{"id":599357,"date":"2024-11-12T06:17:55","date_gmt":"2024-11-12T13:17:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=599357"},"modified":"2024-11-12T06:17:55","modified_gmt":"2024-11-12T13:17:55","slug":"college-swimming-check-in-unexpected-names-leading-womens-national-rankings-entering-midseason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/college-swimming-check-in-unexpected-names-leading-womens-national-rankings-entering-midseason\/","title":{"rendered":"College Swimming Check-in: Unexpected Names Leading Women’s National Rankings Entering Midseason"},"content":{"rendered":"

College Swimming Check-in: Unexpected Names Leading Women’s National Rankings Entering Midseason<\/strong><\/p>\n

The fall slate of college dual meets has largely concluded, with top teams now turning their attention to midseason invitations that will provide the top times in the country in most events while providing insight into who is best positioned for championship season.<\/p>\n

On the women\u2019s side, the undisputed star of NCAA swimming is University of Virginia senior Gretchen Walsh<\/strong><\/a>, but outside of her signature sprint events, there is some parity across the board right now, with some unexpected names leading the way in national rankings. Expect some significant changes within the next two weeks, but for now, here are some swimmers sitting atop their respective events.<\/p>\n

100 Freestyle: Camille Spink, Tennessee (47.30)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This Volunteers sophomore had an up-and-down first year of college swimming. She was an NCAA A-finalist in the 200 free before she was disqualified for a false start, and she narrowly missed making the top heat of the 100 free on the national level. She qualified for a pair of semifinals at the U.S. Olympic Trials (200 free and 200 IM) but did not make it back in her best event, the 100 free. Right now, though, Spink sits ahead of the country\u2019s top sprinters in the 100 free, although Walsh has yet to race this event in yards.<\/p>\n

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Minna Abraham — Photo Courtesy: European Aquatics<\/p><\/div>\n

200 Freestyle: Minna Abraham, USC (1:42.01)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Abraham is currently more than a second clear of anyone else in the national rankings in this event, having notched a mark just four hundredths off the 1:41.96 she swam to finish third at last year\u2019s NCAA Championships. We\u2019ll see what Bella Sims<\/strong>, Anna Peplowski<\/strong>, Aimee Canny<\/strong> and others have in store for midseason, but we won\u2019t be surprised to see Abraham right in the mix in this event again. She recently placed 14th in the 200-meter free at the Paris Olympics.<\/p>\n

500 Freestyle: Jillian Cox, Texas (4:34.41)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coming off a pair of heartbreaking third-place finishes in the 400 and 800-meter free at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Cox has started off strong in college swimming. Her 500 time of 4:34.41 is more than three seconds clear of anyone else in the national rankings, and only four swimmers beat that time at last year\u2019s NCAA Championships. Expect Cox to position herself in the conversation for a national title in the 1650 free as well when she races that event at midseason.<\/p>\n