2024 Women’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships
- March 20-23, 2024
- Gabrielsen Natatorium, Athens, Georgia
- Short Course Yards (25 yards)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Live Results
- Live Stream
- SwimSwam Pick ’em Contest
- Day 1 Finals Live Recap
- Day 2 Finals Live Recap
- Day 3 Finals Live Recap
The excitement is building to a crescendo as we enter our last session of the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. Virginia leads Texas by 41.5 points and, with a phenomenal prelims session that saw the Cavaliers score 7 A-final and 4 B-final slots, we are looking at the possibility –nay, probability– of a four-peat.
Georgia’s Abby McCulloh (15:40.96) brings the top time in the 1650 free. Stanford’s Aurora Roghair (15:46.35) and Indiana’s Ching Hwee Gan (15:48.70) are also seeded with sub-15:50. Indiana’s Mariah Denigan went 15:55.41 to establish the time to beat from the earlier heats.
Phoebe Bacon of Wisconsin (1:58.81) and Bella Sims from Florida (1:49.44) will square off in the 200 back. Tennessee’s Josephine Fuller (1:49.57) and Kennedy Noble of NC State (1:49.78) also broke 1:50 this morning.
We’re on record watch in the 100 free, as UVA’s Gretchen Walsh has torched every mark in every event she’s swum so far. She went 46.65 to lead qualifiers this morning. Katharine Berkoff qualified 2nd with 46.65, while Walsh’s teammate Jasmine Nocentini had 46.90 this morning.
Tennessee’s Mona McSharry (2:05.53 this morning), Virginia’s Alex Walsh (2:05.59) and Ella Nelson (2:05.75) will occupy the middle lanes of the 200 breast, quite possibly the race of the night.
Texas seniors Olivia Bray (1:51.51) and Emma Sticklen (1:51.54), Cal’s Rachel Klinker (1:51.80), and UVA’s Tess Howley (1:51.95) will take us out with a highly competitive 200 fly.
Women’s 1650 Yard Freestyle – Fastest Heat
- NCAA Record: 15:03.31 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
- Meet Record: 15:07.70 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
- American Record: 15:01.41 – Katie Ledecky, Gator Swim Club (2023)
- US Open Record: 15:01.41 – Katie Ledecky, Gator Swim Club (2023)
- Pool Record: 15:39.56 – Leah Smith, Virginia (2015)
- 2023 Champion: 15:43.84 – Kensey McMahon, Alabama
Top 8:
- Abby McCulloh, Georgia – 15:37.74
- Aurora Roghair, Stanford – 15:41.11
- Ching Hwee Gan, Indiana – 15:46.90
- Anna Kalandadze, Penn – 15:47.86
- Emma Weyant, Florida – 15:49.51
- Erica Sullivan, Texas – 15:54.82
- Mariah Denigan, Indiana – 15:55.41
- Gena Jorgenson, Nebraska – 15:55.71
Georgia’s Abby McCulloh established the early lead from lane 4. She was 54.15 at the 100, followed by Erica Sullivan (54.26). McCulloh and Sullivan were still 1-2 at the 200 but Indiana’s Ching Hwee Gan moved into 2nd place by the 250. She swam just a tick behind McCulloh through the 600 when the latter took off. McCulloh went a body length up at the 700. At the 850, Emma Weyant moved into 2nd place from lane 1.
At the 1000, it was McCulloh (9:30.13), Weyant (9:32.20), and Gan (9:32.94).
While McCulloh extended her lead, Gan moved back ahead of Weyant at the 1100, 10:29.84 to 10:29.90.
By the 1250, McCulloh led by 2.5 seconds. Stanford’s Aurora Roghair moved from 4th to 2nd at the 1300. Roghair began splitting 28.3s to McCulloh’s 28-mids, and cut the lead down to 2.8 seconds at the 1450.
With 100 yards to go, McCulloh split 28.0, putting Roghair on notice. She put her legs into the final 50 yards and touched with 15:37.74. Roghair was 2nd with 15:41.11. Gan went 15:46.90 for 3rd.
Penn’s Anna Kalandadze passed Weyant for 4th place (15:47.86).
Both Mariah Denigan of Indiana and Gena Jorgenson of Nebraska, the two fastest performances from the afternoon heats, made the podium.
