ACC Championships, Day 3 Prelims: Gretchen Walsh, Youssef Ramadan Fast in 100 Fly
It has become news when Gretchen Walsh doesn’t set a record in a swim, such is the Virginia star’s stature. So Thursday, on the third day of the ACC Championships, Walsh delivered a ho-hum 49.32 seconds in the women’s 100 butterfly, a top seed by nearly two seconds.
Just light work for the Cavaliers’ latest all-conquering star.
Both NCAA favorites in the 100 fly were in action Thursday morning at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, with reigning men’s 100 fly champ Youssef Ramadan easily through as the top seed for Virginia Tech in the men’s event.
The big change is Alex Walsh scratching out of the individual events on Thursday. She had carried the top 400 individual medley time into the meet at 4:00.52. She was seeded second in the 200 free and sixth in the 100 fly.
All the morning prelims action:
Team Scores
Men - Team Rankings - Through Event 14 1. North Carolina State Universit 531.5 2. Notre Dame, University of 335.5 3. Louisville, University of 302 4. VA Tech 298.5 5. Florida State University 292 6. Virginia, University of 249.5 7. Georgia Institute of Technolog 235 8. North Carolina, University of 223 9. Pittsburgh, University of 193 10. Duke University 130 11. University of Miami (Florida) 54
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 15 1. Virginia, University of 552 2. Louisville, University of 473.5 3. North Carolina State Universit 418 4. Duke University 332 5. North Carolina, University of 328 6. Notre Dame, University of 274 7. VA Tech 253.5 8. Florida State University 217 9. Pittsburgh, University of 183 10. Georgia Institute of Technolog 177 11. University of Miami (Florida) 162
Women’s 400 individual medley
Virginia started the day in control of the team competition, about 80 points to the good. The IM should put that out of reach, the Cavaliers qualifying the top three times. Margaret Nelson leads the way in 4:09.07, the top seed and only one under 4:11. She owns the top seed time of the season at 4:03.61.
Second was Ella Bathurst, with the Cavs’ Anna Keating in third. Louisville put two in the A final, led by fourth-place Kim Herkle.
vent 16 Women 400 Yard IM
==================================================================
MEET: # 3:59.33 2/16/2023 Ella E Nelson, UVA-VA
CONF: % 3:57.25 3/18/2022 Alex Walsh, UVA-VA
AMER: $ 3:54.60 3/16/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
USOP: & 3:54.60 3/16/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
NCAA: ! 3:54.60 3/16/2018 Ella Eastin, Stanford
Pool: * 3:59.33 2/16/2023 Ella Nelson, UVA-VA
4:03.62 A
4:11.36 IV23 Invited NCAA 2023
4:17.30 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Nelson, Margare UVA 4:03.61 4:09.07 qIV23
r:+0.77 26.62 56.30 (29.68)
1:28.61 (32.31) 2:00.37 (31.76)
2:34.34 (33.97) 3:08.77 (34.43)
3:39.52 (30.75) 4:09.07 (29.55)
2 Bathurst, Ella UVA 4:10.46 4:11.28 qIV23
r:+0.71 26.93 57.32 (30.39)
1:28.68 (31.36) 2:00.80 (32.12)
2:35.97 (35.17) 3:12.33 (36.36)
3:42.28 (29.95) 4:11.28 (29.00)
3 Keating, Anna UVA 4:15.46 4:12.36 qB
r:+0.71 27.76 58.53 (30.77)
1:32.81 (34.28) 2:05.74 (32.93)
2:39.80 (34.06) 3:13.90 (34.10)
3:43.89 (29.99) 4:12.36 (28.47)
