{"id":598773,"date":"2024-11-02T14:05:32","date_gmt":"2024-11-02T21:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=598773"},"modified":"2024-11-02T14:05:32","modified_gmt":"2024-11-02T21:05:32","slug":"gretchen-walsh-excels-again-as-virginia-women-beat-north-carolina-tar-heel-men-stay-undefeated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/gretchen-walsh-excels-again-as-virginia-women-beat-north-carolina-tar-heel-men-stay-undefeated\/","title":{"rendered":"Gretchen Walsh Excels Again as Virginia Women Beat North Carolina; Tar Heel Men Stay Undefeated"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gretchen Walsh Excels Again as Virginia Women Beat North Carolina; Tar Heel Men Stay Undefeated<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the opening act of her senior collegiate season, Gretchen Walsh\u00a0<\/strong>set a world record and three additional American records<\/a> as Virginia battled Florida in short course meters<\/a>. Now, with the Cavaliers traveling to Chapel Hill, N.C., to battle ACC rival North Carolina in a dual meet Friday, Walsh is already achieving times that only she has ever matched as Virginia’s women won by a dominant 213.5-85.5 margin.<\/p>\n

Walsh won the 50 freestyle against UNC in 20.84, less than a half-second off the fastest time ever of 20.37, which she set on the way to an NCAA title last year. She later topped the 100 butterfly in 48.43, a full second behind her top time ever from last year (47.42) but quicker than the second-fastest swimmer ever (Kate Douglass<\/strong> at 48.46).<\/p>\n

The Virginia women opened with a 200 medley relay performance that only two teams (including the Cavaliers) surpassed at last year’s NCAA Championships. Walsh,\u00a0Emma Weber<\/strong>,\u00a0Claire Curzan<\/strong> and\u00a0Anna Moesch<\/strong> recorded a mark of 1:33.81, with each swimmer having the fastest split in the field on their respective legs, and it would be no surprise if this is the group that pursues another national title in the event in March.<\/p>\n

Walsh split 22.96 on the medley relay, and she concluded the day by going 20.47 as the second leg on Virginia’s winning 200 medley relay. Moesch, Curzan and\u00a0Maxine Parker<\/strong> joined Walsh on the way to a winning time of 1:26.25. For this relay, only three teams (including UVA) beat that time at the 2024 NCAAs.<\/p>\n

Curzan also shined individually, recording a mark of 50.54 to win the 100 backstroke before returning to dominate the 200 back in 1:51.84. Weber, who finished second in the 100-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic Trials, won the yards equivalent event in 58.77. Aimee Canny<\/strong> clocked 1:44.31 to win the 200 free, and she added the win in the 200 breast in 2:07.60.<\/p>\n

Sophia Knapp<\/strong> led the way for Virginia in the 1000 free (9:40.25), and Maxine Parker<\/strong> grabbed the win in the 100 free (48.18).\u00a0Tess Howley<\/strong> was the winner of the 200 fly (1:54.73).\u00a0Cavan Gormsen<\/strong> touched first in the 500 free (4:40.46). Freshman Leah Hayes<\/strong> capped off Virginia’s sweep of the swimming individual events as she won the 200 IM in 1:56.22.<\/p>\n

North Carolina’s\u00a0Aranza Vazquez Montano<\/strong> shined in diving, winning 1-meter (347.85) and 3-meter (345.30).<\/p>\n