The final event of the first night of the 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship is the 800 free relay from Knoxville.
This race has been dominated by Stanford over the years, including last year’s relay that was one of the few relays in NCAA history to have four Olympians on it – Torri Huske, Brooke Forde, Regan Smith and Taylor Ruck. Two years ago, Virginia won the event.
The Cardinal entered the meet with the top seed at 6:53.90, ahead of Virginia (6:55.15) and Texas (6:56.49).
But it was Virginia who used a big move by Alex Walsh to take back the title in the 800 free relay.
NCAA Women’s 800 Free Relay
Virginia used a move in the middle to unseat defending champion Stanford in the 800 free relay.
Stanford led with Torri Huske touched first of the lead off swimmers in 1:42.34, just ahead of Virginia’s Aimee Canny.
Taylor Ruck, the defending NCAA champion in the 200 free, dove in second for The Cardinal, but was overtaken by Virginia’s Alex Walsh.
“We were trying to figure out our lineup and I wasn’t sure I would be on this relay,” Walsh said. “We just wanted to get ahead. I saw Taylor there and she is one of the greatest 200 freestylers ever, so I just wanted to stay with her and also give us a lead. I tried to give it all I had and it hurt, but it was a big win for us.”
Walsh had just swam the breaststroke leg of the winning 200 medley relay as Virginia broke the NCAA and American record.
“I have really worked on having more poise before my races,” she said. “I wasn’t super happy with by breaststroke split, but the last thing I wanted to do is let that affect me on the next relay. We knew it was going to be a close one. But that relay was so much fun because we were the underdogs.”
Walsh gave way to Reilly Tiltmann, while Ruck passed the relay to Lillie Nordmann.
“I just tried to swim it as I usually do, and give it everything I had, which at the end of the day, is all you can do,” Tiltmann said.
Virginia’s Ella Nelson dove in with the lead and hung on as Stanford’s Kayla Wilson could not catch up.
Virginia won the event in 6:49.82 to sweep both relays on the night.
“We have been talking about this was the only relay we won two years ago, and last year, it was the only one we didn’t win. We were all watching the medley and that always gets us so excited,” Nelson said. “We knew we had a lot to give, but we did it for the Hoos.”
Stanford was second in 6:51.77.
Texas was third in 6:55.55.
Canny split a 1:42.34, followed by a 1:41.18 for Walsh, a 1:43.38 for Tiltmann and a 1:42.92 for Nelson.
“It was such a nice environment to start my NCAA career,” Canny said.
For Stanford, Huske split a 1:42.28, followed by Ruck (1:42.23), Nordmann (1:44.04) and Wilson (1:42.22).
