2022 ACC Championships: Virginia Undefeated in Swimming Behind Weyant, A. Walsh, Douglass

emma-weyant-
Emma Weyant -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Left Sidebar

2022 ACC Championships: Virginia Undefeated in Swimming Behind Weyant, A. Walsh, Douglass

The reigning national-champion Virginia women have kicked off the ACC Championships with a bang, including a dominant performance in the women’s 800 freestyle relay Tuesday evening and breaking a three-year-old American record in the 200 free relay. Then, Virginia swept the three individual swimming events on Wednesday as Emma Weyant won the 500 freestyle, Alex Walsh cruised to first in the 200 IM and then Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh went 1-2 in the 50 free.

However, Virginia is not running away with this team title as NC State is putting up an impressive performance. The Wolfpack have two runnerup finishes in relays and just one individual top-three finish, but they currently sit just six points behind the Cavaliers in the standings as depth has helped NC State keep pace.

2022 ACC Championships Links

Women’s Team Standings

  1. Virginia, University of           421   2. North Carolina State Universit    415
  3. Louisville, University of         274   4. Duke University                   232
  5. VA Tech                           221   6. North Carolina, University of,    216
  7. Notre Dame, University of         176   8. University of Miami (Florida)     167
  9. Florida State University          148  10. Georgia Institute of Technolog    109
 11. Pittsburgh, University of          94  12. Boston College                     75

Women’s 200 Freestyle Relay

In the first event of the night, Virginia’s team of Kate Douglass (21.10), Alex Walsh (21.38), Lexi Cuomo (21.41) and Gretchen Walsh (20.58) swam a time of 1:24.47 in the sprint relay, eight hundredths faster than the 1:24.55 that Cal set at the 2019 NCAA Championships.

Douglass led off in a 21.10, just one hundredth off her best time of 21.09 that ranks her as the third-fastest performer in history, while Gretchen Walsh anchored in an insane 20.58, which is the sixth-fastest 50 freestyle relay split ever. Virginia’s time was almost a second-and-a-half faster than the 1:25.78 that Cal swam at last season’s NCAA Championships.

Virginia crushed the conference record of 1:25.97 set by a Cavaliers foursome also featuring Douglass, Cuomo and Alex Walsh at last year’s NCAA Championships. But the addition of the younger Walsh sister to the squad gives the Cavaliers a group that looks essentially untouchable heading into the national championships.

NC State finished second in 1:26.51 with Katharine Berkoff, Kylee Alons, Sophie Hansson and Heather Maccausland, while Louisville’s Gabi Albiero, Christiana Regenauer, Tristan Ulett and Arina Openysheva took third in 1:27.08.

