US Olympic Trials: Alex Walsh, Kate Douglass Throw Down Sub-2:10 200 IMs in Semi Finals
The Virginia Cavaliers, fresh off an NCAA title in March earlier this year, have quietly had an incredible meet at the 2021 US Olympic Trials through three days with one swimmer already on the team in Paige Madden in the 400 freestyle, and an incoming freshman on the team in Emma Weyant in the 400 IM. On Tuesday night, fellow Hoos Alex Walsh (2:08.87) and Kate Douglass (2:09.99) swam the top two times in the semi finals of the 200 IM to grab the middle two lanes in tomorrow’s final.
“Honestly, the 200 IM is different than most 200s in that you kind of just have to go for it on the first lap,” Alex Walsh said. “That’s exactly what I did. I’m so happy I had Kate next to me. We train together every day. I knew I wanted to be kind of with her on the butterfly and we were just going to race those last 150 meters. I really just put my head down and went for it on the freestyle, so I’m really happy with it.”
In tomorrow’s final, only one Olympian remains from 2016 in Melanie Margalis (2:11.25) who scratched out of the 200 free today to fully focus on getting on the team in this event. Margalis has swum on three World Championships teams but has never reached the podium individually, and at age 29 this may be her last shot to get on the team for Tokyo after finishing third in the 400 IM on Sunday.
Madisyn Cox, who missed the final of the 400 IM after looking to be a lock for both IMs at this meet, will be the fourth seed for the final at 2:10.22 after she came in to this meet with the top time in the world for 2021 and looked to be the prohibitive favorite to make her first Olympics. She served a doping suspension in late 2018 that kept her out of contention for the 2019 Worlds and Pan American Games, which was eventually overturned. Cox has been adamant that she has already sold herself on
Tennessee grad Meghan Small swam a 2:10.22 to grab the third seed for tomorrow as she came into today with a best time of 2:11.26 and is now in position to make the team for Tokyo.
Torri Huske, who is already on the team for the 100 butterfly, finished in sixth seed at 2:11.42 ahead of Emma Barksdale (2:11.52) and Beata Nelson (2:11.55).
Results:
- Alex Walsh, 2:08.87
- Kate Douglass, 2:09.99
- Meghan Small, 2:10.09
- Madisyn Cox, 2:10.22
- Melanie Margalis, 2:11.25
- Torri Huske, 2:11.42
- Emma Barksdale, 2:11.52
- Beata Nelson, 2:11.55
- Evie Pfeifer, 2:12.59
- Leah Hayes, 2:12.89
- Kathleen Baker, 2:12.95
- Charlotte Hook, 2:13.04
- Julia Poole, 2:13.15
- Alexis Yager, 2:15.16
- Caroline Theil, 2:15.41
- Abby Hay, 2:15.70
*prohibitive favorite