Tennessee Invitational: Gretchen Walsh Swims Third-Fastest Time Ever in 50 Freestyle, Blazes in Relay Action
Whenever Gretchen Walsh races in any collegiate meet of significance, you can expect a record scare, and it was nearly inevitable that she would push some of her own NCAA and American marks as her University of Virginia Cavaliers raced this week at the Tennessee Invitational. Indeed, Walsh put on her usual show in the sprint events, posting the second-fastest 50 freestyle relay split ever, while on the men’s side, the Tennessee sprint group led by Jordan Crooks showed out.
Walsh split 20.09 in Virginia’s winning 200 free relay, combining with teammates Claire Curzan, Maxine Parker and Anna Moesch to post a time of 1:24.68. That time was a whopping eight tenths quicker than Louisville swam to finish second behind Virginia at last year’s NCAA Championships while Walsh’s split was behind her own 19.95 from last season’s ACC Championships on the all-time list. Walsh also owns the third and fourth-best splits ever at 20.19 and 20.23, respectively.
Notably, Tennessee took second in the relay as Camille Spink split 20.98 on the second leg. Jillian Crooks, Emily Armen and Brooklyn Douthwright also raced for the Lady Vols on the way to a time of 1:27.11.
Later in the session, Walsh swam a time of 20.54 to win the 50 free, the third-quickest mark in history behind her own times of 20.37 and 20.41 recorded at the NCAA Championships in March. The time beat the pool record of 20.79, which is especially notable since it was the fastest time ever when Maggie Mac Neil swam it on her way to winning the 2023 NCAA title in the event. Walsh tied the record last year before lowering the record to unthinkable heights in the spring.
In the men’s relay, the elder Crooks sibling led off in 18.12, and he was joined by Nikoli Blackman, Lamar Taylor and Gui Caribe on the way to a time of 1:13.96. The mark would have placed third at last year’s NCAAs, and it was four tenths ahead of Tennessee’s own fifth-place result.
Additionally, Virginia’s Aimee Canny edged out Tennessee’s Ella Jansen to win the 500 free, 4:35.43 to 4:35.85, while the Lady Vols’ Julia Mrozinski took third in 4:39.68. Tennessee’s Josephine Fuller grabbed first in the 200 IM in 1:52.84, beating out the Virginia freshman duo of Leah Hayes (1:53.84) and Katie Christopher (1:56.39).
The men’s 500 free went to Kentucky’s Carson Hick in 4:15.45, ahead of Tennessee’s Joaquin Vargas (4:16.29) and Virginia’s David King (4:16.30). Virginia’s men got a win in the 200 IM from Sebastien Sergile, who clocked 1:42.63, ahead of Tennessee’s Bjoern Kammann (1:43.90) and Virginia’s Colin Bitz (1:44.79).
In time trial action, Curzan clocked a time of 1:42.96 in the 200 free, a half-second shy of her lifetime best of 1:24.43 set in March 2022 and the country’s second-fastest time behind USC’s Minna Abraham (1:42.01), although those rankings are sure to change during the busy weekend of invitationals.