4 Herkle, Kim Louisville 4:09.46 4:12.61 qB
r:+0.73 27.18 58.25 (31.07)
1:31.10 (32.85) 2:04.00 (32.90)
2:37.93 (33.93) 3:13.06 (35.13)
3:43.50 (30.44) 4:12.61 (29.11)
5 Sheble, Grace NC State 4:09.12 4:12.85 qB
r:+0.68 26.54 56.72 (30.18)
1:28.94 (32.22) 2:00.74 (31.80)
2:36.59 (35.85) 3:12.96 (36.37)
3:43.22 (30.26) 4:12.85 (29.63)
6 Helms, Katherin NC State 4:12.50 4:12.86 qB
r:+0.76 27.37 58.59 (31.22)
1:31.01 (32.42) 2:02.90 (31.89)
2:39.09 (36.19) 3:15.64 (36.55)
3:45.21 (29.57) 4:12.86 (27.65)
7 Campbell, McKen GT 4:11.72 4:13.64 qB
r:+0.67 26.52 56.75 (30.23)
1:29.29 (32.54) 2:01.86 (32.57)
2:37.65 (35.79) 3:14.00 (36.35)
3:44.48 (30.48) 4:13.64 (29.16)
8 Ulett, Ryenne Louisville 4:14.68 4:14.49 qB
r:+0.75 27.18 57.46 (30.28)
1:29.78 (32.32) 2:01.38 (31.60)
2:38.40 (37.02) 3:16.04 (37.64)
3:45.79 (29.75) 4:14.49 (28.70)
Men’s 400 individual medley
Thomas Bried of Louisville was the fastest qualifier in the morning, popping a 3:42.36 to lead the field. He’s 1.5 seconds up on NC State’s Kenneth Lloyd, with fellow Wolfpack swimmer Kyle Ponsler third.
Event 17 Men 400 Yard IM
==================================================================
MEET: # 3:38.43 3/1/2017 Robert Owen, VT-VA
CONF: % 3:38.00 3/27/2009 Gal Nevo, Georgia Tech
AMER: $ 3:33.42 3/24/2017 Chase Kalisz, Georgia
USOP: & 3:28.82 3/24/2023 Leon Marchand, Arizona St.
NCAA: ! 3:28.82 3/24/2023 Leon Marchand, Arizona St.
Pool: * 3:33.65 11/18/2022Leon Marchand, ASU
3:38.90 A
3:42.99 IV23 Invited NCAA 2023
3:50.68 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Bried, Thomas Louisville 3:45.99 3:42.36 qIV23
r:+0.64 23.63 49.64 (26.01)
1:18.80 (29.16) 1:47.30 (28.50)
2:18.15 (30.85) 2:49.61 (31.46)
3:16.53 (26.92) 3:42.36 (25.83)
2 Lloyd, Kenneth NC State 3:42.54 3:44.07 qB
r:+0.76 23.85 51.08 (27.23)
1:20.09 (29.01) 1:48.13 (28.04)
2:20.88 (32.75) 2:53.11 (32.23)
3:19.13 (26.02) 3:44.07 (24.94)
3 Ponsler, Kyle NC State NT 3:44.50 qB
r:+0.68 23.58 50.70 (27.12)
1:19.14 (28.44) 1:46.62 (27.48)
2:18.54 (31.92) 2:50.69 (32.15)
3:18.33 (27.64) 3:44.50 (26.17)
4 Styczen, Matthe UVA 3:46.66 3:44.60 qB
r:+0.71 24.01 50.99 (26.98)
1:20.07 (29.08) 1:48.22 (28.15)
2:19.59 (31.37) 2:51.69 (32.10)
3:18.67 (26.98) 3:44.60 (25.93)
5 Matteazzi, Mass Pitt 3:46.99 3:45.07 qB
r:+0.66 23.01 49.37 (26.36)
1:17.39 (28.02) 1:45.55 (28.16)
2:17.66 (32.11) 2:50.32 (32.66)
3:18.00 (27.68) 3:45.07 (27.07)
6 Sergile, Sebast UVA 3:47.32 3:45.22 qB
r:+0.65 24.11 51.93 (27.82)
1:21.24 (29.31) 1:50.34 (29.10)
2:21.50 (31.16) 2:53.75 (32.25)
3:19.83 (26.08) 3:45.22 (25.39)
7 Dramm, Louis UNC 3:44.41 3:45.59 qB
r:+0.70 23.76 51.20 (27.44)
1:20.06 (28.86) 1:48.07 (28.01)
2:19.94 (31.87) 2:52.01 (32.07)
3:19.49 (27.48) 3:45.59 (26.10)
8 Garcia, Nicolas VA Tech 3:50.81 3:45.90 qB
r:+0.60 24.12 52.38 (28.26)
1:20.63 (28.25) 1:48.04 (27.41)
2:20.28 (32.24) 2:53.31 (33.03)
3:20.10 (26.79) 3:45.90 (25.80)
Women’s 100 butterfly
Gretchen Walsh is out front, again. She went 49.32 in the morning, well clear of the field. It’s slightly slower than the 49.11 she posted in-season. The 48.84 thrown down by Kate Douglass last year is the aim for the final. That time stands as the meet record. (Douglass was 48.46 at NCAAs).
