NCAA Women’s Championships: Alex Walsh Completes Sister Sweep, Wins 200 Breast; Second-Fastest Ever

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

After Gretchen Walsh won her third individual title of the 2024 NCAA Championships, it was Alex Walsh’s turn.

The sisters have dominated the meet like no other siblings have in history – and few teammates have, either.

Alex Walsh won the 200 breaststroke in 2:02.07 – her final individual event of the meet – and possibly her career.

The senior has yet to decide whether she is returning for a fifth year of eligibility at Virginia.

Alex Walsh pulled slightly ahead after the first 50 in 28.04. The lead grew a bit by the 100 as Walsh was at 58.92. By the 150 it was a body-length lead at 1:30.11 ahead of Tennessee’s Mona McSharry.

Walsh was strong off the last wall and touched in 2:02.07, her best time – second all-time to former teammate Kate Douglass (2:01.29).

Alex Walsh won the 200 IM and 400 IM earlier in the meet, her third win in each of those events in her career. This was the first win in the 200 breaststroke in her NCAA career. She was fifth as a freshman and didn’t swim the event the past two seasons.

“That record from last year was pretty legendary and I just went for it, but I knew it would be tough after the 400 IM day. So I am really happy with a best time,” Walsh said. “It feels really cool to be a part of history. This race was very different from the IMs. I felt the pressure with the IMs and today, I just tried to spend this last day cherishing it with my friends and my family.”

McSharry finished second in 2:04.07, while Virginia fifth-year Ella Nelson was third in 2:04.80, all three breaking the previous pool record.

Duke sophomore Kaelyn Gridley took fourth in 2:04.94, followed by Texas senior Anna Elendt (2:05.16), USC senior Kaitlyn Dobler (2:05.77), Tennessee freshman Emilie Fast (2:06.79) and Virginia senior Anna Keating (2:07.32).

Texas’ Lydia Jacoby won the consolation final in 2:06.82.

Event 18  Women 200 Yard Breaststroke
=========================================================================
         NCAA: N 2:01.29  3/18/2023 Kate Douglass, Virginia
         Meet: M 2:01.29  3/18/2023 Kate Douglass, Virginia
     American: A 2:01.29  3/18/2023 Kate Douglass, Virginia
      US Open: O 2:01.29  3/18/2023 Kate Douglass, Virginia
         Pool: P 2:04.80  2/23/2019 Anna Belousova, Texas A&M
    Name                 Year School            Prelims     Finals Points 
=========================================================================
                       === Championship Final ===                        
 
  1 Walsh, Alex            SR Virginia          2:05.59    2:02.07P  20  
    r:+0.76  28.04        58.92 (30.88)
        1:30.11 (31.19)     2:02.07 (31.96)
  2 McSharry, Mona         SR Tennessee         2:05.53    2:04.07P  17  
    r:+0.68  28.38        59.64 (31.26)
        1:31.53 (31.89)     2:04.07 (32.54)
  3 Nelson, Ella           5Y Virginia          2:05.75    2:04.80P  16  
    r:+0.71  28.61      1:00.14 (31.53)
        1:32.22 (32.08)     2:04.80 (32.58)
  4 Gridley, Kaelyn        SO Duke              2:06.10    2:04.94   15  
    r:+0.71  28.44        59.80 (31.36)
        1:32.07 (32.27)     2:04.94 (32.87)
  5 Elendt, Anna           SR Texas             2:07.24    2:05.16   14  
    r:+0.71  28.19        59.42 (31.23)
        1:31.68 (32.26)     2:05.16 (33.48)
  6 Dobler, Kaitlyn        SR USC               2:07.30    2:05.77   13  
    r:+0.65  28.88      1:00.91 (32.03)
        1:33.34 (32.43)     2:05.77 (32.43)
  7 Fast, Emelie           FR Tennessee         2:07.17    2:06.79   12  
    r:+0.67  28.67      1:00.74 (32.07)
        1:33.55 (32.81)     2:06.79 (33.24)
  8 Keating, Anna          SR Virginia          2:06.98    2:07.32   11  
    r:+0.72  28.73      1:00.72 (31.99)
        1:33.55 (32.83)     2:07.32 (33.77)

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