Georgia won the second of the three heats in 6:59.12, behind a strong anchor leg from Zoie Hartman, who led the Bulldogs from fourth to first in the heat during her final 200.
Event 2 Women 800 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
NCAA: N 6:45.91 3/15/2017 Stanford
S Manuel, L Neal, E Eastin, K Ledecky
Meet: M 6:45.91 3/15/2017 Stanford
S Manuel, L Neal, E Eastin, K Ledecky
American: A 6:45.91 3/15/2017 Stanford
S Manuel, L Neal, E Eastin, K Ledecky
US Open: O 6:45.91 3/15/2017 Stanford
S Manuel, L Neal, E Eastin, K Ledecky
Pool: P 6:56.81 2/15/2022 Tennessee
J Mrozinski, E Walshe, G Rothrock, T Pintar
School Seed Finals Points
==================================================================================
1 Virginia 6:55.15 6:49.82P 40
1) Canny, Aimee FR 2) r:0.38 Walsh, Alex JR
3) r:0.34 Tiltmann, Reilly SO 4) r:0.26 Nelson, Ella SR
r:+0.74 24.06 50.11 (50.11)
1:16.39 (1:16.39) 1:42.34 (1:42.34)
2:05.50 (23.16) 2:31.12 (48.78)
2:57.22 (1:14.88) 3:23.52 (1:41.18)
3:47.68 (24.16) 4:13.84 (50.32)
4:40.30 (1:16.78) 5:06.90 (1:43.38)
5:30.56 (23.66) 5:56.45 (49.55)
6:22.82 (1:15.92) 6:49.82 (1:42.92)
2 Stanford 6:53.90 6:50.77P 34
1) Huske, Torri SO 2) r:0.12 Ruck, Taylor SR
3) r:0.20 Nordmann, Lillie SO 4) r:0.26 Wilson, Kayla FR
r:+0.52 23.82 49.80 (49.80)
1:15.75 (1:15.75) 1:42.28 (1:42.28)
2:05.24 (22.96) 2:30.86 (48.58)
2:57.14 (1:14.86) 3:24.51 (1:42.23)
3:48.20 (23.69) 4:14.34 (49.83)
4:40.94 (1:16.43) 5:08.55 (1:44.04)
5:32.20 (23.65) 5:57.82 (49.27)
6:24.18 (1:15.63) 6:50.77 (1:42.22)
3 Texas 6:56.49 6:55.55P 32
1) Pash, Kelly SR 2) r:0.10 Bray, Olivia JR
3) r:0.31 Leibel, Kyla SR 4) r:0.30 Sullivan, Erica SO
r:+0.67 23.62 49.83 (49.83)
1:16.29 (1:16.29) 1:43.08 (1:43.08)
2:06.49 (23.41) 2:32.79 (49.71)
2:59.53 (1:16.45) 3:26.34 (1:43.26)
3:49.71 (23.37) 4:15.73 (49.39)
4:42.99 (1:16.65) 5:10.97 (1:44.63)
5:35.48 (24.51) 6:01.81 (50.84)
6:28.86 (1:17.89) 6:55.55 (1:44.58)
4 California 6:58.62 6:57.08 30
1) Motekaitis, Mia SR 2) r:0.11 Spitz, Ayla SR
3) r:0.15 Klinker, Rachel SR 4) r:0.17 Polonsky, Leah SO
r:+0.60 24.32 50.69 (50.69)
1:17.27 (1:17.27) 1:44.10 (1:44.10)
2:07.87 (23.77) 2:34.42 (50.32)
3:01.19 (1:17.09) 3:27.94 (1:43.84)
3:52.03 (24.09) 4:18.55 (50.61)
4:45.53 (1:17.59) 5:12.76 (1:44.82)
5:36.27 (23.51) 6:02.87 (50.11)
6:29.78 (1:17.02) 6:57.08 (1:44.32)
5 Tennessee 6:58.26 6:57.49 28
1) Douthwright, Brooklyn SO 2) r:0.17 Stotler, Sara SO
3) r:0.31 Caldow, Elle JR 4) r:0.14 Mrozinski, Julia SO
r:+0.60 24.13 50.19 (50.19)
1:16.47 (1:16.47) 1:43.44 (1:43.44)
2:07.39 (23.95) 2:33.94 (50.50)
3:01.13 (1:17.69) 3:28.08 (1:44.64)
3:51.89 (23.81) 4:18.30 (50.22)
4:45.92 (1:17.84) 5:13.80 (1:45.72)
5:37.60 (23.80) 6:04.24 (50.44)
6:31.26 (1:17.46) 6:57.49 (1:43.69)
6 Florida 6:57.11 6:57.72 26
1) Nikonova, Ekaterina SO 2) r:0.16 Bates, Talia SR
