NCAA Women’s Championships, Day 3 Prelims: Emma Weyant, Bella Sims Rebound to Set Up Title Shots
The Friday morning prelims session at the NCAA Women’s Championships in Federal Way, Wash., opened with a bang as Gretchen Walsh lowered her own American, NCAA and U.S. Open records in the 100 butterfly to set herself up for another title run in the evening session. Walsh’s University of Virginia Cavaliers have already built a solid lead in the team competition, with 225 points to lead Stanford by 47 entering Friday’s competition. Texas, Louisville and Indiana rank third through fifth, respectively.
Later in the session, Walsh’s older sister Alex Walsh secured the top seed in the 100 breaststroke while a third Cavalier, Claire Curzan, led the way in the 100 backstroke. A pair of Florida Gators came back from missing the final of the 500 freestyle to record strong results as Emma Weyant led the way in the 400 IM and Bella Sims grabbed the No. 2 spot in the 100 back. Michigan’s Stephanie Balduccini took first by a comfortable margin in the 200 freestyle while the 3-meter diving and the 400 medley relay are still to come later in the day.
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 7 1. Virginia 225 2. Stanford 178 3. Texas 152 4. Louisville 106.5 5. Indiana 102 6. Tennessee 93 7. Michigan 92 8. California 89.5 9. Florida 71 10. NC State 54 11. Wisconsin 53 12. Miami (Fl) 42.5 13. Georgia 38 14. Southern California 35 15. UNC 34 16. Alabama 33 17. Arizona St 31.5 18. Ohio St 23 19. Lsu 15 19. Arizona 15 21. Pittsburgh 14 22. Kansas 12 23. South Carolina 9 24. Duke 7 25. Texas A&M 6 25. Auburn 6 25. Virginia Tech 6 28. Purdue 5 29. Minnesota 2
400 IM
A disappointing performance in the 500 freestyle Thursday left Emma Weyant in 20th place, outside of scoring territory in an event in which she has twice finished as the national runnerup. But after an evening session completely off, Weyant was back in a familiar strong position in her best event, the 400 IM. The Florida senior who has won Olympic medals in 2021 and 2024 in the 400-meter IM raced in heat five of six in prelims, and on the breaststroke leg, she turned a deficit into a commanding lead. Weyant finished in 4:01.35 for the top qualifying mark.
The next three times all came from heat four, which featured the Stanford duo of Caroline Bricker and Lucy Bell against Sims’ Florida teammate Mabel Zavaros. Bell surged ahead after breaststroke but fell back slightly on freestyle as Bricker and Zavaros clocked identical times of 4:01.68 while Bell was two tenths back in 4:01.86.
Another swimmer coming off a disappointing Thursday evening has a strong heats swim. After a 500 free final in which she finished fourth in a mark six seconds off her best time, University of Virginia freshman Katie Grimes won her heat in 4:02.80 to qualify fifth for the final. Grimes, Weyant and Bricker are the only three swimmers to break 4:00 this season.
Another UVA first-year swimmer, Leah Hayes, qualified for her first NCAA final with a mark of 4:03.17 while Ohio State’s Sienna Angove (4:04.60) and Wisconsin’s Callahan Dunn (4:04.85) rounded out the top-eight. The B-final features two swimmers from both Tennessee and Princeton as well as additional scorers from Florida and Stanford. NC State’s Lisa Nystrand was the last qualifier at 4:07.29, one hundredth ahead of Ohio State’s Mia Rankin (4:07.30).
