As previously reported in the dual meet recap (men) (women) for UVA vs NC State, eight total pool records were broken and Gretchen Walsh swam to an *unofficial* American record in the 50 backstroke while leading off the 200 medley relay. View some of the highlighted races below:
Women’s Races
200 Medley Relay
The ‘A’ relay made up of Gretchen Walsh, Alexis Wenger, Alex Walsh, and Kate Douglass can be seen in lane 5 leading the whole way. Gretchen Walsh led off the relay in a 23.04 which is an *unofficial* American record as well as the second fastest 50 backstroke split of all time. The relay finished in a time of 1:33.74 breaking the pool record.
100 Backstroke
Gretchen Walsh did not stop her backstroke success there. Walsh can be seen in lane 5 winning the 100 backstroke in a time of 50.61. That time also set a UVA pool record. NC State’s Katharine Berkoff can be seen next to Walsh in lane 4 swimming to second place in a time of 51.71.
100 Butterfly
Kate Douglass can be seen in lane 5 swimming to a win in the 100 butterfly. She swam a time of 51.30 to break a UVA pool record. That time was also a season best for Douglass (Note: she did not swim the event at midseason)
200 IM
Alex Walsh swam out of lane 5 winning the heat of the 200 IM and breaking the pool record in the process as she swam a time of 1:56.35. That was Walsh’s first time swimming the event this season. UVA’s Ella Nelson finished second out of lane 3 in a time of 1:58.32.
200 Freestyle Relay
The ‘A’ relay for UVA out of lane 5 swam to a victory and pool record finishing in a time of 1:27.75. Gretchen Walsh led off in a 22.00 and was followed by Alex Walsh (22.04), Lexi Cuomo (22.42), and Kate Douglass (21.29).
Men’s Races
200 Medley Relay
The NC State ‘A’ can be seen out of lane 4 swimming to victory in the event in a time of 1:24.14. That time also earned them a pool record. Kacper Stokowski led off in a 21.24 and was followed by Rafal Kusto (23.96), Nyls Korstanje (19.97), and David Curtiss (18.97). NC State’s ‘B’ relay finished second out of lane 6 touching in a time of 1:24.97.
50 Freestyle
NC State’s David Curtiss swam to a pool record and victory in the 50 freestyle touching the wall in a time of 19.38. Curtiss can be seen in lane 4. UVA’s Matt Brownstead finished second out of lane 5 in a time of 19.50.
200 Freestyle Relay
UVA’s ‘A’ relay out of lane 5 closed the meet in a pool record and victory. Brownstead led off in a 19.52 and was followed by Matt King (19.30), Justin Grender (19.56), and August Lamb (19.45). They finished in a time of 1:17.83. NC State’s ‘A’ relay finished second in a time of 1:17.97 out of lane 4.
A couple things stood about about the W 200 medley. First, going 1:33 unsuited is absurd. Second – GWalsh’s 23.0 — to do that unsuited and with *no backstroke wedge* is mind-blowing. She also circle swam. Could she go 22.5? It seems 22.7 is a virtual lock. Third – AWalsh breathing every stroke in a 50 fly was kinda funny. Her undies are so good that she doesn’t take too many strokes anyway. Wenger and Douglass are amazing too. Douglass makes the pool look small. That relay can realistically go 1:31 at ACCs/NCAAs – just wow.
It looks like there was a wedge. Looks like a make-shift wedge but a wedge nonetheless.
You’re right. My bad. I see them pulling it out of the water now.
alex walsh also breathes every stroke in her 200 fly.
G Walsh’s underwater off the turn was insane.
So fun to watch! Thanks to whoever did such a great job recording 🙂
Gretchen circle swimming lane line to lane line on her backstroke. If she figures out the whole going straight thing for ACCs and NCs we could see something crazy.
23.0 non-suited is already pretty crazy.
Oh, I hope she doesn’t learn just so we can hear Rowdy’s full 5-octave range at NCAAs.
College swimming gets crazier year after year.. and it’s January. Gretchen Walsh is a stud!!
Wonder why Alex Walsh breaths every stroke in a 50 fly. The best two 50 flyers in the world (Santos, Sarah S) keep their head down. Seems like that’s worth giving it a try!
She said before that’s how she’s always done it and it works best for her.
If you have always done it how do you know its best? To be the best I’d take notes from the WR holders
Guessing it works better for her
you dont want to have oxygen debt when youre celebrating after the race
Do you know she hasn’t tried it?
Curtiss v. Browstead / King — Curtiss really got killed on the start and turn, but he was so much faster over the water. Ervin-like. He is going to have a mean LC 50.
Yeah that was surprising to me to see.
LCM bests:
Curtiss – 21.87
King – 22.55
Brownstead – 22.65
Yeah, I should have said he already HAS a mean LC 50. But this summer could see something special.
All these swimmers will be smashed by the GOAT Caeleb Dressel this summer at nationals.
Not a GOAT when you have to add the name, fanboy.