Women’s 200 Yard Backstroke – Finals
- NCAA Record: 1:47.24 – Beata Nelson, Wisconsin (2019)
- Meet Record: 1:47.24 – Beata Nelson, Wisconsin (2019)
- American Record: 1:47.16 – Regan Smith, Riptide (2019)
- US Open Record: 1:47.16 – Regan Smith, Riptide (2019)
- Pool Record: 1:48.55 – Rhyan White, Alabama (2021)
- 2023 Champion: 1:47.64 – Claire Curzan, Stanford
Top 8:
- Phoebe Bacon, Wisconsin – 1:48.23
- Kennedy Noble, NC State – 1:48?43
- Bella Sims, Florida – 1:48.47
- Isabelle Stadden, Cal – 1:49.19
- Josephine Fuller, Tennessee – 1:50.49
- Miranda Grana, Texas A&M – 1:51.96
- Caroline Bentz, Virginia Tech – 1:52.39
- Catie Choate, Florida – 1:53.54
Florida’s Bella Sims got out to her signature fast start, flipping first at the 25 and 50 walls. She led Tennessee’s Josephine Fuller, 25.04 to 25.21, at the 50.
Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon moved to second place at the 100, with Sims leading, 51.85 to 51.91.
Bacon continued to outsplit Sims on the 3rd 50, going 27.6 to turn in 1:19.59 at the 150. Sims was .6 back, holding Cal’s Isabelle Stadden and NC State’s Kennedy Noble at bay.
Noble had the fastest 4th 50 of the field, going 27.7 to touch out Sims by .04.
Fuller finished in 5th place with 1:50.49.
Texas A&M’s Miranda Grana (1:51.96), Virginia Tech’s Caroline Bentz (1:52.39), and Catie Choate of Florida (1:53.54) rounded out the final.
Northwestern’s Ayla Spitz won the B final with 1:51.72, edging Virginia’s Reilly Tiltmann by .08.
Women’s 100 Yard Freestyle – Finals
- NCAA Record: 45.16 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- Meet Record: 45.56 – Simone Manuel, Stanford (2017)
- American Record: 45.16 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- US Open Record: 45.16 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- Pool Record: 45.78 – Gretchen Walsh (2024)
- 2023 Champion: 45.61 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
Top 8:
- Gretchen Walsh, Virginia – 44.83 *ALL RECORDS*
- Katharine Berkoff, NC State – 46.23
- Isabel Ivey, Florida – 46.67
- Jasmine Nocentini, Virginia – 47.00
- Amy Fulmer, Ohio State – 47.18
- Christiana Regenauer, Louisville – 47.20
- Anna Peplowski, Indiana – 47.31
- Gabi Albiero, Louisville – 47.37
One Start. Three turns. And a finish. With about 40 underwaters in the middle.
In roughly the time it takes to say that, Gretchen Walsh had won the 100 free with 44.83, the fastest-ever performance by a woman. She broke every record known to swimdom, including the NCAA, meet, American, and U.S. Open marks.
Walsh was 10.12 at the 25 wall, .3 ahead of teammate Jasmine Nocentini (10.43) and NC State’s Katharine Berkoff (10.50).
Walsh went 11.28 on the second 25, the fastest by over .3. She turned at 21.40, with Berkoff in second place (22.11). Florida’s Isabel Ivey turned in third (22.31), just ahead of Nocentini (22.35).
Walsh came home in 11.76-11.67 to win by 1.4 seconds with the first sub-45 ever swum by a woman.
Berkoff came home in 11-96-12.16 to finish with 46.23, her best time by .42, and a new NC State program record.
Ivey clocked 46.67 for third place, while Nocentini was just off her prelims PB with 47.00 for fourth.
Amy Fulmer of Ohio State went 47.18 to eke out 5th place ahead of Louisville’s Christiana Regenauer (47.20).
Anna Peplowski of Indiana (47.31) and Gabi Albiero (47.37) finished 7th and 8th.
Michigan freshman Stephanie Balduccini touched out Tennessee freshman Camille Spint, 47.04 to 47.05, to win the B final.
Women’s 200 Yard Breaststroke – Finals
- NCAA Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
- Meet Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
- American Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
- US Open Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
- Pool Record: 2:04.80 – Anna Belousova, Texas A&M (2019)
- 2023 Champion: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia
Top 8:
- Alex Walsh, Virginia – 2:02.07
- Mona McSharry, Tennessee – 2:04.07
- Ella Nelson, Virginia – 2:04.80
- Kaelyn Gridley, Duke – 2:04.94
- Anna Elendt, Texas – 2:05.16
- Kaitlyn Dobler, USC – 2:05.77
- Emilie Fast, Tennessee – 2:06.79
- Anna Keating, Virginia – 2:07.32
Alex Walsh won her third individual event of the meet in dominant fashion. Splitting 28.04-30.8-31.1-31.9, she clocked a 2:02.07 to beat Tennessee’s Mona McSharry by 2 full seconds.
