{"id":530492,"date":"2023-06-28T09:27:33","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T16:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=530492"},"modified":"2023-06-28T09:27:33","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T16:27:33","slug":"u-s-nationals-gretchen-walsh-stuns-with-25-54-50-butterfly-for-top-seed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/u-s-nationals-gretchen-walsh-stuns-with-25-54-50-butterfly-for-top-seed\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Nationals: Gretchen Walsh Stuns with 25.54 50 Butterfly For Top Seed"},"content":{"rendered":"

U.S. Nationals: Gretchen Walsh Stuns with 25.54 50 Butterfly For Top Seed<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Gretchen Walsh<\/strong> used a stellar start and quick stroke to take the top seed in the 50 butterfly at the U.S. National Championships on Wednesday in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n

Walsh got to the wall in 25.54, the fifth-fastest in the world this year to earn the top seed in tonight’s final, leading a field that includes four Olympians and multiple NCAA champions.<\/p>\n

Torri Huske<\/strong> took the second seed in 25.97, followed by fellow Olympian Abbey Weitzeil<\/strong> (26.04).<\/p>\n

NCAA champion Beata Nelson was fourth at 26.21, ahead of Claire Curzan<\/strong> (26.26) and fellow Olympian Natalie Hinds<\/strong> (26.45). Ohio State’s Katherine Zenick<\/strong> (26.54) and Texas’ Olivia Bray<\/strong> tied for the seventh seed in 26.54 to earn the last two finals spots in the event at US Nationals.<\/p>\n

Kate Douglass<\/strong> scratched from the 50 butterfly after taking the top seed in the 200 breaststroke earlier in the session.<\/p>\n

Hinds, with a 26.45, won the first circle-seeded heat ahead of Gabi Albiero<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Nelson 26.21 took the next heat over Curzan (26.26).<\/p>\n

In the final heat, Gretchen Walsh was out fast and got to the wall in 25.54 ahead of Huske (25.97) and Weitzeil (26.04).<\/p>\n

The loaded field will battle it out for the world championships spots in the quick event.<\/p>\n