3) r:0.33 Mathieu, Tylor SR 4) r:0.14 Cronk, Micayla SO
r:+0.70 23.97 50.17 (50.17)
1:17.04 (1:17.04) 1:43.83 (1:43.83)
2:07.32 (23.49) 2:33.55 (49.72)
3:00.98 (1:17.15) 3:28.21 (1:44.38)
3:52.62 (24.41) 4:19.28 (51.07)
4:46.52 (1:18.31) 5:14.19 (1:45.98)
5:37.57 (23.38) 6:03.80 (49.61)
6:30.81 (1:16.62) 6:57.72 (1:43.53)
7 Indiana 6:58.44 6:59.01 24
1) Peplowski, Anna SO 2) r:0.23 Paegle, Kristina FR
3) r:0.26 Gan, Ching Hwee SO 4) r:0.30 Looze, Mac 5Y
r:+0.73 24.01 49.91 (49.91)
1:16.29 (1:16.29) 1:42.86 (1:42.86)
2:07.02 (24.16) 2:33.53 (50.67)
3:00.89 (1:18.03) 3:28.47 (1:45.61)
3:52.72 (24.25) 4:19.42 (50.95)
4:46.68 (1:18.21) 5:13.78 (1:45.31)
5:38.09 (24.31) 6:04.80 (51.02)
6:31.67 (1:17.89) 6:59.01 (1:45.23)
8 Georgia 6:58.90 6:59.12 22
1) Reinstein, Sloane JR 2) r:0.35 Coetzee, Dune SO
3) r:0.41 Barczyk, Jillian SR 4) r:0.17 Hartman, Zoie SR
r:+0.46 24.38 50.74 (50.74)
1:17.80 (1:17.80) 1:46.19 (1:46.19)
2:10.40 (24.21) 2:36.97 (50.78)
3:04.00 (1:17.81) 3:31.08 (1:44.89)
3:55.12 (24.04) 4:21.45 (50.37)
4:48.60 (1:17.52) 5:16.62 (1:45.54)
5:39.66 (23.04) 6:05.47 (48.85)
6:32.26 (1:15.64) 6:59.12 (1:42.50)
9 Wisconsin 7:01.39 6:59.13 18
1) Carlson, Abby SO 2) r:0.23 Bacon, Phoebe JR
3) r:0.21 McConagha, Macknzie SO 4) r:0.22 Stoneburg, Blair FR
r:+0.65 24.34 50.58 (50.58)
1:17.21 (1:17.21) 1:44.62 (1:44.62)
2:08.33 (23.71) 2:34.75 (50.13)
3:01.60 (1:16.98) 3:28.62 (1:44.00)
3:53.35 (24.73) 4:20.36 (51.74)
4:47.65 (1:19.03) 5:15.18 (1:46.56)
5:39.12 (23.94) 6:05.75 (50.57)
6:32.34 (1:17.16) 6:59.13 (1:43.95)
10 Kentucky 7:03.24 7:00.19 14
1) Gati, Izzy 5Y 2) r:0.22 Wheeler, Kaitlynn SR
3) r:0.22 Frericks, Grace FR 4) r:0.12 McNeese, Beth SR
r:+0.63 24.49 50.85 (50.85)
1:17.56 (1:17.56) 1:44.04 (1:44.04)
2:08.28 (24.24) 2:34.96 (50.92)
3:01.39 (1:17.35) 3:28.74 (1:44.70)
3:52.51 (23.77) 4:19.17 (50.43)
4:46.48 (1:17.74) 5:14.02 (1:45.28)
5:38.31 (24.29) 6:04.81 (50.79)
6:32.13 (1:18.11) 7:00.19 (1:46.17)
11 Louisville 6:57.51 7:00.81 12
1) Ulett, Tristen JR 2) r:0.22 Hetrick, Paige JR
3) r:0.33 Celidonio, Fernanda SO 4) r:0.21 Welch, Ella FR
r:+0.73 24.25 50.49 (50.49)
1:17.62 (1:17.62) 1:45.73 (1:45.73)
2:09.21 (23.48) 2:35.20 (49.47)
3:02.10 (1:16.37) 3:29.27 (1:43.54)
3:53.16 (23.89) 4:19.45 (50.18)
4:46.85 (1:17.58) 5:15.27 (1:46.00)
5:38.67 (23.40) 6:05.55 (50.28)
6:33.36 (1:18.09) 7:00.81 (1:45.54)
12 NC State 6:59.22 7:00.85 10
1) Webb, Abbey JR 2) r:0.37 Crush, Annabel SO
3) r:0.38 Watson, Sarah SR 4) r:0.19 Helms, Katherine FR
r:+0.73 24.60 50.74 (50.74)
1:17.25 (1:17.25) 1:43.88 (1:43.88)
2:08.08 (24.20) 2:34.86 (50.98)
3:01.94 (1:18.06) 3:28.72 (1:44.84)
3:52.92 (24.20) 4:19.46 (50.74)
4:46.76 (1:18.04) 5:14.52 (1:45.80)
5:38.24 (23.72) 6:04.95 (50.43)
6:32.97 (1:18.45) 7:00.85 (1:46.33)
13 Ohio St 6:59.82 7:01.26 8
