Virginia vs NC State vs UNC
- January 19-20, 2024
- SCY
- Meet Mobile “UVA vs NCST vs UNC”
Virginia junior Gretchen Walsh continued her dominance on Friday night. Walsh led off Virginia’s 400 medley relay in a 48.77, setting a new pool record. Closing the meet, Walsh split a 20.19 on the second leg of the 200 freestyle relay. That was the fastest 50 free split of all-time.
All-Time Relay Performers, 50 SCY Freestyle
- Gretchen Walsh (2024) – 20.19
- Anna Hopkin (2020) – 20.27
- Kate Douglass (2023) — 20.34
- Maggie MacNeil (2023) – 20.37
- Simone Manuel (2018)/Abbey Weitzeil – 20.45
Walsh previously held the 6th fastest split ever which she swam last year with a 20.48. Not only was Walsh’s split tonight a huge swim in history but it also was unsuited.
The previous fastest split of all time stood at a 20.27 from Anna Hopkin in 2020. Notably, there was a touchpad error during Hopkins swim, but nonetheless, Walsh now holds the fastest split in history.
In addition to her 50 freestyle split, Walsh also had a huge swim leading off swimming backstroke on the team’s 400 medley relay. Walsh swam a 48.77, just over half of a second off of her NCAA record time that stands at a 48.26 which she swam to capture the NCAA title last year. Once again, Walsh was unsuited in the race.
Walsh’s 100 backstroke was her first time under the 49 second mark at a dual meet. It also was her second time under the 49 second mark ever, as she was only faster in finals last year with her record setting time of a 48.26. Even unsuited, Walsh’s swim was the third-fastest performance ever. In addition to her record-setting swim, only Katharine Berkoff has been faster as Berkoff swam a 48.74 to win the 2022 NCAA title.
Does this chick ever not swim lights out?
(Jokes) Hot Take: Gretchen Walsh swims a 8.92 second 50 free split with a reaction time of 8.90 seconds.
She needs to be nerfed
And I thought the ASU men performance today was big
Gretchen rly trying to be the first woman to ever split under 20 with and without a tech suit. When was the last time someone broke a U.S. open record in a regular competition suit? The 90s?
Last year I got all dialed in to Gretchen being the best college swimmer of all time…she doesn’t really drop time at end of season (vs. Kate Douglass, who went crazy fast last season at taper time). Think Gretchen is one of the best ever, just won’t fall for “just wait till taper” with her this year.
Think its safe to call Gretchen the best duel meet swimmer of all time
At this meet last year, she swam breaststroke races, so no data point there.
However, at the team’s January 14th meet last year, she swam 21.26/46.99 in the sprint freestyles. At NCAAs, she swam 20.85/45.61.
So I’m not sure that I fully agree with your conclusion? She has definitely been bad at some championship meets (long course especially), but last collegiate season that was not an issue…
What a special season! I hope she does the 100 fly and leads off MR back. When you’re this 🔥 , you might as well throw down some all-time markers.
YES. Would love to see this at NCAAs or at least ACCs. I’m almost certain she’ll do the 100 fly at ACCs
When do we expect Gretchen’s LCM to finally catch up to her SCY? Paris?
Is 24.3/53.1/56.3 not good enough for you yet??
Those LCM times are very good but aren’t at the same level as her SCY bests. She should be 23.8/52.5/55.5. I expect she will get there but she isn’t up to her LCM potential. Yet.
I want Gretchen or any American female to be in the below range
23.9-24.1 – 50 Free
51.9 – 52.1 – 100 Free
55.2(WR) – 100 Fly
Something big is coming for americans in the olympics..
We are going to witness one of the best olympics in Paris.
Mark my words
obviously it’s not. She is the best ever at SCY, fans should and do want to see her much closer to WRs in LCM
Probably never tbh because her walls and underwaters are just so good, still I think she can get much better at LCM now that she seems to have gotten past whatever mental block of preventing her from PBing in the big pool. It’s gonna be fun to see her do SCM eventually