Paige Madden Swims 1:58 200 Free in Virginia’s LCM Intrasquad

Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble

The Virginia swim team returned Saturday with a long course time trial in Charlottesville a day after swimming a short course intrasquad meet on Friday night. After six months away from racing, the Cavaliers opened up the 2020-21 season with some solid times as we enter the season of the coronavirus pandemic.

Senior Paige Madden put up a strong performance in the 200 freestyle with a 1:58.97, which is just off her best time of 1:57.84 from the 2019 Nationals. Madden also swam the 200 back with a 2:14.92, which was just off her best time of 2:14.2 from the 2016 Trials.

Sophomore Kate Douglass, one of the top swimmers in the NCAA this season, swam a 59.01 in the 100 butterfly, just off her 58.4 best time from the US Open in December. She also swam the 50 free in finishing second at 25.18, behind postgrad Catie DeLoof (24.73), who just started training with Todd DeSorbo and company. Douglass tied her best time in the 50 free from earlier this year in a long course duel with Auburn. The time for DeLoof is a new best time, as she was a 24.9 last year.

DeLoof also swam the 100 freestyle with a 54.63, just off her best time of 54.28 from the 2019 Nationals.

Postgrad Jack Conger returned to long course racing with a 53.27 in the 100 butterfly as his best time is a 51.00 from 2018. Conger was an Olympian in 2016 in the 4×200 freestyle relay and is a favorite to make next year’s team, reaching the semi finals of the 100 butterfly at the 2019 World Championships, finishing 11th. Conger finished ahead of undergrad Max Edwards (55.32).

Freshman Matt Brownstead made his long course debut for the Cavaliers with a 22.65 in the 50 freestyle, as the national high school record holder in the 50 free brings a lot of momentum into college.

After some head turning times yesterday, Keefer Barnum swam the 100 breast today with a 1:03.45, as Casey Storch took the 200 breast at 2:23.72. Rising sophomore Ella Nelson was the lone participant in the women’s 200 breaststroke and swam a 2:32.64.

Other winners on the day:

100 free: Justin Grender, 52.00
200 free: Sam Schilling, 1:53.66
400 free: Jack Walker, 4:05.84
100 back: Justin Grender, 56.20; Caroline Gmelich, 1:02.51
100 breast: Tanner Hering, 1:09.24
100 fly: Konnar Klinksiek, 55.39; Julia Menkhaus, 1:01.23
200 fly: Jessie Nava, 2:20.51
200 IM: Casey Storch, 2:09.74

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