2021 ACC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships Day Two Finals: Alex Walsh Takes Down Douglass; Anchors 200 Free Relay in 21.0

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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2021 ACC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships

Greensboro, Day Two Finals

The second night of finals from the 2021 ACC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships kicked off at 7 p.m. EST with the finals of the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 3m diving, and 200 free relay.

Virginia’s Alex Walsh had the race of the night and was the swimmer of the night in winning the 200 IM over teammate Kate Douglass and anchoring the 200 free relay with a 21.0 on the last 50. Walsh and Douglass sit #1 and 2 in the national rankings with four weeks to go until the NCAA championships in this same pool in Greensboro, and Virginia and NC State lead the national rankings in the 200 free relay.

The Cavaliers also celebrated a win from Paige Madden in the 500 free for her second straight title in the event, while NC State’s Kylee Alons won the 50 freestyle.

Despite Virginia’s top end dominance, NC State’s depth has kept them in the meet through two days of racing. Prelims will begin tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 8                 
 
  1. Virginia            510   
  2. NC State            486
  3. Virginia Tech       376   
  4. Louisville          311.5          
  5. Duke                290   
  6. Notre Dame          276
  7. North Carolina      244.5 
  8. Miami               238
  9. Florida State       214  
 10. Georgia Tech        210
 11. Pittsburgh          159  
 12. Boston College      115

500 Free

Virginia senior Paige Madden swam a solid 4:33.25 in winning the 500 freestyle to start off Thursday’s finals as she was just off her season best of 4:33.0 from earlier this season at the Tennessee Invite. Madden led from the outset, flipping at 1:47.93 at the 200, a second behind where she was in December. Madden is well in front of the rest of the country at the moment as she was the second seed heading into NCAAs last year before the meet was cancelled. She was second place at the 2019 NCAAs and will be looking to win the national title in her senior year.

NC State’s Kate Moore had a solid swim for second place with a 4:38.09 as she was also a 4:37 earlier this season and will remain fourth nationally with four weeks until NCAAs. Virginia Tech’s Reka Gyorgy (4:40.10) was also under last year’s invited NCAA time in third place as the Hokies, on the strength of diving thus far, put themselves just two points behind their in-state rival Virginia as freshman Chase Travis placed fifth at 4:44.81 with Virginia’s Madelyn Donohoe placing fourth at 4:44.33.

 Event 4  Women 500 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         Meet: @ 4:30.74  02/18/2016 Leah Smith, Virginia
          ACC: ! 4:28.90  03/16/2017 Leah Smith, Virginia
     American: * 4:24.06  03/17/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
         NCAA: $ 4:24.06  03/17/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
    U.S. Open: # 4:24.06  11/18/2016 Katie Ledecky
  Pool Record: & 4:29.54  12/04/2014 Katie Ledecky, NCAP
                 4:35.76  A
                 4:40.96  IV19 Invited to 2019 NCAA
                 4:47.20  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Madden, Paige    SR Virginia          4:38.58    4:33.25 A       32  
    r:+0.75  25.14        52.62 (27.48)
        1:20.29 (27.67)     1:47.93 (27.64)
        2:15.61 (27.68)     2:43.30 (27.69)
        3:11.05 (27.75)     3:38.65 (27.60)
        4:06.35 (27.70)     4:33.25 (26.90)
  2 Moore, Kathleen  SR NC State          4:43.33    4:38.09 IV19    28  
    r:+0.74  25.60        53.20 (27.60)
        1:21.19 (27.99)     1:49.09 (27.90)
        2:17.20 (28.11)     2:45.27 (28.07)
        3:13.72 (28.45)     3:42.16 (28.44)
        4:10.49 (28.33)     4:38.09 (27.60)
  3 Gyorgy, Reka     SR Virginia Tech     4:44.14    4:40.10 IV19    27  
    r:+0.72  25.93        53.91 (27.98)
        1:22.02 (28.11)     1:50.26 (28.24)
        2:18.55 (28.29)     2:46.75 (28.20)
        3:15.02 (28.27)     3:43.36 (28.34)
        4:11.96 (28.60)     4:40.10 (28.14)
  4 Donohoe, Madely  SO Virginia          4:44.72    4:44.33 B       26  
    r:+0.66  26.01        54.06 (28.05)
        1:22.58 (28.52)     1:51.38 (28.80)
        2:20.42 (29.04)     2:49.17 (28.75)
        3:17.94 (28.77)     3:47.02 (29.08)
        4:16.04 (29.02)     4:44.33 (28.29)
  5 Travis, Chase    FR Virginia Tech     4:45.07    4:44.81 B       25  
    r:+0.80  26.60        54.55 (27.95)
        1:23.07 (28.52)     1:51.66 (28.59)
        2:20.35 (28.69)     2:49.08 (28.73)
        3:18.24 (29.16)     3:47.30 (29.06)
        4:16.38 (29.08)     4:44.81 (28.43)
  6 Hierath, Yara    FR NC State          4:45.55    4:44.83 B       24  
    r:+0.75  26.52        54.62 (28.10)
        1:23.06 (28.44)     1:51.64 (28.58)
        2:20.53 (28.89)     2:49.51 (28.98)
        3:18.57 (29.06)     3:47.81 (29.24)
        4:16.94 (29.13)     4:44.83 (27.89)
  7 Thomas, Luciana  JR Notre Dame        4:45.47    4:46.22 B       23  
    r:+0.74  26.73        55.30 (28.57)
        1:24.11 (28.81)     1:53.10 (28.99)
        2:22.18 (29.08)     2:51.30 (29.12)
        3:20.35 (29.05)     3:49.49 (29.14)
        4:18.34 (28.85)     4:46.22 (27.88)
  8 Laporte, Madeli  JR Notre Dame        4:46.26    4:46.27 B       22  
    r:+0.70  27.12        55.75 (28.63)
        1:24.61 (28.86)     1:53.55 (28.94)
        2:22.50 (28.95)     2:51.40 (28.90)
        3:20.35 (28.95)     3:49.20 (28.85)
        4:18.16 (28.96)     4:46.27 (28.11)