Event 5  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
         CONF: % 1:25.97  3/18/2021 University of Virginia, UVA
                          K. Douglass, A, Cuomo, K. Valls, A.Walsh
         AMER: $ 1:24.55  3/21/2019 California
                          M Murphy, K McLaughlin, A Bilquist, A Weitzeil
         USOP: & 1:24.55  3/21/2019 California, California
                          M Murphy, K McLaughlin, A Bilquist, A Weitzeil
         NCAA: ! 1:24.55  3/21/2019 California
                          M Murphy, K McLaughlin, A Bilquist, A Weitzeil
         Pool: ^ 1:26.80  3/17/2016 California, Calif
                          F Osman, K Vredeveld, V Hull, A Bilquist
                 1:28.43  A
                 1:29.21  B
    School                           Seed     Finals       Points 
==================================================================================
  1 UVA  'A'                      1:26.61    1:24.47$A       64  
     1) Douglass, Katherine C JR      2) r:0.39 Walsh, Alexandra SO   
     3) r:0.19 Cuomo, Alexa JR        4) r:0.12 Walsh, Gretchen FR    
    r:+0.66  21.10        42.48 (21.38)
        1:03.89 (21.41)     1:24.47 (20.58)
  2 NCSU  'A'                     1:27.61    1:26.51^A       56  
     1) Berkoff, Katharine F JR       2) r:0.17 Alons, Kylee SR       
     3) r:0.29 Hansson, Sophie SR     4) r:0.07 Maccausland, Hether JR
    r:+0.69  21.63        42.74 (21.11)
        1:04.55 (21.81)     1:26.51 (21.96)
  3 Louisville  'A'               1:27.83    1:27.08 A       54  
     1) Albiero, Gabriela M SO        2) r:0.06 Regenauer, Chriiana JR
     3) r:0.28 Ulett, Tristen SO      4) r:0.16 Openysheva, Arina SR  
    r:+0.61  21.92        43.51 (21.59)
        1:05.33 (21.82)     1:27.08 (21.75)
  4 UNC  'A'                      1:29.30    1:27.13 A       52  
     1) Countie, Grace K SR           2) r:0.08 Nel, Olivia FR        
     3) r:0.12 Pattison, Greer FR     4) r:0.07 Lowe, Heidi SR        
    r:+0.70  21.63        43.35 (21.72)
        1:05.30 (21.95)     1:27.13 (21.83)
  5 VT  'A'                       1:29.60    1:27.96 A       50  
     1) Landon, Anna G SR             2) r:0.19 Shackelford, Sarah JR 
     3) r:0.04 Bentz, Caroline SO     4) r:0.15 Atkinson, Emma SO     
    r:+0.67  21.96        43.58 (21.62)
        1:05.77 (22.19)     1:27.96 (22.19)
  6 FSU  'A'                      1:29.57    1:29.39         48  
     1) Moynihan, Rebecca E SR        2) r:0.32 Halden, Jenny SO      
     3) r:-0.02 Quaglieri, Tania JR   4) r:0.17 McDonald, Madeleine SR
    r:+0.70  22.64        44.86 (22.22)
        1:07.14 (22.28)     1:29.39 (22.25)
  7 Duke  'A'                     1:31.68    1:29.65         46  
     1) Smith, Mckenna A FR           2) r:0.23 Snyder, Sarah JR      
     3) r:0.14 Truong, Kyanh FR       4) r:0.23 Hollander, Shayna SR  
    r:+0.69  22.65        44.90 (22.25)
        1:07.48 (22.58)     1:29.65 (22.17)
  8 ND  'A'                       1:30.31    1:30.07         44  
     1) Christman, Madelyn T FR       2) r:0.05 Gillilan, Coleen JR   
     3) r:0.01 Potter, Madison JR     4) r:0.08 Scannell, Quinn 5Y    
    r:+0.64  23.10        45.23 (22.13)
        1:07.78 (22.55)     1:30.07 (22.29)

Women’s 500 Freestyle

Virginia freshman Emma Weyant is best known for her skills in the 400-meter IM, the event in which she won the Olympic silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, but she is skilled in the longer freestyle events as well. She showed off those abilities Wednesday evening as she took over the lead from Louisville’s Liberty Williams on the third 50 and then pulled away to win the 500 free in 4:37.23. That time would have placed fourth at last year’s NCAA Championships, and it helped Weyant finish more than a second-and-a-half ahead of Williams.