Event 9 Women 400 Yard IM
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NCAA: N 3:54.60 3/16/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
Meet: M 3:54.60 3/16/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
American: A 3:54.60 3/16/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
US Open: O 3:54.60 3/16/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Weyant, Emma SR Florida 3:59.24 4:01.35
r:+0.76 26.70 56.35 (29.65)
1:26.94 (30.59) 1:56.75 (29.81)
2:30.88 (34.13) 3:05.30 (34.42)
3:33.77 (28.47) 4:01.35 (27.58)
2 Bricker, Caroline SO Stanford 3:59.88 4:01.68
r:+0.66 25.66 54.42 (28.76)
1:25.26 (30.84) 1:55.89 (30.63)
2:29.99 (34.10) 3:05.09 (35.10)
3:34.04 (28.95) 4:01.68 (27.64)
2 Zavaros, Mabel 5Y Florida 4:03.93 4:01.68
r:+0.68 25.47 54.67 (29.20)
1:25.26 (30.59) 1:55.00 (29.74)
2:30.30 (35.30) 3:05.88 (35.58)
3:34.62 (28.74) 4:01.68 (27.06)
4 Bell, Lucy JR Stanford 4:01.70 4:01.86
r:+0.68 25.69 55.00 (29.31)
1:26.38 (31.38) 1:57.23 (30.85)
2:30.74 (33.51) 3:05.15 (34.41)
3:34.18 (29.03) 4:01.86 (27.68)
5 Grimes, Katie FR Virginia 3:59.02 4:02.80
r:+0.65 25.56 54.52 (28.96)
1:25.07 (30.55) 1:54.93 (29.86)
2:30.27 (35.34) 3:06.40 (36.13)
3:35.26 (28.86) 4:02.80 (27.54)
6 Hayes, Leah FR Virginia 4:01.34 4:03.17
r:+0.78 26.56 56.33 (29.77)
1:26.85 (30.52) 1:56.83 (29.98)
2:31.22 (34.39) 3:06.34 (35.12)
3:35.63 (29.29) 4:03.17 (27.54)
7 Angove, Sienna FR OSU 4:03.92 4:04.60
r:+0.65 26.25 57.07 (30.82)
1:28.72 (31.65) 1:59.49 (30.77)
2:35.00 (35.51) 3:10.99 (35.99)
3:38.43 (27.44) 4:04.60 (26.17)
8 Dunn, Callahan 5Y Wisconsin 4:07.50 4:04.85
r:+0.63 26.39 56.65 (30.26)
1:28.07 (31.42) 1:58.95 (30.88)
2:33.20 (34.25) 3:08.10 (34.90)
3:36.98 (28.88) 4:04.85 (27.87)
200 Freestyle
The second through eighth qualifiers in the women’s 200 freestyle were separated by less than eight tenths, but there is a clear leader in the field following prelims after a statement performance from Michigan sophomore Stephanie Balduccini. After finishing 11th in the event last year, Balduccini has already cut 1.84 seconds from her lifetime best this season, and she has impressed thus far at the NCAA Championships.
Entering with a best time of 1:41.16, she was just off that leading off the Wolverines’ 800 free relay at 1:41.29, and she was a tick quicker in prelims Friday morning, going 1:41.21 to lead the field by more than a second. In the final, though, Balduccini will have to deal with a field that includes two swimmers who participated in the U.S. women’s silver-medal-winning 800-meter freestyle relay at the Paris Olympics.
Indiana’s Anna Peplowski took the runnerup spot in the morning at 1:42.48 while Texas’ Erin Gemmell went 1:43.12 for seventh overall. Peplowski placed second in this event last year behind Florida’s Bella Sims, and she entered with the top seed time at 1:40.69. Peplowski already placed third in the 500 free at NCAAs. Gemmell, meanwhile, will race in her first individual NCAA A-final after qualifying for the consolation heat a season ago.
USC’s Minna Abraham, third in the event last season, took third in 1:42.51, followed by Cal’s Lea Polonsky (1:42.60) and Virginia’s Anna Moesch (1:42.97). Polonsky took third in the 200 IM Thursday evening behind Torri Huske and Alex Walsh. Stanford’s Kayla Wilson (1:43.09) and Tennessee’s Brooklyn Douthwright (1:43.24) also qualified for the A-final.