200 IM

In a race that many were anticipating Virginia’s Kate Douglass to be the first woman to break 1:50 in the event, it was actually Virginia freshman Alex Walsh who scored the win with a 1:51.53 to Douglass’ 1:51.97. The time is a big drop for Walsh this season was a 1:54 earlier this season and was also one of the top recruits in the class of 2020, establishing herself as an Olympic favorite in the 200 IM. Walsh used a strong breaststroke leg at 31.98 to pull even with Douglass on the third 50, and ultimately ran away from her on the final 50 with a 26.5 to Douglass’ 26.93.

Douglass was out under American record pace at the 100 with a 51.88, turning on to breaststroke ahead of Ella Eastin’s 52.04 record pace, as she also was a full second ahead of Eastin’s pace at the 50, before falling off at the 150, indicating she may be saving a full rest for NCAAs, or she just over-swam the first 100. Either way, it is tough to see a scenario in which Douglass and Walsh don’t go 1-2 at NCAAs in four weeks in any order. Douglass was already a 1:50.9 earlier this season and is very close to the NCAA & American record of 1:50.67.

Both Douglass and Walsh are head and shoulders above the rest of the country right now, with Cal’s Alicia Wilson sitting in third nationally at 1:53.5.

NC State’s Julia Poole finished in third at 1:54.52 to break up Virginia’s 1-2-3 with Ella Nelson finishing in fourth at 1:55.32. The Wolfpack also had Abby Arens (1:55.45) and Emma Muzzy (1:56.66) in the final to put them second in the team standings after five events.