Second in the race is Louisville’s Gabi Albiero in 51.15. Teammate Christiana Regenauer is the fourth seed, with Pitt’s Sophie Yendell in between. Abby Arens of NC State is also a medal contender in fifth.
Event 18 Women 100 Yard Butterfly
==================================================================
MEET: # 48.84 2/16/2023 Kate C Douglass, UVA-VA
CONF: % 48.46 2/16/2023 Kate C Douglass, UVA-VA
AMER: $ 48.46 3/17/2023 Kate C Douglass, UVA-VA
USOP: & 48.46 3/17/2023 Kate C Douglass, UVA-VA
NCAA: ! 48.46 3/17/2023 Kate C Douglass, UVA-VA
Pool: * 48.84 2/16/2023 Katherine Douglass, UVA-VA
50.69 A
52.20 IV23 Invited NCAA 2023
53.63 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Walsh, Gretchen UVA 49.11 49.32 qA
r:+0.77 22.90 49.32 (26.42)
2 Albiero, Gabrie Louisville 50.83 51.15 qIV23
r:+0.64 23.44 51.15 (27.71)
3 Yendell, Sophie Pitt 52.08 51.24 qIV23
r:+0.71 23.70 51.24 (27.54)
4 Regenauer, Chri Louisville 51.41 51.33 qIV23
r:+0.69 23.86 51.33 (27.47)
5 Arens, Abigail NC State 51.45 51.53 qIV23
r:+0.67 24.12 51.53 (27.41)
6 Novelline, Carl UVA 52.98 51.85 qIV23
r:+0.64 23.94 51.85 (27.91)
7 Carvalho, Giuli Miami 51.51 51.87 qIV23
r:+0.60 23.95 51.87 (27.92)
8 Halden, Jenny FSU 51.83 52.13 qIV23
r:+0.66 24.04 52.13 (28.09)
Men’s 100 butterfly
Youssef Ramadan led the way, but it should be a scintillating final. The Virginia Tech NCAA champ and conference record holder went a season-best 44.37 in prelims, an NCAA A cut and better than the 44.85 he entered with. He was only four tenths up on Aiden Hayes of NC State, though.
The Wolfpack will have something to say in the final, with four A finalists. Third is Lukas Miller in 45.01, .11 seconds ahead of teammate Noah Henderson. Noah Bowers was seventh.