1) Fulmer, Amy SR 2) r:0.20 Pasadyn, Felicia 5Y
3) r:0.24 Zenick, Katherine JR 4) r:0.20 Eden, Jessica FR
r:+0.76 24.24 50.30 (50.30)
1:16.68 (1:16.68) 1:43.69 (1:43.69)
2:07.82 (24.13) 2:34.38 (50.69)
3:01.62 (1:17.93) 3:29.02 (1:45.33)
3:52.29 (23.27) 4:18.50 (49.48)
4:45.52 (1:16.50) 5:12.95 (1:43.93)
5:36.99 (24.04) 6:03.96 (51.01)
6:31.94 (1:18.99) 7:01.26 (1:48.31)
14 VT 7:00.97 7:01.65 6
1) Atkinson, Emma JR 2) r:0.25 Weiler Sastre, rmen FR
3) r:0.33 Shackelford, Sarah SR 4) r:0.20 Claesson, Emily FR
r:+0.73 24.68 50.45 (50.45)
1:17.06 (1:17.06) 1:44.12 (1:44.12)
2:08.88 (24.76) 2:35.74 (51.62)
3:02.93 (1:18.81) 3:29.98 (1:45.86)
3:53.97 (23.99) 4:20.15 (50.17)
4:47.45 (1:17.47) 5:15.69 (1:45.71)
5:39.41 (23.72) 6:06.16 (50.47)
6:33.89 (1:18.20) 7:01.65 (1:45.96)
15 UCLA 7:04.87 7:04.66 4
1) Rhee, Rachel SR 2) r:0.30 Guvenc, Gizem SO
3) r:0.26 Bellio, Katrina FR 4) r:0.24 Schaffer, Brooke SR
r:+0.74 25.01 51.65 (51.65)
1:19.08 (1:19.08) 1:46.37 (1:46.37)
2:09.83 (23.46) 2:36.48 (50.11)
3:04.07 (1:17.70) 3:32.16 (1:45.79)
3:56.61 (24.45) 4:23.14 (50.98)
4:50.48 (1:18.32) 5:17.93 (1:45.77)
5:42.55 (24.62) 6:09.52 (51.59)
6:37.08 (1:19.15) 7:04.66 (1:46.73)
16 Auburn 7:05.40 7:04.82 2
1) Nevmovenko, Polina SO 2) r:0.19 Ownbey, Hannah JR
3) r:0.33 Hetzer, Emily 5Y 4) r:0.18 Platts, Daisy 5Y
r:+0.68 24.48 50.82 (50.82)
1:17.60 (1:17.60) 1:44.89 (1:44.89)
2:08.95 (24.06) 2:35.76 (50.87)
3:03.24 (1:18.35) 3:31.06 (1:46.17)
3:55.48 (24.42) 4:21.91 (50.85)
4:48.96 (1:17.90) 5:16.50 (1:45.44)
5:40.11 (23.61) 6:07.17 (50.67)
6:36.06 (1:19.56) 7:04.82 (1:48.32)
17 TAMU 7:05.59 7:05.63
1) Stepanek, Chloe JR 2) r:0.45 Buechler, Jordan JR
3) r:0.27 Grottle, Abby JR 4) r:0.13 Goerigk, Giulia FR
r:+0.66 24.10 50.31 (50.31)
1:16.99 (1:16.99) 1:43.69 (1:43.69)
2:08.35 (24.66) 2:36.07 (52.38)
3:03.67 (1:19.98) 3:30.37 (1:46.68)
3:55.73 (25.36) 4:22.80 (52.43)
4:50.59 (1:20.22) 5:18.54 (1:48.17)
5:43.32 (24.78) 6:10.55 (52.01)
6:38.22 (1:19.68) 7:05.63 (1:47.09)
18 Duke 7:05.18 7:06.56
1) Foley, Sally JR 2) r:0.22 Chang, Yi Xuan SO
3) r:0.11 Purnell, Catherine JR 4) r:0.22 Wall, Tatum FR
r:+0.50 24.29 50.69 (50.69)
1:17.43 (1:17.43) 1:43.92 (1:43.92)
2:08.67 (24.75) 2:36.03 (52.11)
3:03.83 (1:19.91) 3:31.69 (1:47.77)
3:56.31 (24.62) 4:23.31 (51.62)
4:50.96 (1:19.27) 5:18.89 (1:47.20)
5:43.07 (24.18) 6:10.51 (51.62)
6:38.51 (1:19.62) 7:06.56 (1:47.67)
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 2
1. Virginia 80 2. Texas 64
3. California 56 4. Stanford 52
5. NC State 44 6. Tennessee 40
6. Louisville 40 8. Ohio St 38
9. Indiana 34 10. Georgia 30
11. Florida 26 12. Alabama 24
13. UNC 22 14. Wisconsin 18
15. Kentucky 14 15. Southern California 14
17. Virginia Tech 6 17. Michigan 6
19. Arkansas 4 19. UCLA 4
21. Auburn 2 21. Duke 2