 Event 5  Women 200 Yard IM
=========================================================================
         Meet: @ 1:51.36  02/20/2020 Kate Douglass, UVA
          ACC: ! 1:50.92  11/17/2020 Kate Douglass, UVA
     American: * 1:50.67  03/16/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
         NCAA: $ 1:50.67  03/17/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
    U.S. Open: # 1:50.67  03/15/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
  Pool Record: & 1:51.36  02/20/2020 Kate Douglass, UVA
                 1:53.66  A
                 1:56.76  IV19 Invited to 2019 NCAA
                 1:59.94  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Walsh, Alex      FR Virginia          1:54.41    1:51.53 A       32  
    r:+0.75  24.48        52.96 (28.48)
        1:24.94 (31.98)     1:51.53 (26.59)
  2 Douglass, Kate   SO Virginia          1:52.71    1:51.97 A       28  
    r:+0.67  23.59        51.88 (28.29)
        1:25.04 (33.16)     1:51.97 (26.93)
  3 Poole, Julia     SR NC State          1:56.01    1:54.52 IV19    27  
    r:+0.66  25.08        54.11 (29.03)
        1:26.69 (32.58)     1:54.52 (27.83)
  4 Nelson, Margare  SO Virginia          1:56.07    1:55.32 IV19    26  
    r:+0.71  25.70        54.59 (28.89)
        1:27.54 (32.95)     1:55.32 (27.78)
  5 Arens, Abigail   FR NC State          1:57.83    1:55.45 IV19    25  
    r:+0.64  24.84        54.39 (29.55)
        1:27.52 (33.13)     1:55.45 (27.93)
  6 Muzzy, Emma      JR NC State          1:56.17    1:56.66 IV19    24  
    r:+0.86  25.52        54.00 (28.48)
        1:29.22 (35.22)     1:56.66 (27.44)
  7 Hay, Abigail     SO Louisville        1:56.60    1:56.68 IV19    23  
    r:+0.67  25.01        55.27 (30.26)
        1:28.52 (33.25)     1:56.68 (28.16)
  8 Harter, Abigail  FR Virginia          1:57.82    1:57.05 B       22  
    r:+0.74  25.21        55.24 (30.03)
        1:30.23 (34.99)     1:57.05 (26.82)

50 Free

NC State’s Kylee Alons picked up the first win for NC State at the ACC women’s swimming and diving championships on Thursday in Greensboro with a 21.78 in the 50 free, winning from the middle of the pool. Alons fought off Virginia’s Lexi Cuomo out in lane eight, who used her underwaters to her advantage, flipping first at the 25, and coming in second from the outside with a 21.99.

Alons’ time was off her 21.70 from this morning which put her fourth nationally in that event with less than four weeks until NCAAs.

Louisville’s Gabi Albiero, who was also right with the leaders at the 25, finished in third place at 22.08 just ahead of NC State’s Katharine Berkoff (22.08) and North Carolina’s Grace Countie (22.08), who tied for fourth place.

This sets up an interesting matchup between NC State and Virginia in the upcoming 200 free relay to close out finals as Alabama’s 1:27.02 from SECs tonight is the second fastest time in the country behind NC State’s 1:27.00 from mid-season.

 Event 6  Women 50 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         Meet: @ 21.54  2/15/2018 Caitlin Cooper, Virginia-VA
          ACC: ! 21.42  11/18/2017Katherine Douglass, Virginia-VA
     American: * 20.90  12/5/2019 Abbey Weitzeil, Cal
         NCAA: $ 20.90  12/5/2019 Abbey Weitzeil, Cal
    U.S. Open: # 20.90  12/5/2019 Abbey Weitzeil, Canyons Aquatics
  Pool Record: & 21.32  3/19/2015 Simone Manuel, STAN-PC
                 21.66  A
                 22.23  IV19 Invited to 2019 NCAA
                 22.76  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Alons, Kylee     JR NC State            21.70      21.78 IV19    32  
    r:+0.60  10.59        21.78 (11.19)
  2 Cuomo, Alexa     SO Virginia            22.46      21.99 IV19    28  
    r:+0.68  10.33        21.99 (11.66)
  3 Albiero, Gabrie  FR Louisville          22.13      22.03 IV19    27  
    r:+0.63  10.68        22.03 (11.35)
  4 Countie, Grace   JR North Carolina      22.20      22.08 IV19    25.5
    r:+0.70  10.59        22.08 (11.49)
  4 Berkoff, Kathar  SO NC State            22.06      22.08 IV19    25.5
    r:+0.67  10.75        22.08 (11.33)
  6 Regenauer, Chri  SO Louisville          22.34      22.32 B       23.5
    r:+0.71  10.89        22.32 (11.43)
  6 Maccausland, He  SO NC State            22.36      22.32 B       23.5
    r:+0.63  10.76        22.32 (11.56)
  8 Moynihan, Rebec  SR Florida St          22.45      22.38 B       22  
    r:+0.70  10.84        22.38 (11.54)

1m diving

Miami’s Mia Vallee won her second board of the weekend with 340.95 to win the 1m board ahead of the North Carolina duo of Aranza Vazquez (322.55) and Paige Burrell (312.80).

