Gretchen Walsh Breaks Her First Individual American Record in 50 Freestyle
For the first time in her already-decorated career, 20-year-old University of Virginia sophomore Gretchen Walsh is an individual American-record holder. After swimming on several record-breaking relays, including the 200 medley relay Tuesday evening and 200 freestyle relay earlier in the same session Wednesday, Walsh touched in 20.83 in the 50 freestyle final to knock one hundredths off the previous top time of 20.84 that Virginia teammate Kate Douglass set at last year’s NCAA Championships. Walsh also broke Douglass’ ACC meet record of 20.95 set leading off the aforementioned 200 free relay earlier in the evening.
Previously, Walsh was the third-fastest performer in history with the 20.94 she swam in a runnerup finish behind Douglass at NCAAs in 2022, but with Douglass sitting out the individual 50 free to focus on the 200 IM Wednesday night (an event where she swam the second-fastest time in history), Walsh took advantage. Walsh took full advantage of the allowed 15 meters underwater as she exploded ahead of the field, and even in a loaded event, Walsh won the race by more than a half-second.
A pair of Louisville Cardinals rounded out the podium with Gabi Albiero finishing second in 21.36 and Christiana Regenauer placing third in 21.58, good enough for fourth and seventh, respectively, in the national rankings. NC State’s Katharine Berkoff (21.73) and North Carolina’s Grace Countie (21.84) finished just outside of the top three.
Individually, Walsh is the defending NCAA champion in the 100 free and last year’s runnerup in the 50 free (behind Douglass) and the 100 back (behind Berkoff). It would not be surprising if she chased more records in her upcoming events later this week. She currently ranks second all-time in the 100 back (49.00) and fourth in the 100 free (46.05).
Event 13 Women 50 Yard Freestyle
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MEET: # 21.00 2/16/2022 Katherine C Douglass, UVA-VA
CONF: % 20.84 3/16/2022 Kate Douglass, UVA-VA
AMER: $ 20.84 3/16/2022 Kate Douglass, UVA-VA
USOP: & 20.84 3/16/2022 Kate Douglass, UVA-VA
NCAA: ! 20.84 3/16/2022 Kate Douglass, UVA-VA
GAC Pool: ^ 21.09 3/18/2021 Kate Douglass, UVA-VA
21.66 A
22.16 IV22 Invited NCAA 2022
22.71 B
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
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=== A - Final ===
1 Walsh, Gretchen SO UVA 21.01 20.83%A 32
r:+0.76 10.10 20.83 (10.73)
2 Albiero, Gabi M JR Louisville 21.59 21.36 A 28
r:+0.64 10.40 21.36 (10.96)
3 Regenauer, Chri SR Louisville 21.88 21.58 A 27
r:+0.70 10.51 21.58 (11.07)
4 Berkoff, Kathar SR NC State 21.68 21.73 IV22 26
r:+0.70 10.61 21.73 (11.12)
5 Countie, Grace SR UNC 21.84 21.84 IV22 25
r:+0.71 10.47 21.84 (11.37)
6 Yendell, Sophie JR PITT 22.00 21.89 IV22 23.5
r:+0.70 10.44 21.89 (11.45)
6 Welch, Ella G FR Louisville 21.98 21.89 IV22 23.5
r:+0.63 10.64 21.89 (11.25)
8 Alons, Kylee J SR NC State 21.93 22.09 IV22 22
r:+0.66 10.48 22.09 (11.61)
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