placed fourth at last year’s NCAA Championships, and it helped Weyant finish more than a second-and-a-half ahead of Williams.
Williams placed second in 4:38.82, while UVA’s Maddie Donahoe swam a time of 4:41.61 to take third. Virginia Tech teammates Reka Gyorgy (4:42.70 and Chase Travis (4:43.12) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Event 7 Women 500 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
MEET: # 2:26.62 2/16/2022 Abigail E Cohen, Georgia Tech-GA
CONF: % 4:28.90 3/16/2017 Leah Smith, Virginia
AMER: $ 4:24.06 3/16/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
USOP: & 4:24.06 3/16/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
NCAA: ! 4:24.06 3/16/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
Pool: ^ 4:30.81 3/17/2016 Leah Smith, Virginia-VA
4:35.76 A
4:44.47 IV21 Invited NCAA 2021
4:47.20 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Weyant, Emma J FR UVA 4:41.39 4:37.23 IV21 32
r:+0.72 25.85 53.37 (27.52)
1:21.03 (27.66) 1:48.67 (27.64)
2:16.32 (27.65) 2:44.18 (27.86)
3:12.32 (28.14) 3:40.78 (28.46)
4:09.65 (28.87) 4:37.23 (27.58)
2 Williams, Liber SO Louisville 4:40.53 4:38.82 IV21 28
r:+0.56 25.73 53.35 (27.62)
1:21.29 (27.94) 1:49.50 (28.21)
2:17.82 (28.32) 2:46.39 (28.57)
3:15.03 (28.64) 3:43.40 (28.37)
4:11.73 (28.33) 4:38.82 (27.09)
3 Donohoe, Madely JR UVA 4:42.50 4:41.61 IV21 27
r:+0.69 26.21 54.44 (28.23)
1:23.03 (28.59) 1:51.81 (28.78)
2:20.61 (28.80) 2:48.94 (28.33)
3:17.57 (28.63) 3:45.96 (28.39)
4:14.16 (28.20) 4:41.61 (27.45)
4 Gyorgy, Reka 5Y Virginia Tech 4:43.93 4:42.70 IV21 26
r:+0.73 26.11 54.10 (27.99)
1:22.36 (28.26) 1:50.81 (28.45)
2:19.24 (28.43) 2:47.81 (28.57)
3:16.47 (28.66) 3:45.18 (28.71)
4:14.06 (28.88) 4:42.70 (28.64)
5 Travis, Chase C SO Virginia Tech 4:42.73 4:43.12 IV21 25
r:+0.76 26.65 54.77 (28.12)
1:23.32 (28.55) 1:51.92 (28.60)
2:20.67 (28.75) 2:49.37 (28.70)
3:17.86 (28.49) 3:46.52 (28.66)
4:15.05 (28.53) 4:43.12 (28.07)
6 Hierath, Yara S SO NC State 4:44.22 4:44.61 B 24
r:+0.73 26.33 54.60 (28.27)
1:23.14 (28.54) 1:52.00 (28.86)
2:20.95 (28.95) 2:49.94 (28.99)
3:18.88 (28.94) 3:47.85 (28.97)
4:16.66 (28.81) 4:44.61 (27.95)
7 Foley, Katharin JR NC State 4:44.72 4:44.84 B 23
r:+0.79 26.12 54.26 (28.14)
1:22.78 (28.52) 1:51.43 (28.65)
2:20.47 (29.04) 2:49.50 (29.03)
3:18.30 (28.80) 3:47.30 (29.00)
4:16.48 (29.18) 4:44.84 (28.36)
8 Travis, Brooke JR NC State 4:45.06 4:45.29 B 22
r:+0.59 26.47 54.86 (28.39)
1:23.60 (28.74) 1:52.46 (28.86)
2:21.46 (29.00) 2:50.60 (29.14)
3:19.62 (29.02) 3:48.43 (28.81)
4:17.37 (28.94) 4:45.29 (27.92)
Women’s 200 IM
It was no surprise to see Alex Walsh cruising to a conference title in the 200 IM, her signature race. The Olympic silver medalist in the long course version of the event was four tenths ahead of the field after the butterfly, and she pulled away from there. Walsh swam a time of 1:52.38, off her lifetime best of 1:51.53 from last year’s ACC Championships but still two tenths ahead of the field.
Walsh’s time was quicker than any other swimmer recorded at last year’s NCAA Championships, and it was the second-ranked time in the nation this season behind teammate Kate Douglass’ 1:52.20 from November, while only two others (Torri Huske and Ellen Walshe) have broken 1:53.
Finishing second here was Duke’s Sarah Foley, who swam a time of 1:54.47, and she was followed by NC State’s Abby Arens (1:55.16) and Louisville’s Abby Hay (1:55.25), while Virginia’s Ella Nelson was also under 1:56. Seven of the eight swimmers in the field swam times that would have been quick enough to qualify for the A-final at last year’s NCAA Championships.
