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2023 Women’s Division I NCAAs: Night 3 Finals Preview

2023 NCAA WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Kicking off finals tonight will be the 400 IM, where Virginia teammates Alex Walsh and Ella Nelson will be next to each other after swimming the fastest two times in this morning’s prelims session. Alex Walsh swam a 4:01.86, 0.01 ahead of Nelson’s 4:01.87. Nelson was the top seed coming into the meet with the only sub-4:00 swim this season.

The 100 fly looks to be a battle tonight. Torri Huske of Stanford led the way this morning with a 49.77. Emma Sticklen of Texas swam a 50.00 and will be next to Huske tonight. NCAA, American, and US Open record holder Kate Douglass was third this morning with a 50.11. LSU’s Maggie MacNeil is the meet record holder and will also be in the A final tonight as she swam a 50.51 for sixth this morning.

Last year’s champion in the 200 free Taylor Ruck of Stanford had the top time this morning with a 1:42.70. Ruck was slightly faster in last year’s prelims with a 1:41.89, but swam faster in finals winning in a 1:41.12. Next to Ruck tonight will be Virginia freshman Aimee Canny as she swam a 1:42.94 this morning. Ruck is the only swimmer in tonight’s A final that also swam in the A final a year ago.

Also the defending champion in her respective event, Kaitlyn Dobler of USC swam a 57.35 this morning in the 100 breast to post the top time of the morning. She will be next to Anna Elendt of Texas tonight as Elendt swam a 57.49.

Gretchen Walsh of Virginia led the way in the 100 back this morning posting a 49.12. Gretchen Walsh is the top seed tonight by over a second as Katharine Berkoff (NC State) swam a 50.14 this morning. Berkoff is the NCAA and American Record holder as well as NCAA Champion as she swam a 48.74 at this meet a year ago.

Virginia does not have any divers in finals tonight, Texas has one in the B, and Louisville has one in the A final of the three meter.

The night will conclude with the 400 medley relay. Virginia holds the top seed by about three and a half seconds after swimming an NCAA record at ACCs with a 3:21.80. The Hoos are also home to the American record after swiming a 3:22.34. Texas is the second seed at a 3:25.29 and Stanford is third with a seed time of 3:25.79.

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Bay City Tex
1 year ago

No drama for champion Virginia. Who finishes second, Texas or Stanford?

CanSwimFan
1 year ago

NCAA record is going down tonight in the 100 FL. Will it be Maggie or Kate (or maybe even Torri Huske)?

Troyy
1 year ago

Not about NCAA Champs but big news: Penny Oleksiak is missing Canadian trials

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/aquatics/swimming/olympics-swimming-oleksiak-out-trials-1.6782803

Canada’s relays are in trouble.

Calvin
Reply to  Troyy
1 year ago

Not really. They have Ruck, Smith, Savard, Macneil and Mcintosh for the freestyle relays and for the medley they add Masse and Pickrem/Wog.

Last edited 1 year ago by Calvin
CanSwimFan
Reply to  Calvin
1 year ago

Canada has some solid options, but let’s not kid ourselves. An in form Penny is a lot faster in 100 FR than almost all of the swimmers you mention. Her absence will hit the relays hard.

HOO love
1 year ago

trying to get Gretchen with the swimswam photo curse

Last edited 1 year ago by HOO love
xxx
Reply to  HOO love
1 year ago

she doesn’t need the curse to do poorly

HOO love
Reply to  xxx
1 year ago

hot take.

I think being .02 off your American record best time and the second fastest swim in 50-yard freestyle history is actually AMAZING not “poor”

Andrew
Reply to  xxx
1 year ago

XXX – hold this L + ratio

Summer Swim Fan
Reply to  xxx
1 year ago

curious to see if you’re willing to put your name to that comment. Didn’t think so.

xxx
Reply to  Summer Swim Fan
1 year ago

you haven’t put your name either?

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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