Alex Walsh Becomes Second-Fastest Swimmer Ever in 200 Breaststroke at ACC Championships

Alex Walsh -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Alex Walsh Becomes Second-Fastest Swimmer Ever in 200 Breaststroke at ACC Championships

Last season, Virginia’s Alex Walsh finished fifth in the 200 breaststroke at the NCAA Championships, but it appeared Walsh may change up her schedule of events for this season after strong performances in the 400 IM and 200 fly at the Cavaliers’ midseason invitational. However, for the ACC Championships, Walsh returned to an identical program to her freshman year, which included the 200 free and 200 breast. After she swam a time quicker than last year’s NCAA winning time in the 200 free Thursday, she did even better in the 200 breast.

Facing off against 2021 NCAA champion Sophie Hansson of NC State, Walsh opened up a lead of seven tenths with 50 yards to go, and her split of 1:30.73 was less than two tenths off Lilly King’s American-record pace. Walsh ended up finishing in 2:03.02, and that made her the second-fastest woman in history. Only King (2:02.60) has ever been quicker.

Previously, Virginia teammate Kate Douglass had been the No. 2 performer in history with her 2:03.14 from the Cavalier Invitational two weeks ago. Walsh broke Douglass’ ACC record with that swim, and she also beat Emma Reaney’s 2014 meet record of 2:04.34. Now, it will be up to Virginia head coach Todd DeSorbo and his staff to determine whether Walsh or Douglass will swim the event at the NCAA Championships. Given the versatility and multi-event scoring potential of both swimmers, it’s unlikely to see both of them in the 200 breast.

Hansson ended up finishing second in the race at 2:03.75, under her lifetime best of 2:03.86 from NCAAs last year. Virginia’s Ella Nelson finished well to take third in 2:04.95, not far off the 2:04.35 she swam to take second at NCAAs last year. Hansson moved to third in the national rankings in the 200 breast, while Nelson ranks fifth.

Live results

Event 38  Women 200 Yard Breaststroke
=========================================================================
         MEET: # 2:04.34  2/22/2014 Emma Reaney, Notre Dame
         CONF: % 2:03.14  2/5/2022  Katherine Douglass, UVA-VA
         AMER: $ 2:02.60  3/20/2018 LIlly King, Indiana
         USOP: & 2:02.60  3/20/2018 Lilly King, Indiana
         NCAA: ! 2:02.60  3/20/2018 Lilly King, Indiana
         Pool: ^ 2:03.59  3/19/2016 Lilly King, Indiana-IN
                 2:06.58  A
                 2:10.37  IV21 Invited NCAA 2021
                 2:13.97  B
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Walsh, Alexandr  SO UVA               2:05.11    2:03.02%A       32  
    r:+0.76  27.84        59.09 (31.25)
        1:30.73 (31.64)     2:03.02 (32.29)
  2 Hansson, Sophie  SR NC State          2:07.05    2:03.75#A       28  
    r:+0.76  28.00        59.42 (31.42)
        1:31.39 (31.97)     2:03.75 (32.36)
  3 Nelson, Ella E   JR UVA               2:06.51    2:04.95 A       27  
    r:+0.68  28.92      1:00.44 (31.52)
        1:32.48 (32.04)     2:04.95 (32.47)
  4 Foley, Sarah E   SO Duke              2:09.05    2:06.63 IV21    26  
    r:+0.73  28.57      1:00.68 (32.11)
        1:33.72 (33.04)     2:06.63 (32.91)
  5 Podmanikova, An  SR NC State          2:08.16    2:06.78 IV21    25  
    r:+0.75  28.26      1:00.00 (31.74)
        1:33.38 (33.38)     2:06.78 (33.40)
  6 Keating, Anna E  SO UVA               2:08.65    2:07.86 IV21    24  
    r:+0.73  28.87      1:01.15 (32.28)
        1:34.13 (32.98)     2:07.86 (33.73)
  7 Wenger, Alexis   SR UVA               2:07.27    2:07.87 IV21    23  
    r:+0.62  28.52      1:00.82 (32.30)
        1:33.78 (32.96)     2:07.87 (34.09)
  8 Maccausland, He  JR NC State          2:09.20    2:12.22 B       22  
    r:+0.70  29.41      1:02.31 (32.90)
        1:36.91 (34.60)     2:12.22 (35.31)

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