NCAA Championships, Day 4: Gretchen Walsh Hammers 44.71 100 Free For Record in Last Individual College Swim
Falling short of a best time in her first individual final frustrated Gretchen Walsh, even if she was just 12-hundredths shy of her own American and NCAA records in the 50 freestyle. Later in the session, Walsh took out her frustrations by tying the record while leading off Virginia’s 200 free relay. It turns out the Virginia senior was only getting started.
Friday brought a pair of new records in the 100 butterfly, culminating with Walsh becoming the first swimmer to ever break 47 in the event. Now, she has taken down her own top marks in the 100 free, swimming a time of 44.71 to clip 12-hundredths off the 44.83 she clocked at last year’s NCAA Championships.
Stanford’s Torri Huske took second in 46.01, making her the fifth-fastest performer in history as she claimed her third top-two finish of the meet. These 17 points for Huske put the Cardinal back into second place after Texas had taken over the spot following Jillian Cox took the win in the 1650 free. But Stanford is only 11 points ahead of the Longhorns, 326 to 315, and the contest will surely come down to the final event of the night.
Tennessee’s Camille Spink grabbed third in 46.68 while Virginia’s Anna Moesch touched out USC’s Minna Abraham for fifth, 46.94 to 46.95.
The swim gave Walsh the top-six performances ever in the 100 freestyle, and she is 85-hundredths clear of the No. 2 performer in history. She has achieved all of the top swims in the last 13 months between the ACC and NCAA Championships in 2024 and 2025.
“It’s been a very successful four years with UVA,” Walsh said as she reflected on her accomplishments. “Even from my first year, I knew there was something special in store at Virginia for me, and everything just kind of clicked when I got there. Clearly the stars have aligned. I’ve accomplished my wildest dreams here.
“I’ve been able to come back from last year, which in my opinion was pretty hard to beat, going three titles and three records, and basically do the same thing this year and even some more fun things like the 100 breast and the 200 free and the 100 back at ACCs. I’ve really explored my own gift that I have in swimming and it’s been cool to share it with such an amazing group of people that have really become my rock and family in so many ways.”
In addition, Walsh became the third swimmer to win four consecutive national titles in the 100 free, joining Stanford’s Jenny Thompson (1992-1995) and Georgia’s Kara Lynn Joyce (2004-2007). Stanford’s Simone Manuel, whose American and NCAA records Walsh initially broke last season, went undefeated in this event at the NCAA Championships but only competed three years of college swimming.
Event 17 Women 100 Yard Freestyle
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NCAA: N 44.83 3/23/2024 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
Meet: M 44.83 3/23/2024 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
American: A 44.83 3/23/2024 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
US Open: O 44.83 3/23/2024 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
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=== Championship Final ===
1 Walsh, Gretchen SR Virginia 45.19 44.71N 20
r:+0.73 10.13 21.23 (11.10)
32.99 (11.76) 44.71 (11.72)
2 Huske, Torri JR Stanford 46.54 46.01 17
r:+0.59 10.23 21.72 (11.49)
33.79 (12.07) 46.01 (12.22)
3 Spink, Camille SO Tennessee 46.84 46.68 16
r:+0.70 10.49 22.21 (11.72)
34.41 (12.20) 46.68 (12.27)
4 Moesch, Anna FR Virginia 46.96 46.94 15
r:+0.73 10.77 22.61 (11.84)
35.00 (12.39) 46.94 (11.94)
5 Abraham, Minna SO USC 47.37 46.95 14
r:+0.70 10.73 22.61 (11.88)
34.88 (12.27) 46.95 (12.07)
6 Balduccini, Stephanie SO Michigan 47.09 47.08 13
r:+0.68 10.87 22.70 (11.83)
34.87 (12.17) 47.08 (12.21)
7 Flynn, Lindsay SR Michigan 47.29 47.21 12
r:+0.67 10.69 22.68 (11.99)
35.01 (12.33) 47.21 (12.20)
8 Dennis, Julia JR Louisville 47.11 47.41 11
r:+0.68 10.53 22.72 (12.19)
35.20 (12.48) 47.41 (12.21)
