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Leah Hayes, a former world junior record holder and the 2022 World Championships bronze medalist in the 200 IM, has announced her verbal commitment to the University of Virginia for the 2024-25 NCAA season. She is the #2 recruit in SwimSwam’s girls’ class of 2024 rankings, and is the highest-ranked high school junior on the girls’ side to commit so far.
It is with great joy I announce my verbal commitment to the University of Virginia where I will continue my academic and athletic career!! I can’t wait for all that’s to come with joining the team! I want to say a special thank you to Coach Nancy & my family for helping me reach this point, and to Coach Todd for this wonderful opportunity!! GO HOOS!⚔️⚔️⚔️
Hayes is coming off a huge long course season, where she dropped from a 200 IM best time of 2:12.89 to 2:08.91 in just a year. The latter time was clocked at the 2022 World Championships, where she took bronze behind Kaylee McKeown and current UVA swimmer Alex Walsh and broke the world junior record (which was later broken by Summer McIntosh, who went 2:08.70 at the Commonwealth Games). However, she’s also very strong in yards, holding the top 200 IM time in her class (1:54.09), which would have been fast enough to place sixth in the ‘A’ finals at the 2022 NCAA Division I Championships. Her 200 free time of 1:44.13 is also just 0.03 seconds slower than her future teammate Anna Moesch (who is the top 200 freestyler in the class of 2024) and would have made the ‘B’ finals at 2022 NCAAs.
In addition to the 200 IM and 200 free, Hayes also holds a likely NCAA qualifying time in the 400 IM, and formidable 50/100 free times that give her strong relay potential.
Best Times (Short Course Yards):
- 200 IM: 1:54.09 (best in class)
- 400 IM: 4:11.60
- 200 free: 1:44.13
- 100 free: 48.34
- 50 free: 22.86
Despite the fact that Katie Grimes, the top recruit in the class of 2024 by a significant margin, has not committed yet, Hayes’ commitment likely solidifies the fact that UVA has the best recruiting class of 2024. Aside from Hayes, the Cavaliers also picked up #3 Anna Moesch, who is the best pure sprint freestyler in her class and has arguably the biggest relay value; as well as #9 Bailey Hartman, #12 Katie Christopherson, and honorable mention Aspen Gersper.
Hayes’ commitment also makes UVA the best school in the nation for women’s 200 IMers. Virginia now has three out of the last five World/Olympic medalists in the event, as 2020 Olympic silver medalist/2022 World Champion Alex Walsh and 2020 Olympic bronze medalist Kate Douglass both currently attend the school. In short course, UVA boasts the American record holder in the 200 IM (Walsh), the #3 performer of all-time (Douglass), as well as NCAA all-Americans Ella Nelson and Abby Harter. However, Hayes’ eligibility will not overlap with any of the aforementioned swimmers unless Walsh and Harter decide to take a fifth year.
A native of Sugar Grove, Illinois, Hayes currently swims for the Fox Valley District Riptide swim club and Kaneland High School.
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Sweet young lady and fierce competitor!
Congrats to Leah/UVA — clearly “2IM U.” for now!
I’m curious what her NCAA event lineup will be . . . Middle day looks like 2Free or 4IM — her 2 free would be more competitive right now. Last day looks like 100 free for sure. She does not appear to have quite the crazy stroke versatility of Douglass/Walsh – at least not yet (best times of 55.1 fly, 55.6 back, 1:02.4 BR).
A lot of those times are old. That 100 fly time was from 2019, the backstroke times from 18 months ago. I imagine if she swam those tapered now we would see something a bit better. I mean you don’t go 1:54 in the IM without being really good at at least 3/4 strokes.
I’m not surprised to hear that – and you’re right. That being said — 1:44.1 and 48.3 freestyles are NCAA-scoring swims right now. So those are most likely her 2nd/3rd events (and focusing on free sets her up well to be a big relay-player).
She’s a monster 400 IMer in LC. Pretty sure she goes both IMs
UVA got a good one! Leah is a fantastic young person with a strong family in her corner. Congratulations Leah and family!
I’d bet Grimes heads to Gainesville and the race between Florida and Virginia gets A LOT closer in the years to come.
Has Grimes visited anywhere but UF?
Speculating here: I could definitely see Grimes going pro.
Just an incredible HS 2024 class for UVa. Mr. Jefferson’s University is a women’s swimming dynasty set for a long long time to come.
as a UVA grad, saying “Mr Jefferson’s University” is the cringiest thing ever please stop
as a UVA grad “Mr Jefferson’s University” is the cringiest thing ever please stop
Mr Jefferson is cooler than the rest of UVA
Coming from a VA native
Why? He’s the one that brought it in to existence. Don’t be a rube like everyone else and apply 21st century ideals to a 18th century genius.
besides the problematic part its just lame
Without Mr. Jefferson, there would be no UVA and, quite possibly, no United States of America.
Know why Jefferson started UVA? Because his kids couldn’t get into his alma mater, William and Mary. 🙂
so exciting! 🥳
A fantastic swimmer but even nicer person and family! So happy for Leah and her entire family! She’s been so fun to follow! I would think UVA is closer to wrapping up their class
Good replacement for W1. Now they need one for Douglas.
Moesch has entered the chat.