Freshman Focus (Part Three): Leah Hayes Brings Versatility, Experience to Four-Time Defending Champs
Almost three years ago, Leah Hayes was the beneficiary of a key decision by one of the best swimmers in University of Virginia history. When Kate Douglass opted out of the 200 IM at the 2022 U.S. International Team Trials, Hayes took advantage and finished second behind another Cavalier, Alex Walsh. Hayes swam a huge best time as she qualified for her first senior-level international team, and she dropped another second on the way to World Championships bronze in Budapest. She held the world junior record in that event prior to Summer McIntosh’s emergence.
Since then, Hayes has been unable to return to that level, but she has maintained her spot as a national-level individual medley swimmer, finishing fifth over both 200 and 400 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials. And this season, she has teamed up with the Virginia swimmers on a full-time basis as one of the top-ranked recruits joining the team that has dominated women’s college swimming over the last four seasons. As a freshman, Hayes will be a surefire multi-event scorer on the national level.
Entering championship season, Hayes owns the fourth-best time in the country in the 400 IM at 4:01.34, a time that only three swimmers beat all of last season. Hayes sits fifth nationally in the 200 IM at 1:53.84, and her 200 breast season-best time of 2:09.47 is not far away from national scoring territory. She could contribute on Virginia’s 800 freestyle relay after swimming as fast as 1:44.40 this season. On a team filled with stars, Hayes is by no means the standout, but she is sure to help the Cavaliers score even more points this March.
Among other freshmen swimmers to watch this season, one of Hayes’ counterparts on the Virginia men’s team has also made the list. Be sure to check out Freshman Focus part one and part two.
David King, Virginia
Virginia already has a top-notch backstroker in Jack Aikins, who finished a heartbreaking third in both the 100 and 200-meter races at Olympic Trials, but now the Cavaliers add King to the mix. He edged out Aikins in the 200-yard event at the Tennessee Invite, swimming under 1:40 in the process and jumping to No. 10 in the country. His 1:39.82 is quicker than what was required to score at last year’s NCAA Championships. King also clocked 1:33.19 in the 200 free at midseason and 4:16.30 in the 500.
Anita Bottazzo, Florida
Last season, a native of Italy captured the NCAA title in the 100 breaststroke as Jasmine Nocentini touched first, and now Bottazzo will try to continue that pattern as she embarks upon her college career at the University of Florida. Bottazzo owns the country’s top time thus far in the event at 57.49, a half-second clear of anyone else in the country. Six swimmers beat that mark at last year’s NCAA A-final, but only two of them, Tennessee’s Mona McSharry and USC’s Kaitlyn Dobler, are still active collegiate swimmers. Meanwhile, Bottazzo’s presence after Bella Sims on Florida’s medley relays will create a strong front half.
Kate Hurst, Texas
Hurst is not the most prominent freshman distance swimmer on the Longhorns’ roster, not with Jillian Cox off to a great start, but she has international credentials as well. Hurst was the world junior champion in the 1500-meter free in 2023, and at the U.S. Olympic Trials, she finished fourth in the 1500 and sixth in the 800. She sits with the fourth-best 1650-yard time nationally right now at 15:48.78, and she is 12th in the 500 at 4:37.59.
Yamato Okadome, Cal
The Golden Bears have graduated standout breaststrokers Reece Whitley and Liam Bell in successive years, leaving the stroke as a potential weakness for the title-contending roster. Enter Okadome, who currently owns the country’s fourth-fastest time in the 100 breast (50.87) and 12th-best time in the 200 breast (1:52.40). Okadome arrives from Chiba, Japan, with significant junior-level international experience. At the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, he won silver in both breaststroke events plus three relay bronzes, and at the 2023 World Junior Championships, he claimed silver in the 100 breast.