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2022 NCAA Women’s Championships: Kate Douglass Lowers NCAA, American Record in 50 Free For Title
After breaking the NCAA and American record in the prelims, Virginia’s Kate Douglass was aiming for more.
But in the 50 freestyle, time drops are extremely difficult, especially with a loaded field gunning for you. But Douglass was able to go even faster in finals.
After breaking the recording 20.87 during prelims, Douglass had just enough to go even faster, touching the wall in 20.84 to re-break her own mark and give the Cavaliers their second consecutive NCAA record after Alex Walsh did so to win the 200 IM. The previous record was 20.90 set by Cal’s Abbey Weitzeil in 2019.
“After ACCs, I was pretty excited to swim the 50 here. Going 21.0 was exciting and I thought I might be able to go under that mark. That was awesome to see that record go down because that was a goal of mine since the start of the season,” Douglass said.
Virginia teammate Gretchen Walsh was also sub-21 and finished second in 20.95 giving the Cavaliers a huge point total from the meet and continue the seismic shift in sprinting powers from the West Coast to the East Coast.
The duo then shifted their focus to the 200 freestyle relay as Virginia sprinters looked to continue their dominance.
Michigan senior Maggie Mac Neil took third in 21.38.
Douglass was out in a stunning 10.09 before coming back in 10.75. Watch was out in 10.14 and back in 10.81, while Mac Neil was out in 10.28 and back in 11.10.
Alabama went 4-5 with Morgan Scott (21.43) and Cora Dupre (21.47).
North Carolina’s Grace Countie took sixth (21.54), followed by NC State’s Katharine Berkoff (21.55) and Kylee Alons (21.68).
Louisville’s Gabi Albiero won a fast B final in 21.69.
Event 5 Women 50 Yard Freestyle
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NCAA: N 20.87 3/17/2022 Kate Douglass, Virginia
Meet: M 20.87 3/17/2022 Kate Douglass, Virginia
American: A 20.87 3/17/2022 Kate Douglass, Virginia
US Open: O 20.87 3/17/2022 Kate Douglass, Virginia
Pool: P 20.87 3/17/2022 Kate Douglass, Virginia
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
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=== Championship Final ===
1 Douglass, Kate JR Virginia 20.87 20.84N 20
r:+0.61 10.09 20.84 (10.75)
2 Walsh, Gretchen FR Virginia 21.09 20.95 17
r:+0.71 10.14 20.95 (10.81)
3 MacNeil, Maggie SR Michigan 21.53 21.38 16
r:+0.61 10.28 21.38 (11.10)
4 Scott, Morgan SR Alabama 21.72 21.43 15
r:+0.66 10.32 21.43 (11.11)
5 Dupre, Cora JR Alabama 21.47 21.47 14
r:+0.60 10.40 21.47 (11.07)
6 Countie, Grace SR UNC 21.53 21.54 13
r:+0.69 10.26 21.54 (11.28)
7 Berkoff, Katharine JR NCSU 21.56 21.55 12
r:+0.66 10.44 21.55 (11.11)
8 Alons, Kylee SR NCSU 21.62 21.68 11
r:+0.64 10.45 21.68 (11.23)
=== Consolation Final ===
9 Albiero, Gabi SO Louisville 21.81 21.69 9
r:+0.61 10.45 21.69 (11.24)
10 Antoniou, Kalia SR Alabama 21.90 21.73 7
r:+0.64 10.59 21.73 (11.14)
11 Fulmer, Amy JR Ohio St 21.88 21.88 6
r:+0.68 10.75 21.88 (11.13)
12 Kutsch, AJ JR Tennessee 21.82 21.95 5
r:+0.68 10.60 21.95 (11.35)
13 Grover, Claire SR UCLA 21.82 22.01 4
r:+0.66 10.43 22.01 (11.58)
14 Cuomo, Lexi JR Virginia 21.80 22.03 3
r:+0.67 10.66 22.03 (11.37)
15 Keil, Megan SR Missouri 21.99 22.09 2
r:+0.60 10.70 22.09 (11.39)
16 Henig, Iszac JR Yale 21.94 22.18 1
r:+0.65 10.60 22.18 (11.58)