Anna Elendt of Texas was out with Walsh at the 50 and the 100. Walsh (58.92), Elendt (59.42), McSharry (59.64), and Duke’s Kaelyn Gridley (59.80) were all under 1 minute at the halfway.
McSharry went past Elendt on the 3rd 50 to take second place with 50 yards left.
Virginia’s Ella Nelson made her move on the 4th 50 and passed Elendt and Gridley, touching third with 2:04.80. Gridley (2:04.94) touched out Elendt (2:05.16) for fourth.
Kaitlyn Dobler from USC had a strong back half, as well. In her third 200 breast of the day (she had a swim-off at the end of prelims for 8th place), she found the energy to go from 9th at the 100 to 6th at the finish, coming home with a pair of 32.4s.
Tennessee’s Emelie Fast (2:06.79) finished half a body ahead of UVA’s Anna Keating (2:07.32) for 7th.
Texas sophomore Lydia Jacoby won the B final with 2:06.82.
Women’s 200 Yard Butterfly – Finals
- NCAA Record: 1:49.16 – Alex Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- Meet Record: 1:49.95 – Emma Sticklen, Texas (2023)
- American Record: 1:48.33 – Regan Smith, Sun Devils (2023)
- US Open Record: 1:48.33 – Regan Smith, Sun Devils (2023)
Pool Record: 1:52.04 – Olivia Bray, Texas (2024)- 2023 Champion: 1:49.95 – Emma Sticklen, Texas
Top 8:
- Emma Sticklen, Texas – 1:50.99
- Kelly Pash, Texas – 1:51.57
- Rachel Klinker, Cal – 1:51.62
- Tess Howley, Virginia – 1:52.41
- Olivia Bray, Texas – 1:52.45
- Abby Harter, Virginia – 1:52.49
- Lindsay Looney, Arizona State – 1:52.80
- Lillie Nordmann, Stanford – 1:52.83
The 200 fly was as thrilling as we’d hoped, but it surpassed expectations for intrigue by a long shot. Texas senior Olivia Bray took it out in 24.43 to lead teammate Emma Sticklen at the 50 by .29. Stanford’s Lillie Nordmann went out quickly too, the only other swimmer to turn in under 25 seconds at the 50.
Rachel Klinker of Cal had a monster second 50, splitting 27.7 to everyone else’s 28s. She moved into second place behind Bray (52.74 at the 100) with 53.02. Kelly Pash of Texas had the next-fastest second 50, which put her in 4rd place (53.22), .04 behind Sticklen and .13 ahead of Nordmann.
More musical chairs over the next 100 yards, and Sticklen came out of seemingly nowhere to win in 1:50.99. Pash was just ahead of Klinker, 1:51.57 to 1:51.62. Howley moved up to 4th, and Bray faded to 5th.
Women’s Platform Diving – Finals
- Meet Record: 396.75 – Haley Ishimatsu, USC (2013)
- Pool Record: 356.10 – Victoria Lamp, Tennessee (2014)
- 2023 Champion: 352.65 – Delaney Schnell, Arizona
Top 8:
- Viviana Del Angel, Minnesota – 327.90
- Montserrat Lavenant, LSU – 304.70
- Jordan Skilken, Texas – 293.60
- Else Praasterink, Louisville – 290.30
- Daryn Wright, Purdue – 282.70
- Maycey Vieta, Purdue – 280.50
- Janie Boyle, Ohio State – 267.20
- Sophie McAfee, Purdue – 264.45
Minnesota sophomore Viviana Del Angel won the platform diving with 327.90 points, averaging 65.58 per round. She had a very strong performance in round 2 on the 10m platform, when she earned 75.20 points for an inward 3-1/2 somersault tuck with a 3.2 degree of difficulty.
Montserrat Lavenant from LSU, who placed 13th and 6th, respectively, on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards, took second place with 304.70 points.
Texas earned important points from Jordan Skilken, who finished 3rd with 293.60. Else Praasterink of Louisville was 4th (290.30).
Purdue’s 3 divers, Daryn Wright, Maycey Vieta, and Sophie McAfee, finished 5th, 6th, and 8th. Ohio State’s Janie Boyle was 7th.
