Gretchen Walsh Uncorks Another Historic Performance in Virginia’s Tri-Meet With NC State, North Carolina

Gretchen Walsh -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Gretchen Walsh Uncorks Another Historic Performance in Virginia’s Tri-Meet With NC State, North Carolina

For the past year-and-a-half, University of Virginia junior Gretchen Walsh has made unbelievable performances a regular occurrence at all times of year, even while racing in practice suits at in-season meets.

One week ago, Walsh blasted a time of 56.78 in the 100-meter butterfly at the Knoxville Pro Series, defeating Olympic gold medalist Maggie Mac Neil in the process, and then she raced the following day at Virginia’s dual meet against Virginia Tech, where she posted one of the fastest 50-yard fly splits ever. To start off a two-day home tri-meet against Atlantic Coast Conference rivals NC State and North Carolina, Walsh was at it again.

Still racing without a tech suit, Walsh began the day by swimming the third-fastest time ever in the 100-yard backstroke. Leading off a Virginia 400 medley relay team, Walsh clocked 48.77, just a half-second off the American and NCAA records of 48.26 she swam in winning last season’s NCAA title. The only other swimmer to ever surpass that time is NC State’s Katharine Berkoff, who owns a top mark of 48.74, and Berkoff was in the next lane over as Walsh scorched her 48-second swim, with the Wolfpack fifth-year swimmer mustering a time of 50.88 that would normally be considered exceptional for an in-season meet. But the Virginia team of Walsh, Jasmine Nocentini, Alex Walsh and Maxine Parker dominated with a final time of 3:28.03.

Up next, the younger Walsh checked in with a mark of 20.98 in the 50 free, less than two tenths off her own 20.79 that stands as the American record and tied with Mac Neil for the NCAA record. In addition to the co-record-holding duo, former Virginia star Kate Douglass is the only other swimmer to ever break 21.

But Walsh might be on the verge of another barrier in the splash-and-dash, and that’s the 20-second mark for a 50 free relay split. In her third race of the day, she split 20.19 on the second leg of the Cavaliers’ 200 free relay, which is believed to be the quickest mark ever. Previously, Arkansas’ Anna Hopkin had been 20.27 while Douglass went 20.34 at last season’s NCAA Championships. With more rest and the addition of a tech suit at the upcoming ACC Championships and NCAA Championships, Walsh could reach the 19s.

Of course, Virginia will be heavily favored in all sprint relays at the major meets. Against tough Wolfpack and Tar Heel squads, Nocentini, Parker and Carly Novelline joined with Walsh to record a time of 1:26.47 and win by almost four seconds.

These efforts pushed the Virginia women into a big lead against NC State and UNC, with the Cavaliers up 129-48 on the Wolfpack and 125.5-41.5 on the Tar Heels.

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In other events, Cavan Gormsen won the 500 free in 4:43.41 while Sophia Knapp took second (4:46.87) for a Cavaliers 1-2 finish while fellow freshman Tess Howley was victorious in the 200 back (1:53.47). Aimee Canny grabbed the win in the 200 breaststroke (2:10.75) while Abby Harter won the 200 fly (1:57.91). The older Walsh sister, Alex, led a 1-2 finish in the 400 IM, with Alex clocking 4:00.52 and Ella Nelson coming in at 4:04.24. The only non-Virginia win on the women’s side belonged to NC State’s Bayleigh Cranford, who scored 326.55 to win 3-meter diving.

On the men’s side, it was a completely different story as NC State dominated the first day, leading Virginia 117-50 while both the Wolfpack and the Cavaliers were ahead of the Tar Heels. The Wolfpack men opened with a 400 medley relay win as Kacper Stokowski, Sam Hoover, Luke Miller and Quintin McCarty clocked 3:07.89. In the day’s final event, NC State actually went 1-2 in the 200 free relay, with McCarty, Hoover, Noah Henderson and Jerry Fox posting the top time at 1:16.95.

The 500 free marked a 1-2 finish for NC State with James Plage winning in 4:23.65 ahead of teammate Owen Lloyd (4:24.96), and a few events later, Noah Bowers won the 200 fly (1:45.27) with teammate Aiden Hayes second (1:46.72). McCarty stormed to a top time in the 50 free at 19.27, and in his debut swim for the Wolfpack, talented freshman Daniel Diehl won the 200 back by more than three seconds in 1:42.64. Men’s 1-meter diving went to NC State’s Bayne Bennett (349.95).

In the non-NC State triumphs, Virginia’s Noah Nichols was the winner in the 200 breast (1:56.15) while UNC’s Louis Dramm topped the 400 IM (3:44.41). Meanwhile, Jack Aikins swam exhibition in the 200 back and recorded a time of 1:41.49, quicker than Diehl’s official winning time. Aikins will represent the U.S. at the World Championships next month in Doha.

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