2022 NCAA Women’s Championships: Kate Douglass Lowers NCAA, American Record in 50 Free For Title

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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2022 NCAA Women’s Championships: Kate Douglass Lowers NCAA, American Record in 50 Free For Title

After breaking the NCAA and American record in the prelims, Virginia’s Kate Douglass was aiming for more.

But in the 50 freestyle, time drops are extremely difficult, especially with a loaded field gunning for you. But Douglass was able to go even faster in finals.

After breaking the recording 20.87 during prelims, Douglass had just enough to go even faster, touching the wall in 20.84 to re-break her own mark and give the Cavaliers their second consecutive NCAA record after Alex Walsh did so to win the 200 IM. The previous record was 20.90 set by Cal’s Abbey Weitzeil in 2019.

“After ACCs, I was pretty excited to swim the 50 here. Going 21.0 was exciting and I thought I might be able to go under that mark. That was awesome to see that record go down because that was a goal of mine since the start of the season,” Douglass said.

Virginia teammate Gretchen Walsh was also sub-21 and finished second in 20.95 giving the Cavaliers a huge point total from the meet and continue the seismic shift in sprinting powers from the West Coast to the East Coast.

The duo then shifted their focus to the 200 freestyle relay as Virginia sprinters looked to continue their dominance.

Michigan senior Maggie Mac Neil took third in 21.38.

Douglass was out in a stunning 10.09 before coming back in 10.75. Watch was out in 10.14 and back in 10.81, while Mac Neil was out in 10.28 and back in 11.10.

Alabama went 4-5 with Morgan Scott (21.43) and Cora Dupre (21.47).

North Carolina’s Grace Countie took sixth (21.54), followed by NC State’s Katharine Berkoff (21.55) and Kylee Alons (21.68).

Louisville’s Gabi Albiero won a fast B final in 21.69.

Complete meet coverage

Live Results

 Event 5  Women 50 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 20.87  3/17/2022 Kate Douglass, Virginia
         Meet: M 20.87  3/17/2022 Kate Douglass, Virginia
     American: A 20.87  3/17/2022 Kate Douglass, Virginia
      US Open: O 20.87  3/17/2022 Kate Douglass, Virginia
         Pool: P 20.87  3/17/2022 Kate Douglass, Virginia
    Name                 Year School            Prelims     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
                       === Championship Final ===                        
 
  1 Douglass, Kate         JR Virginia            20.87      20.84N  20  
    r:+0.61  10.09        20.84 (10.75)
  2 Walsh, Gretchen        FR Virginia            21.09      20.95   17  
    r:+0.71  10.14        20.95 (10.81)
  3 MacNeil, Maggie        SR Michigan            21.53      21.38   16  
    r:+0.61  10.28        21.38 (11.10)
  4 Scott, Morgan          SR Alabama             21.72      21.43   15  
    r:+0.66  10.32        21.43 (11.11)
  5 Dupre, Cora            JR Alabama             21.47      21.47   14  
    r:+0.60  10.40        21.47 (11.07)
  6 Countie, Grace         SR UNC                 21.53      21.54   13  
    r:+0.69  10.26        21.54 (11.28)
  7 Berkoff, Katharine     JR NCSU                21.56      21.55   12  
    r:+0.66  10.44        21.55 (11.11)
  8 Alons, Kylee           SR NCSU                21.62      21.68   11  
    r:+0.64  10.45        21.68 (11.23)
 
                        === Consolation Final ===                        
 
  9 Albiero, Gabi          SO Louisville          21.81      21.69    9  
    r:+0.61  10.45        21.69 (11.24)
 10 Antoniou, Kalia        SR Alabama             21.90      21.73    7  
    r:+0.64  10.59        21.73 (11.14)
 11 Fulmer, Amy            JR Ohio St             21.88      21.88    6  
    r:+0.68  10.75        21.88 (11.13)
 12 Kutsch, AJ             JR Tennessee           21.82      21.95    5  
    r:+0.68  10.60        21.95 (11.35)
 13 Grover, Claire         SR UCLA                21.82      22.01    4  
    r:+0.66  10.43        22.01 (11.58)
 14 Cuomo, Lexi            JR Virginia            21.80      22.03    3  
    r:+0.67  10.66        22.03 (11.37)
 15 Keil, Megan            SR Missouri            21.99      22.09    2  
    r:+0.60  10.70        22.09 (11.39)
 16 Henig, Iszac           JR Yale                21.94      22.18    1  
    r:+0.65  10.60        22.18 (11.58)
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