Women’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay – Timed Finals
- NCAA Record: 3:05.84 – Virginia (K Douglass, A Walsh, M Parker, G Walsh, 2023)
- Meet Record: 3:05.84 – Virginia (K Douglass, A Walsh, M Parker, G Walsh, 2023)
- American Record: 3:05.84 – Virginia (K Douglass, A Walsh, M Parker, G Walsh, 2023)
- US Open Record: 3:05.84 – Virginia (K Douglass, A Walsh, M Parker, G Walsh, 2023)
- Pool Record: 3:10.28 Alabama (Antoniou, Scott, Molnar, Dupre, 2021)
- 2023 Champion: 3:05.84 – Virginia (K Douglass, A Walsh, M Parker, G Walsh, 2023)
Top 8:
Women’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay – Timed Finals
- NCAA Record: 3:05.84 – Virginia (K Douglass, A Walsh, M Parker, G Walsh, 2023)
- Meet Record: 3:05.84 – Virginia (K Douglass, A Walsh, M Parker, G Walsh, 2023)
- American Record: 3:05.84 – Virginia (K Douglass, A Walsh, M Parker, G Walsh, 2023)
- US Open Record: 3:05.84 – Virginia (K Douglass, A Walsh, M Parker, G Walsh, 2023)
- Pool Record: 3:10.28 Alabama (Antoniou, Scott, Molnar, Dupre, 2021)
- 2023 Champion: 3:05.84 – Virginia (K Douglass, A Walsh, M Parker, G Walsh, 2023)
Top 8:
- Virginia – 3:05.89
- Florida – 3:08.60
- Louisville – 3:09.08
- Michigan – 3:09.47
- Tennessee – 3:09.70
- USC – 1:10.55
- Stanford – 3:10.57
- Indiana – 3:10.68
Virginia (Jasmine Nocentini, Alex Walsh, Gretchen Walsh, and Maxine Parker) won the 400 free relay for the third year in a row, this time with 3:05.89.
Nocentini led off in 47.06, but it was Florida’s Bella Sims who beat her to the wall with 47.01. Alex Walsh went 46.54 on the second leg, while Florida’s Isabel Ivey kept the Gators out front with 46.26.
Gretchen Walsh split 45.17 on the third leg, the fastest rolling split in history. That put the Cavaliers out front by 2.95 seconds over Florida.
Maxine Parker anchored in 47.12, holding off Micayla Cronk of Florida (46.88). Virginia, Florida (3:08.60), Louisville (3:09.08), Michigan (3:09.47), and Tennessee (3:09.70) all beat the pool record.
Final Team Scores
1. Virginia 527.5
2. Texas 441
3. Florida 364
4. Tennessee 277
5. Stanford 250
6. Louisville 212
7. Indiana 206
8. Southern California 200
9. Ohio St 162
9. NC State 162
11. California 153
12. Michigan 147.5
13. Georgia 116
14. Texas A&M 104
15. Wisconsin 95
16. Duke 80
17. UNC 77
18. Purdue 57
19. Auburn 54
20. Minnesota 47
21. LSU 44
22. UCLA 36
23. Alabama 25
24. Arizona St 23
25. Utah 22
26. Virginia Tech 18
27. Northwestern 17
28. SIU 16
29. Penn 15
30. Nebraska 11
31. South Carolina 9
32. Notre Dame 6
32. Kansas 6
32. Miami (Ohio) 6
32. Rutgers 6
36. Akron 5
36. Arkansas 5
38. Florida St 4
38. Cincinnati 4
40. Houston 3
40. Washington St. 3
40. Miami (Fl) 3
Disappointed Todd couldn’t hit the backflip like a certain other NCAA Championship winning coach last week did….
Here is a comparison of several recent three-event winners. (Figures are percentage margin of victory, and average is given by geometric mean of the ratios)
G. Walsh 2024: 3.53%, 4.81%, 3.12%; Average: 3.82%
A. Walsh 2024: 2.53%, 1.28%, 1.64%; Average: 1.82%
Douglass 2023: 1.56%, 0.10%, 1.65%; Average: 1.40%
Marchand 2023: 1.83%, 2.80%, 2.10%; Average: 2.24%
Dressel 2018: 5.73%, 3.95%, 2.96%; Average: 4.21%
These numbers are very much not definitive, as they depend just as much on the second places swimmers as on the winners. What made Douglass’ meet last year so legendary was not just that she won but who she beat to do it.
That aside, look at these numbers by the Walshes! Alex stacks… Read more »
Dressel was just built diff, and he did it against men
Of course he did it against men. He’s a man….
Kate Douglass, Maggie MacNeil, Torri Huske equals a women’s 100 butterfly event for the ages. In addition, Maggie MacNeil is the defending Olympic gold medalist in the women’s 100 meter butterfly. Furthermore, Torri Huske is the American Record holder in the women’s 100 meter butterfly. Nevermind talking about three Olympians.
Kate Douglass, Alex Walsh, Torri Huske equals a women’s 200 individual medley for the ages. Once again, nevermind talking about three Olympians.