 
 Event 7  Women 1 mtr Diving
=========================================================================
         Meet: @ 361.85  2/17/2011 Abby Johnston, Duke
          ACC: ! 379.98  3/3/2007  Jenna Dreyer, Miami
         NCAA: $ 361.55  3/2007    Cassidy Krug, Stanford
  Pool Record: & 355.65  2/20/2014 Kaylee Arnett, VT
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                             === Finals ===                              
 
  1 Vallee, Mia      SO Miami              317.60     340.95         32  
  2 Vazquez, Aranza  FR North Carolina     315.70     322.55         28  
  3 Burrell, Paige   SO North Carolina     288.65     312.80         27  
  4 Straub, Kelly    SR Notre Dame         312.85     294.10         26  
  5 Wiese, Annie     JR Notre Dame         285.35     289.35         25  
  6 Pullinger, Madd  JR Duke               309.65     288.60         24  
  7 Creed, Jessie    SO Miami              281.20     264.10         23  
  8 Winslow, Ellie   SR Duke               280.60     263.25         22

200 Free Relay

Alex Walsh stamped her name on the second night of the ACC women’s swimming and diving championships with a 21.09 anchor leg to close Virginia’s 200 free relay as the Cavaliers won at 1:26.54. Kate Douglass (21.50) led the way, with Lexi Cuomo (21.72) swimming the second leg and Kyla Valls (22.23) going third as NC State held the lead through 150 yards thanks to Katharine Berkoff (21.84), Kylee Alons (21.11) and Sophie Hansson (21.83) on the first three legs.

The Wolfpack had three in the A-final in the 50 free to Virginia’s one so it was expected the Wolfpack would be tough to beat, but Walsh threw down a 21.0 to run down Heather Maccausland (21.81) on the final 50. NC State finished in second at 1:26.59 as those two schools sit #1 and 2 in the national rankings with four weeks until NCAAs.

Virginia has now won all three relays contested at the championships, and will have a chance tomorrow to win #4 in the 400 medley.

Louisville finished in third place from heat 2 at 1:28.88 as Virginia Tech was fourth at 1:28.96.