Event 9 Women 200 Yard IM
=========================================================================
MEET: # 1:51.36 2/20/2020 Katherine Douglass, UVA-VA
CONF: % 1:50.92 11/17/2020Katherine Douglass, UVA-VA
AMER: $ 1:50.67 3/15/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
USOP: & 1:50.67 3/15/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
NCAA: ! 1:50.67 3/15/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
Pool: ^ 1:51.65 3/17/2016 Ella Eastin, Stanford-PC
1:53.66 A
1:57.62 IV21 Invited NCAA 2021
1:59.94 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Walsh, Alexandr SO UVA 1:54.31 1:52.38 A 32
r:+0.74 24.43 52.58 (28.15)
1:25.15 (32.57) 1:52.38 (27.23)
2 Foley, Sarah E SO Duke 1:55.41 1:54.47 IV21 28
r:+0.67 25.06 54.63 (29.57)
1:27.11 (32.48) 1:54.47 (27.36)
3 Arens, Abigail SO NC State 1:55.76 1:55.16 IV21 27
r:+0.66 24.83 54.48 (29.65)
1:27.88 (33.40) 1:55.16 (27.28)
4 Hay, Abigail E JR Louisville 1:55.19 1:55.25 IV21 26
r:+0.77 24.98 54.26 (29.28)
1:26.95 (32.69) 1:55.25 (28.30)
5 Nelson, Margare JR UVA 1:55.18 1:55.93 IV21 25
r:+0.66 25.80 55.73 (29.93)
1:28.29 (32.56) 1:55.93 (27.64)
6 Moore, Kathleen 5Y NC State 1:56.07 1:56.01 IV21 24
r:+0.69 25.20 54.10 (28.90)
1:29.11 (35.01) 1:56.01 (26.90)
7 Sheble, Grace E FR NC State 1:56.55 1:56.08 IV21 23
r:+0.56 25.21 55.02 (29.81)
1:28.56 (33.54) 1:56.08 (27.52)
8 Poole, Julia T 5Y NC State 1:56.51 1:56.27 IV21 22
r:+0.73 25.33 54.68 (29.35)
1:28.31 (33.63) 1:56.27 (27.96)
Women’s 50 Freestyle
At the end of women’s racing Wednesday evening at the ACC Championships, the University of Virginia has yet to lose an event. Here, the Cavaliers went 1-2 as both Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh returned after leading UVA to an American record in the 200 free relay earlier in the night. Douglass was ahead at the turn, but Walsh used a strong underwater segment and second 25 to close the gap. In the end, Douglass out-touched Walsh, 21.00 to 21.04.
Both swimmers swam their lifetime best marks, and Douglass became the second-fastest swimmer ever behind Abbey Weitzeil (20.90) while Walsh moved to fourth all-time behind Weitzeil, Douglass and Erika Brown. Douglass also broke her own ACC record (21.09) and meet record (21.10), the latter of which she set leading off the relay earlier in the night.
Meanwhile, North Carolina Grace Countie took third in 21.45, which is the third-fastest time in the country behind Douglass and Walsh. NC State continued its impressive depth showing as Katharine Berkoff (21.66) and Kylee Alons (21.71) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
Event 11 Women 50 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
MEET: # 21.10 2/16/2022 Katherine C Douglass, UVA-VA
CONF: % 21.09 3/18/2021 Katherine Douglass, Virginia-VA
AMER: $ 20.90 12/5/2019 Abbey Weitzeil, California
USOP: & 20.90 12/5/2019 Abbey Weitzeil, California
NCAA: ! 20.90 12/5/2019 Abbey Weitzeil, California
Pool: ^ 21.21 3/17/2016 Olivia Smoliga, Georgia-GA
21.66 A
22.32 IV21 Invited NCAA 2021
22.76 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== A - Final ===
1 Douglass, Kathe JR UVA 21.25 21.00%A 32
r:+0.65 10.15 21.00 (10.85)
2 Walsh, Gretchen FR UVA 21.25 21.04%A 28
r:+0.74 10.28 21.04 (10.76)
3 Countie, Grace SR UNC 21.69 21.45 A 27
r:+0.72 10.35 21.45 (11.10)
4 Berkoff, Kathar JR NC State 21.69 21.66 A 26
r:+0.68 10.55 21.66 (11.11)
5 Alons, Kylee J SR NC State 21.78 21.71 IV21 25
r:+0.64 10.52 21.71 (11.19)
6 Albiero, Gabrie SO Louisville 21.78 21.77 IV21 24
r:+0.62 10.46 21.77 (11.31)
7 Cuomo, Alexa M JR UVA 21.86 21.93 IV21 23
r:+0.71 10.54 21.93 (11.39)
8 Landon, Anna G SR Virginia Tech 22.21 22.22 IV21 22
r:+0.52 10.64 22.22 (11.58)
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