Top level stats Andy, you’re the best!
Unlike Gretchen Walsh or Alex Walsh, Kate Douglass has won the same individual event in the 25 yard pool (2023), 25 meter pool (2022), 50 meter pool (2023).
Knoxville, TN
Melbourne, AU
Fukuoka, JP
Appreciation post for the Ella Eastin 400IM record
she is truly one of the greats
Agreed. The queen of versatility before Alex Walsh.
Arguably the queen or versatility even after Alex Walsh if the benchmark is the 4im
Why did she never translate to long course? Genuinely curious
https://staging.swimswam.com/ella-eastin-retires-from-swimming-after-dysautonomia-diagnosis/
Alex Walsh college career is likely over right?
What she made it sound like…
Crazy she couldn’t take down Ella Eastin record
Comment is more to the respect of Ella Eastin and how that record lasted.
Yeah if that record survived Alex Walsh I think it’s safe for awhile .
Bella? 4 years younger with a PB just half a second slower (although that was over a year ago)
True! She said in her post-200 free interview that she hates 4IM and will always choose 2free over it, but who knows!
I would not read much into post race interviews.
Nope!
“big sis needs to keep li’l sis in line”.
A lot of Alex’s comments are consistent with her not coming back to college swimming, but my sense from following her and the team is that no one should be surprised if she takes the covid year. Aside from finishing with Gretchen, Alex is great friends with Claire and Leah, so having a year together and competing will be a factor.
I’d think she’d still be training with them regardless, like Kate has.
Hey SwimSwam staff!!!
Since it has been mentioned often in the comments this week, might I suggest y’all could put together a poll that allows all of us to vote on who we think are the top 10 male and female NCAA swimmers of all time?
Even though a lot of us won’t know about the stars from the 1940s-2K (men) or the women from the 80s, 90s, 00s, it would still be fun. Maybe even have a small blurb with stats and facts for all of the candidates? It would definitely be a lot easier to vote for the women since they only started their champs meet in 1982.
Some devils advocate for Rowdy: the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Imagine NBC listens to you all and give us a new crew for Paris, the monkeys paw curls and it’s featuring AVD!
What I think would be best though is for Rowdy to be parried with some dead panned stats need and told not to talk over him all the time, that last part will never happen but, I’m taking Rowdy over AVD anyday
University of Texas Women’s Swimming
W 50 FR – 9 points
W 100 FR – 0 points
W 200 FR – 7 points
W 500 FR – 0 points
W 1650 FR – 13 points
Freestyle Total – 29 points/5 events
W 100 BK – 17 points
W 200 BK – 0 points
Backstroke Total – 17 points/2 events
The University of Texas women’s diving program masks a number of deficiencies in the swimming program.
They also give up scholarship money to divers where they could have signed more swimmers. It’s swimming AND diving, always has been/always will be. You can’t hate on Texas for using scholarship money on divers! Those divers are fantastic and they consistently are placing divers on the Olympic team. The divers 100% deserve a spot on the Texas roster.
Ok? They still scored more total points here than all but one team. Distribution isn’t really that important.
It is if you want to compete against UVA.
Right? UVA scored just 12 points in the backstroke. Looks like UVA also has a “deficiency”.
Solved!
Incoming Claire Curzan. Who is the savior for the University of Texas?
My school has back to back top 5 finishes in the 2020s… didn’t even score 29 points in all 21 events. That’s a deficient program.
Hope you also post about IU’s swim deficiencies being masked by diving next week for the men’s meet
IU men have major holes in all freestyle distances since no Hafnaoui and Mathias graduated. Their stroke groups are elite though.
There is no COMMON SENSE
There is no VISION
There is no HONESTY
There is no SANITY
…anywhere in Rowdy’s commentary. NOTHING is there.
FIRE ROWDY
I mean, he’s not without his flaws and misinformation but he’s a good hype man for the sport, especially for people without swimming knowledge. My husband knows nothing about swimming and only watches the Olympics but he loves Rowdy. Also if he got fired what if we got AVD?
Fair point
Every time I’ve think I’ve seen it all from AVD she continues to impress me by pushing the bar lower and lower
But there is always bubbly Beisel, full of cheerful high spirits.
She’s really cute and did a great job with the poolside interviews
Rowdy especially with international competition is too US-centric so it often ignores the accomplishments of others and skews negative when the US doesn’t win. After watching ACC/PAC on mute, because one heat of AVD was too much, I found him not terrible this week. I would like to see better but we know it could be a lot worse.
Listening to Rowdy commentating during international meets is so much pain.