Kate Douglass Breaks 2:20 Again in 200 Breaststroke at NCAP Elite Qualifier
Over the past several months, Kate Douglass has established her place at the helm of the 200 breaststroke in the United States and also reinforced that position. In January, Douglass broke a 12-year-old American record in the 200 breast with a time of 2:19.30, and shortly thereafter, she took silver in the event at the Doha World Championships just minutes after racing in the 100 freestyle final. She broke 2:20 again in April, and now, she has clocked 2:19.95 at the NCAP Elite Qualifier in Stafford, Va.
Douglass was already the only American woman to break 2:20 on multiple occasions as before this year, only Rebecca Soni and Lilly King had reached the barrier and just once apiece, while racing in Olympic finals. Now, Douglass is the overwhelming favorite to win this event at the upcoming Olympic Trials, and with a strong swim, she could join Russia’s Evgeniia Chikunova and South Africa’s Tatjana Smith (née Schoenmaker) as the only swimmers to ever crack 2:19.
With Russian swimmers including Chikunova all but certain to miss Paris, Smith looks like the biggest challenge to Douglass for Olympic gold as the reigning world and Olympic champion and top swimmer in the world at 2:19.01. The Netherlands’ Tes Schouten, who edged out Douglass for the world title this year, has a top mark of 2:19.81.
Meanwhile, two new challengers have emerged to join Douglass on the Olympic team in the event, and both train with Douglass at the University of Virginia. Alex Walsh, best known for her status as world champion in the 200 IM, is adding the 200 breast to her program this year, and she swam a best time by more than two seconds Saturday while finishing second behind Douglass in 2:22.87. Ella Nelson, another Cavalier, also swam a best time as she touched in 2:24.07.
Walsh now ranks No. 5 in the world for 2024 behind Smith, Douglass, Schouten and Chikunova while Nelson slots in at No. 15 globally. Aside from Douglass, no other Americans have been quicker, with King owning a season-best mark of 2:24.34.
In other events at the NCAP meet, Alex’s younger sister Gretchen Walsh clocked 24.46 to win the 50 free. She currently ranks eighth in the world at 24.49. Gretchen was followed by UVA teammates Maxine Parker (25.07) and Aimee Canny (25.30). Claire Curzan, the winner of all three backstroke events at this year’s Worlds, clocked 59.42 to win the 100 back. Tess Howley won the 200 butterfly in 2:10.27 while Cavan Gormsen dominated the 400 free (4:15.57).
Future Virginia swimmer Thomas Heilman clocked 1:56.41 to win the men’s 200 fly while the Cavaliers’ August Lamb led the way in the men’s 50 free with a mark of 22.31 and Jack Aikins won the 100 back in 54.09 after going 53.94 in prelims. Noah Nichols clocked 2:15.00 to win the 200 breast.