 Event 8  Women 200 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
         Meet: @ 1:26.15  2/21/2019 North Carolina State Universit, NC St
                          K Perry, K Alons, S Rowe, S Hansson
          ACC: ! 1:26.15  2/21/2019 North Carolina State Universit, NC St
                          K Perry, K Alons, S Rowe, S Hansson
     American: * 1:24.55  3/21/2019 California, Cal
                          M. Murphy, K. McLaughlin, A. Bilquist, A. Weitzel
         NCAA: $ 1:24.55  3/21/2019 California, Cal
                          M. Murphy, K. McLaughlin, A. Bilquist, A. Weitzel
    U.S. Open: # 1:24.55  2/21/2019 California, Cal
                          M. Murphy, K. McLaughlin, A. Bilquist, A. Weitzel
  Pool Record: & 1:26.15  2/21/2019 North Carolina State, NCSU-
                          K Perry, K Alons, S Rowe, S Hansson
                 1:28.43  A
                 1:29.21  B
    School                           Seed     Finals       Points 
==================================================================================
  1 Virginia                      1:27.37    1:26.54 A       64  
     1) Douglass, Katherine SO        2) r:0.30 Cuomo, Alexa SO       
     3) r:0.12 Valls, Kyla SR         4) r:0.16 Walsh, Alexandra FR   
    r:+0.67  10.39        21.50 (21.50)
          31.61 (10.11)       43.22 (21.72)
          53.75 (10.53)     1:05.45 (22.23)
         1:15.37 (9.92)     1:26.54 (21.09)
  2 NC State                      1:27.00    1:26.59 A       56  
     1) Berkoff, Katharine SO         2) r:0.24 Alons, Kylee JR       
     3) r:0.20 Hansson, Sophie JR     4) r:0.31 Maccausland, Hether SO
    r:+0.67  10.73        21.84 (21.84)
           31.75 (9.91)       42.95 (21.11)
          53.52 (10.57)     1:04.78 (21.83)
        1:15.14 (10.36)     1:26.59 (21.81)
  3 Louisville                    1:29.68    1:28.88 B       54  
     1) Albiero, Gabriela FR          2) r:0.22 Regenauer, Chriiana SO
     3) r:0.20 Wheeler, Kaylee JR     4) r:0.16 Kraus, Alena JR       
    r:+0.62  10.76        22.13 (22.13)
          32.61 (10.48)       44.16 (22.03)
          54.75 (10.59)     1:06.45 (22.29)
        1:17.04 (10.59)     1:28.88 (22.43)
  4 Virginia Tech                 1:29.36    1:28.96 B       52  
     1) Vereb, Joelle SR              2) r:0.27 Landon, Anna JR       
     3) r:0.18 Larson, Abigail JR     4) r:0.15 Bentz, Caroline FR    
    r:+0.59  10.76        22.65 (22.65)
          33.29 (10.64)       44.89 (22.24)
          55.16 (10.27)     1:06.81 (21.92)
        1:17.37 (10.56)     1:28.96 (22.15)
  5 Florida St                    1:29.54    1:29.28         50  
     1) Moynihan, Rebecca SR          2) r:0.26 Kurdi, Zsofia FR      
     3) r:0.03 Quaglieri, Tania SO    4) r:0.27 Terebo, Emma SR       
    r:+0.69  10.71        22.38 (22.38)
          32.90 (10.52)       44.73 (22.35)
          55.17 (10.44)     1:06.98 (22.25)
        1:17.38 (10.40)     1:29.28 (22.30)
  6 North Carolina                1:29.85    1:30.05         48  
     1) Countie, Grace JR             2) r:0.14 Romney, Brieanna FR   
     3) r:0.14 Dragelin, Amy SO       4) r:0.26 Isley, Courtney FR    
    r:+0.72  10.61        22.10 (22.10)
          32.84 (10.74)       44.82 (22.72)
          55.33 (10.51)     1:07.05 (22.23)
        1:18.02 (10.97)     1:30.05 (23.00)
  7 Pittsburgh                    1:33.19    1:30.72         46  
     1) Yendell, Sophie FR            2) r:0.32 Fuhrmann, Kate SO     
     3) r:0.35 Detwiler, Tatum SO     4) r:0.00 Wilson, Emma SO       
    r:+0.69  10.96        22.78 (22.78)
          33.52 (10.74)       45.32 (22.54)
          56.22 (10.90)     1:08.22 (22.90)
        1:18.70 (10.48)     1:30.72 (22.50)
  8 Duke                          1:31.30    1:30.85         44  
     1) Snyder, Sarah SO              2) r:0.09 Scannell, Quinn SR    
     3) r:0.01 Bullock, Amelia SR     4) r:0.29 Hollander, Shayna JR  
    r:+0.62  11.13        23.06 (23.06)
          33.58 (10.52)       45.86 (22.80)
          56.36 (10.50)     1:08.40 (22.54)
        1:18.82 (10.42)     1:30.85 (22.45)
  9 Georgia Tech                  1:32.92    1:31.16         37  
     1) Mauldin, Grace SR             2) r:0.20 Macgregor, Catriona JR
     3) r:0.26 Williams, Jami JR      4) r:0.40 Switzer, Brooke SO    
    r:+0.64  10.98        22.91 (22.91)
          33.73 (10.82)       45.71 (22.80)
          56.26 (10.55)     1:08.44 (22.73)
        1:19.36 (10.92)     1:31.16 (22.72)
  9 Boston College                1:32.18    1:31.16         37  
     1) Kea, Alison SR                2) r:0.16 Dolan, Haley JR       
     3) r:0.07 Drumm, Katie FR        4) r:0.23 Zinis, Sofia SO       
    r:+0.67  11.34        23.29 (23.29)
          34.06 (10.77)       45.74 (22.45)
          56.53 (10.79)     1:08.56 (22.82)
        1:19.20 (10.64)     1:31.16 (22.60)
 11 Miami                         1:33.44    1:32.82         32  
     1) Knapp, Sydney SR              2) r:0.42 Barr, Savannah FR     
     3) r:0.38 Sundstrand, Emma FR    4) r:0.29 San Nicolas Marrmen SR
    r:+0.64  11.13        22.96 (22.96)
          33.88 (10.92)       46.00 (23.04)
          57.07 (11.07)     1:09.42 (23.42)
        1:20.60 (11.18)     1:32.82 (23.40)
 -- Notre Dame                    1:30.78 DQ 1:31.00        
      Early take-off swimmer #3
     1) Wittmer, Rachel SR            2) r:0.11 Gillilan, Coleen SO   
     3) r:-0.04 Grunhard, Cailey SR   4) r:0.20 Quast, Carly SR       
    r:+0.64  11.15        23.04 (23.04)
          33.93 (10.89)       45.87 (22.83)
          56.56 (10.69)     1:08.59 (22.72)
        1:19.18 (10.59)  DQ 1:31.00 (22.41)
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