Event 19 Men 100 Yard Butterfly
==================================================================
MEET: # 43.90 3/26/2022 Youssef T Ramadan, VT-VA
CONF: % 43.15 3/24/2023 Youssef T Ramadan, VT-VA
AMER: $ 42.80 3/23/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
USOP: & 42.80 3/23/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
NCAA: ! 42.80 3/23/2018 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
Pool: * 43.93 2/16/2023 Youssef Ramadan, VT-VA
44.64 A
45.57 IV23 Invited NCAA 2023
47.08 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Ramadan, Yousse VA Tech 44.85 44.37 qA
r:+0.60 20.31 44.37 (24.06)
2 Hayes, Aiden NC State 45.94 44.77 qIV23
r:+0.65 20.67 44.77 (24.10)
3 Miller, Lukas NC State 44.17 45.01 qIV23
r:+0.64 20.76 45.01 (24.25)
4 Henderson, Noah NC State 45.57 45.12 qIV23
r:+0.67 20.54 45.12 (24.58)
5 Poelke, Boyd UNC 46.92 45.29 qIV23
r:+0.69 21.02 45.29 (24.27)
6 Lowe, Dalton Louisville 45.33 45.38 qIV23
r:+0.66 21.01 45.38 (24.37)
7 Bowers, Noah NC State 46.13 45.40 qIV23
r:+0.67 21.06 45.40 (24.34)
8 Elaraby, Abdelr Notre Dame 47.75 45.50 qIV23
r:+0.64 20.94 45.50 (24.56)
Women’s 200 freestyle
Aimee Canny led a parade of five Cavaliers into the A final in a dominant display. Canny went 1:43.58 in the morning, .65 seconds off the season-best time that earned her the pre-meet top seed. Teammate Reilly Tiltmann followed in 1:44.40, with Maxine Parker fourth, Cavan Gormsen fifth and Tess Howley eighth.
Paige Hetrick is Louisville’s only bulwark against the UVA tide, in third in 1:44.72. NC State’s Annabel Crush is also in the A final, as is Sarah Foley of Duke.
Event 20 Women 200 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
MEET: # 1:40.23 2/20/2024 Gretchen Walsh, UVA-AC
CONF: % 1:39.80 3/18/2018 Mallory Comerford, Louisville-KY
AMER: $ 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
USOP: & 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
NCAA: ! 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, California
Pool: * 1:39.10 3/20/2015 Missy Franklin, CAL-PC
1:42.84 A
1:45.31 IV23 Invited NCAA 2023
1:47.12 B
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Canny, Aimee UVA 1:42.93 1:43.58 qIV23
r:+0.76 24.22 49.96 (25.74)
1:16.62 (26.66) 1:43.58 (26.96)
2 Tiltmann, Reill UVA 1:46.21 1:44.40 qIV23
r:+0.75 24.83 51.68 (26.85)
1:17.76 (26.08) 1:44.40 (26.64)
3 Hetrick, Paige Louisville 1:45.31 1:44.72 qIV23
r:+0.70 24.05 50.20 (26.15)
1:17.34 (27.14) 1:44.72 (27.38)
4 Parker, Maxine UVA 1:49.89 1:44.76 qIV23
r:+0.73 24.04 49.81 (25.77)
1:16.97 (27.16) 1:44.76 (27.79)
5 Gormsen, Cavan UVA 1:45.07 1:45.20 qIV23
r:+0.72 24.68 51.57 (26.89)
1:18.70 (27.13) 1:45.20 (26.50)
6 Crush, Annabel NC State 1:45.99 1:45.38 qB
r:+0.76 24.47 50.97 (26.50)
1:18.04 (27.07) 1:45.38 (27.34)
7 Foley, Sarah Duke 1:45.67 1:45.73 qB
r:+0.70 24.71 51.41 (26.70)
1:18.65 (27.24) 1:45.73 (27.08)
8 Howley, Tess UVA 1:45.74 1:46.03 qB
r:+0.69 25.03 52.01 (26.98)
1:18.92 (26.91) 1:46.03 (27.11)
Men’s 200 freestyle
Chris Guiliano, the 50 free champ, is in position to add another title. He set the top time of prelims in 1:32.91, .77 off his season-best. He’s .18 seconds clear of Georgia Tech’s Baturalp Unlu.
The A final is pretty evenly split. Daniel Diehl leads NC State in 1:33.31, with the Wolfpack’s Kacper Stokowski scratching. Louisville has two swimmers, Guy Brooks in fourth and Murilo Sartori in fifth. Virginia Tech pushed two into the final. The top eight were spread over .97 seconds.