Stanford’s Aurora Roghair, who was second in the 500 free, just missed out with a ninth-place time of 1:43.31 while Virginia’s Aimee Canny, fourth last year in this event, ended up 13th in 1:43.86. Louisville’s Daria Golovaty took 16th in 1:44.18. Notably, defending champion Sims skipped this race to focus on the 100 back, in which she entered as the meet the top seed and qualified second in prelims.
Event 10 Women 200 Yard Freestyle
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NCAA: N 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
Meet: M 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
American: A 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
US Open: O 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Balduccini, Stephanie SO Michigan 1:41.16 1:41.21
r:+0.64 23.57 48.96 (25.39)
1:14.90 (25.94) 1:41.21 (26.31)
2 Peplowski, Anna SR Indiana 1:40.69 1:42.48
r:+0.71 23.78 49.52 (25.74)
1:15.81 (26.29) 1:42.48 (26.67)
3 Abraham, Minna SO USC 1:41.29 1:42.51
r:+0.69 23.73 49.73 (26.00)
1:16.32 (26.59) 1:42.51 (26.19)
4 Polonsky, Lea SR California 1:42.71 1:42.60
r:+0.67 23.96 49.70 (25.74)
1:16.11 (26.41) 1:42.60 (26.49)
5 Moesch, Anna FR Virginia 1:43.12 1:42.97
r:+0.72 24.31 50.43 (26.12)
1:16.62 (26.19) 1:42.97 (26.35)
6 Wilson, Kayla JR Stanford 1:43.33 1:43.09
r:+0.68 24.75 51.13 (26.38)
1:17.03 (25.90) 1:43.09 (26.06)
7 Gemmell, Erin SO Texas 1:42.32 1:43.12
r:+0.76 23.90 50.00 (26.10)
1:16.51 (26.51) 1:43.12 (26.61)
8 Douthwright, Brooklyn SR Tennessee 1:42.62 1:43.24
r:+0.64 24.43 50.46 (26.03)
1:16.72 (26.26) 1:43.24 (26.52)
100 Breaststroke
After a runnerup finish in her best event Thursday evening, Virginia fifth-year swimmer Alex Walsh will try to win an NCAA title in the 100 breaststroke. She will be the slight favorite after qualifying first in 57.54, two hundredths ahead of 100-meter breast Olympic bronze medalist Mona McSharry, a Tennessee fifth-year who came in at 57.56. The Lady Vols will be surrounding Walsh in the final as freshman McKenzie Siroky placed third in 57.83.
Schools that have recently entered the Big-12 Conference made a statement in this event made a statement by taking fourth, fifth and sixth place in this race with Houston’s Henrietta Fangli (58.06), BYU’s Mackenzie Miller (58.14) and Cincinnati’s Joleigh Crye (58.15). The swimmers are racing in the same pool where their conference championship meet was held last month.
The last two qualifiers for the top heat were Texas’ Piper Enge (58.17) and Duke’s Kaelyn Gridley (58.30), locking out Florida’s Anita Bottazzo (58.44) and Virginia’s Emma Weber (58.46). Weber was a U.S. Olympian in the 100-meter breast after finishing second in he event at the U.S. Olympic Trials. USC’s Kaitlyn Dobler, the 2022 winner of this event, ended up 12th in 58.53. Ohio State’s Ava DeAngelis placed 16th in 58.93, denying Texas’ Abby Arens (58.96) the chance to score in two individual events in one day.
