Gretchen Walsh is in a zone few swimmers ever reach, so elite, a record is a possibility – even expected.
At ACCs, the Virginia junior blasted the NCAA and American record in the 50-yard freestyle.
At NCAA prelims, she was even faster, going a 20.41, stunning the crowd with an incredible 9.99 split on the first 25.
More speed was expected in the finals. It was 9.88 to start in the finals and Walsh broke her own record with a 20.37, another NCAA and American record.
The fastest woman in history.
“It is all about finding the hundredths of a second to trop. I was kind of amazed,” Walsh said in the on-deck interview.
It shouldn’t be overlooked as NC State’s Katharine Berkoff was second in 21.09 as she inches closer to the 21 barrier.
But the champion continued her dominant meet.
On Wednesday, Walsh had the fastest 50 backstroke relay split of all time in 22.10.
The meet isn’t even halfway over, either. Walsh still has two more individual events and two more relays to stun the swimming world.
How has she been able to be at NCAA-record form at the ACC Championships and then go even faster at NCAAs with such a short turnaround?
“We actually do the same exact thing every year. It was bringing out a lot of memories from my first year and second year,” Gretchen Walsh said. “It is nice to know that what has always worked is what we are doing. Every year I have been fast at ACCs and even faster at NCAAs. The first couple weeks after ACCs is really hard on your body and your mind. You have just missed a week of school, so that is on your mind. We were all destroyed by the end of that first week.
“That is what sets us up so well. It is not easy. We know we have to bring up the intensity to another level to perform better here.”
Virginia’s Jasmine Nocentini was third in 21.10 ahead of a trio of Louisville Cardinals.
Christiana Regenauer finished fourth (21.48), followed by Julia Dennis (21.60) and Gabi Albiero (21.67).
Virginia’s Maxine Parker and Michigan’s Brady Kendall tied for seventh (21.74).
Event 5 Women 50 Yard Freestyle
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NCAA: N 20.37 3/21/2024 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia-US
Meet: M 20.37 3/21/2024 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia-US
American: A 20.37 3/21/2024 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia-US
US Open: O 20.37 3/21/2024 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia-US
Pool: P 20.37 3/21/2024 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia-US
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
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=== Championship Final ===
1 Walsh, Gretchen JR Virginia 20.41 20.37N 20
r:+0.75 9.88 20.37 (10.49)
2 Berkoff, Katharine 5Y NC State 21.23 21.09 17
r:+0.69 10.24 21.09 (10.85)
3 Nocentini, Jasmine SR Virginia 21.29 21.10 16
r:+0.61 10.02 21.10 (11.08)
4 Regenauer, Christiana 5Y Louisville 21.37 21.48 15
r:+0.66 10.40 21.48 (11.08)
5 Dennis, Julia SO Louisville 21.71 21.60 14
r:+0.61 10.26 21.60 (11.34)
6 Albiero, Gabi SR Louisville 21.54 21.67 13
r:+0.63 10.42 21.67 (11.25)
7 Parker, Maxine SR Virginia 21.71 21.74 11.5
r:+0.70 10.52 21.74 (11.22)
7 Kendall, Brady SO Michigan 21.69 21.74 11.5
r:+0.65 10.46 21.74 (11.28)