Williams placed second in 4:38.82, while UVA’s Maddie Donahoe swam a time of 4:41.61 to take third. Virginia Tech teammates Reka Gyorgy (4:42.70 and Chase Travis (4:43.12) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Event 7  Women 500 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         MEET: # 2:26.62  2/16/2022 Abigail E Cohen, Georgia Tech-GA
         CONF: % 4:28.90  3/16/2017 Leah Smith, Virginia
         AMER: $ 4:24.06  3/16/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
         USOP: & 4:24.06  3/16/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
         NCAA: ! 4:24.06  3/16/2017 Katie Ledecky, Stanford
         Pool: ^ 4:30.81  3/17/2016 Leah Smith, Virginia-VA
                 4:35.76  A
                 4:44.47  IV21 Invited NCAA 2021
                 4:47.20  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Weyant, Emma J   FR UVA               4:41.39    4:37.23 IV21    32  
    r:+0.72  25.85        53.37 (27.52)
        1:21.03 (27.66)     1:48.67 (27.64)
        2:16.32 (27.65)     2:44.18 (27.86)
        3:12.32 (28.14)     3:40.78 (28.46)
        4:09.65 (28.87)     4:37.23 (27.58)
  2 Williams, Liber  SO Louisville        4:40.53    4:38.82 IV21    28  
    r:+0.56  25.73        53.35 (27.62)
        1:21.29 (27.94)     1:49.50 (28.21)
        2:17.82 (28.32)     2:46.39 (28.57)
        3:15.03 (28.64)     3:43.40 (28.37)
        4:11.73 (28.33)     4:38.82 (27.09)
  3 Donohoe, Madely  JR UVA               4:42.50    4:41.61 IV21    27  
    r:+0.69  26.21        54.44 (28.23)
        1:23.03 (28.59)     1:51.81 (28.78)
        2:20.61 (28.80)     2:48.94 (28.33)
        3:17.57 (28.63)     3:45.96 (28.39)
        4:14.16 (28.20)     4:41.61 (27.45)
  4 Gyorgy, Reka     5Y Virginia Tech     4:43.93    4:42.70 IV21    26  
    r:+0.73  26.11        54.10 (27.99)
        1:22.36 (28.26)     1:50.81 (28.45)
        2:19.24 (28.43)     2:47.81 (28.57)
        3:16.47 (28.66)     3:45.18 (28.71)
        4:14.06 (28.88)     4:42.70 (28.64)
  5 Travis, Chase C  SO Virginia Tech     4:42.73    4:43.12 IV21    25  
    r:+0.76  26.65        54.77 (28.12)
        1:23.32 (28.55)     1:51.92 (28.60)
        2:20.67 (28.75)     2:49.37 (28.70)
        3:17.86 (28.49)     3:46.52 (28.66)
        4:15.05 (28.53)     4:43.12 (28.07)
  6 Hierath, Yara S  SO NC State          4:44.22    4:44.61 B       24  
    r:+0.73  26.33        54.60 (28.27)
        1:23.14 (28.54)     1:52.00 (28.86)
        2:20.95 (28.95)     2:49.94 (28.99)
        3:18.88 (28.94)     3:47.85 (28.97)
        4:16.66 (28.81)     4:44.61 (27.95)
  7 Foley, Katharin  JR NC State          4:44.72    4:44.84 B       23  
    r:+0.79  26.12        54.26 (28.14)
        1:22.78 (28.52)     1:51.43 (28.65)
        2:20.47 (29.04)     2:49.50 (29.03)
        3:18.30 (28.80)     3:47.30 (29.00)
        4:16.48 (29.18)     4:44.84 (28.36)
  8 Travis, Brooke   JR NC State          4:45.06    4:45.29 B       22  
    r:+0.59  26.47        54.86 (28.39)
        1:23.60 (28.74)     1:52.46 (28.86)
        2:21.46 (29.00)     2:50.60 (29.14)
        3:19.62 (29.02)     3:48.43 (28.81)
        4:17.37 (28.94)     4:45.29 (27.92)

Women’s 200 IM

It was no surprise to see Alex Walsh cruising to a conference title in the 200 IM, her signature race. The Olympic silver medalist in the long course version of the event was four tenths ahead of the field after the butterfly, and she pulled away from there. Walsh swam a time of 1:52.38, off her lifetime best of 1:51.53 from last year’s ACC Championships but still two tenths ahead of the field.

Walsh’s time was quicker than any other swimmer recorded at last year’s NCAA Championships, and it was the second-ranked time in the nation this season behind teammate Kate Douglass’ 1:52.20 from November, while only two others (Torri Huske and Ellen Walshe) have broken 1:53.

Finishing second here was Duke’s Sarah Foley, who swam a time of 1:54.47, and she was followed by NC State’s Abby Arens (1:55.16) and Louisville’s Abby Hay (1:55.25), while Virginia’s Ella Nelson was also under 1:56. Seven of the eight swimmers in the field swam times that would have been quick enough to qualify for the A-final at last year’s NCAA Championships.