Event 11 Women 100 Yard Breaststroke
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NCAA: N 55.73 3/22/2019 Lilly King, Indiana
Meet: M 55.73 3/22/2019 Lilly King, Indiana
American: A 55.73 3/22/2019 Lilly King, Indiana
US Open: O 55.73 3/22/2019 Lilly King, Indiana
Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Walsh, Alex 5Y Virginia 56.85 57.54
r:+0.75 12.36 26.85 (14.49)
41.98 (15.13) 57.54 (15.56)
2 McSharry, Mona 5Y Tennessee 57.26 57.56
r:+0.69 12.52 27.11 (14.59)
42.19 (15.08) 57.56 (15.37)
3 Siroky, McKenzie FR Tennessee 57.27 57.83
r:+0.61 12.14 26.82 (14.68)
42.06 (15.24) 57.83 (15.77)
4 Fangli, Henrietta SR Houston 58.12 58.06
r:+0.66 12.50 27.44 (14.94)
42.55 (15.11) 58.06 (15.51)
5 Miller, Mackenzie JR Brigham Young 58.60 58.14
r:+0.70 12.61 27.45 (14.84)
42.70 (15.25) 58.14 (15.44)
6 Crye, Joleigh JR Cincinnati 58.09 58.15
r:+0.73 12.24 26.89 (14.65)
42.29 (15.40) 58.15 (15.86)
7 Enge, Piper FR Texas 57.69 58.17
r:+0.62 12.39 27.22 (14.83)
42.63 (15.41) 58.17 (15.54)
8 Gridley, Kaelyn JR Duke 58.14 58.30
r:+0.71 12.71 27.53 (14.82)
42.83 (15.30) 58.30 (15.47)
100 Backstroke
Virginia’s Claire Curzan recorded a best time by three hundredths in the 100 backstroke prelims while maintaining her status as the sixth-fastest performer in history. Curzan placed second in the 50 free Thursday evening, and she will go for her second career NCAA title and first with the Cavaliers in this final. Curzan previously won the 200 back in 2023 while racing for Stanford, and she is the fastest swimmer ever in the eight-lap event.
Florida’s Bella Sims, who became the third member of the 48-second club at last month’s SEC Championships, placed second in the morning at 49.36. Sims won NCAA titles in the 200 and 500 free last year, but she faltered in the 500 prelims Thursday and ended up 17th. She put herself in a stronger position in this event by coming in four hundredths behind Curzan.
Southern Illinois got an A-finalist as Celia Pulido clocked 49.84 for third, becoming the 14th swimmer ever and first from a mid-major university to crack the 50-second threshold. Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon, a two-time NCAA champion in the 200 back, swam a lifetime best of 50.07 to place fourth, just ahead of Cal’s Mary-Ambre Moluh (50.09).
NC State’s Leah Shackley and Indiana’s Miranda Grana tied for sixth at 50.23, with Virginia Tech’s Carmen Weiler Sastregrabbing the eighth spot in 50.29. It took a mark of 51.20 to advance to the evening session, with Alabama’s Emily Jones into the field in 16th place.
Event 12 Women 100 Yard Backstroke
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NCAA: N 48.10 2/23/2024 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
Meet: M 48.26 3/17/2023 Gretchen Walsh - Also 3/22/24, Virginia
American: A 48.10 2/23/2024 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
US Open: O 48.10 2/23/2024 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
Name Year School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===
1 Curzan, Claire JR Virginia 49.35 49.32
r:+0.74 11.72 23.91 (12.19)
36.62 (12.71) 49.32 (12.70)
2 Sims, Bella SO Florida 48.97 49.36
r:+0.65 11.78 23.93 (12.15)
36.62 (12.69) 49.36 (12.74)
3 Pulido, Celia SR SIU 51.07 49.84
r:+0.58 11.55 23.96 (12.41)
36.90 (12.94) 49.84 (12.94)
4 Bacon, Phoebe 5Y Wisconsin 50.14 50.07
r:+0.68 11.88 24.35 (12.47)
37.22 (12.87) 50.07 (12.85)
5 Moluh, Mary-Ambre FR California 49.68 50.09
r:+0.65 11.62 23.93 (12.31)
36.90 (12.97) 50.09 (13.19)
6 Shackley, Leah FR NC State 50.22 50.23
r:+0.68 12.03 24.55 (12.52)
37.50 (12.95) 50.23 (12.73)
6 Grana, Miranda SO Indiana 50.69 50.23
r:+0.61 12.10 24.72 (12.62)
37.60 (12.88) 50.23 (12.63)
8 Weiler Sastre, Carmen JR VT 50.82 50.29
r:+0.66 12.02 24.44 (12.42)
37.43 (12.99) 50.29 (12.86)