Event 9  Women 200 Yard IM
=========================================================================
         MEET: # 1:51.36  2/20/2020 Katherine Douglass, UVA-VA
         CONF: % 1:50.92  11/17/2020Katherine Douglass, UVA-VA
         AMER: $ 1:50.67  3/15/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
         USOP: & 1:50.67  3/15/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
         NCAA: ! 1:50.67  3/15/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
         Pool: ^ 1:51.65  3/17/2016 Ella Eastin, Stanford-PC
                 1:53.66  A
                 1:57.62  IV21 Invited NCAA 2021
                 1:59.94  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Walsh, Alexandr  SO UVA               1:54.31    1:52.38 A       32  
    r:+0.74  24.43        52.58 (28.15)
        1:25.15 (32.57)     1:52.38 (27.23)
  2 Foley, Sarah E   SO Duke              1:55.41    1:54.47 IV21    28  
    r:+0.67  25.06        54.63 (29.57)
        1:27.11 (32.48)     1:54.47 (27.36)
  3 Arens, Abigail   SO NC State          1:55.76    1:55.16 IV21    27  
    r:+0.66  24.83        54.48 (29.65)
        1:27.88 (33.40)     1:55.16 (27.28)
  4 Hay, Abigail E   JR Louisville        1:55.19    1:55.25 IV21    26  
    r:+0.77  24.98        54.26 (29.28)
        1:26.95 (32.69)     1:55.25 (28.30)
  5 Nelson, Margare  JR UVA               1:55.18    1:55.93 IV21    25  
    r:+0.66  25.80        55.73 (29.93)
        1:28.29 (32.56)     1:55.93 (27.64)
  6 Moore, Kathleen  5Y NC State          1:56.07    1:56.01 IV21    24  
    r:+0.69  25.20        54.10 (28.90)
        1:29.11 (35.01)     1:56.01 (26.90)
  7 Sheble, Grace E  FR NC State          1:56.55    1:56.08 IV21    23  
    r:+0.56  25.21        55.02 (29.81)
        1:28.56 (33.54)     1:56.08 (27.52)
  8 Poole, Julia T   5Y NC State          1:56.51    1:56.27 IV21    22  
    r:+0.73  25.33        54.68 (29.35)
        1:28.31 (33.63)     1:56.27 (27.96)

Women’s 50 Freestyle

At the end of women’s racing Wednesday evening at the ACC Championships, the University of Virginia has yet to lose an event. Here, the Cavaliers went 1-2 as both Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh returned after leading UVA to an American record in the 200 free relay earlier in the night. Douglass was ahead at the turn, but Walsh used a strong underwater segment and second 25 to close the gap. In the end, Douglass out-touched Walsh, 21.00 to 21.04.

Both swimmers swam their lifetime best marks, and Douglass became the second-fastest swimmer ever behind Abbey Weitzeil (20.90) while Walsh moved to fourth all-time behind Weitzeil, Douglass and Erika Brown. Douglass also broke her own ACC record (21.09) and meet record (21.10), the latter of which she set leading off the relay earlier in the night.

Meanwhile, North Carolina Grace Countie took third in 21.45, which is the third-fastest time in the country behind Douglass and Walsh. NC State continued its impressive depth showing as Katharine Berkoff (21.66) and Kylee Alons (21.71) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.

Event 11  Women 50 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         MEET: # 21.10  2/16/2022 Katherine C Douglass, UVA-VA
         CONF: % 21.09  3/18/2021 Katherine Douglass, Virginia-VA
         AMER: $ 20.90  12/5/2019 Abbey Weitzeil, California
         USOP: & 20.90  12/5/2019 Abbey Weitzeil, California
         NCAA: ! 20.90  12/5/2019 Abbey Weitzeil, California
         Pool: ^ 21.21  3/17/2016 Olivia Smoliga, Georgia-GA
                 21.66  A
                 22.32  IV21 Invited NCAA 2021
                 22.76  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Douglass, Kathe  JR UVA                 21.25      21.00%A       32  
    r:+0.65  10.15        21.00 (10.85)
  2 Walsh, Gretchen  FR UVA                 21.25      21.04%A       28  
    r:+0.74  10.28        21.04 (10.76)
  3 Countie, Grace   SR UNC                 21.69      21.45 A       27  
    r:+0.72  10.35        21.45 (11.10)
  4 Berkoff, Kathar  JR NC State            21.69      21.66 A       26  
    r:+0.68  10.55        21.66 (11.11)
  5 Alons, Kylee J   SR NC State            21.78      21.71 IV21    25  
    r:+0.64  10.52        21.71 (11.19)
  6 Albiero, Gabrie  SO Louisville          21.78      21.77 IV21    24  
    r:+0.62  10.46        21.77 (11.31)
  7 Cuomo, Alexa M   JR UVA                 21.86      21.93 IV21    23  
    r:+0.71  10.54        21.93 (11.39)
  8 Landon, Anna G   SR Virginia Tech       22.21      22.22 IV21    22  
    r:+0.52  10.64        22.22 (11.58)
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x