2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Championships: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships

• March 16-19, 2022
• McAuley Aquatic Center, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia (Eastern Daylight Time)
• Prelims 10AM /Finals 6PM
• Short Course Yards (25 yards)
• Championship Central
• Official Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Video (ESPN3)
• Friday finals heat sheets

It will be an action-packed session on Friday night with finals of the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, and 3-meter diving and timed finals of the 400 medley relay.

Defending champion Brooke Forde of Stanford (4:04.25) will try to hold onto her crown in the 400 IM but faces challenges from Virginia’s Alex Walsh (4:01.74) and Emma Weyant (4:03.46) and Tennessee’s Ellen Walshe (4:03.60), who finished 1-2-3 in prelims. Tennessee’s Walshe (50.65) will be in lane 3 of the next final, as well, chasing the 100 fly title against top-seeded Kate Douglass of Virginia (50.06), Stanford’s Torri Huske (50.62), Emma Stricklen of Texas (50.73), and defending champion Maggie MacNeil of Michigan (50.76).

Penn’s Lia Thomas was top seed coming into the 200 free but Stanford’s Taylor Ruck dropped a massive 1:41.89 to move from 19th to first, relegating Thomas to lane 5 for the final with her 1:42.09 in prelims. Cal’s Isabel Ivey will also content for the title (1:42.24). Anna Elendt of Texas crushed the field in prelims of the 100 breast, going 56.88 to become the fifth performer of all time. USC’s Kaitlyn Dobler (57.55), Virginia’s Alexis Wenger (57.67), and defending champion Sophie Hansson of NC State (57.71) will be giving chase.

The much-anticipated 100 back showdown among American record-holder Regan Smith of Stanford (49.66 in prelims), defending champion Katharine Berkoff of NC State (49.93), and Virginia’s Gretchen Walsh (49.93) will wrap up the individual swimming events. Minnesota’s Sarah Bacon will attempt to defend her title in 3-meter diving, and then we’ll have timed finals of the medley relays.

Women 400 Yard Individual Medley – Finals

• NCAA Record: 3:54.60 – Ella Eastin, Stanford (2018)
• Meet Record: 3:54.60 – Ella Eastin, Stanford (2018)
• American Record: 3:54.60 – Ella Eastin, Stanford (2018)
• US Open Record: 3:54.60 – Ella Eastin, Stanford (2018)
• Pool Record: 3:58.40 – Ella Eastin, Stanford (2016)
• 2021 Champion: Brooke Forde, Stanford – 4:01.57

Podium:

1. Alex Walsh, SO Virginia – 3:57.25
2. Brooke Forde, 5Y Stanford – 4:00.41
3. Ella Nelson, JR Virginia – 4:02.45
4. Emma Weyant, FR Virginia – 4:03.17
5. Lauren Poole, JR Kentucky – 4:04.17
6. Mabel Zavaros, SO Florida – 4:06.22
7. Bailey Bonnett, 5Y Kentucky – 4:07.09
8. Ellen Walshe, FR Tennessee – 4:09.84

Virginia sophomore Alex Walsh went out first, with 25.37 on the first 50 of the butterfly. She led by half a body over Florida’s Mabel Zavaros and Brooke Forde of Stanford at the 100 with 54.35. She pulled even further ahead on the backstroke leg, turning at 1:54.12, just over three seconds ahead of Forde at the halfway mark. Forde made up some ground on the breaststroke but remained two body lengths behind through the freestyle. Walsh came to the wall in 3:57.25 to become the 9th performer all-time. Forde placed second in 4:00.41, 1.1 seconds faster than her winning time a year ago.

The race was on for third place between Virginia teammates Ella Nelson and Emma Weyant. Nelson, who had been leading by 1.5 seconds after the breaststroke, held off the fast-charging Weyant to take third place with 4:02.45.

Ohio State fifth-year Kristen Romano crushed the field in the B final, winning in 4:02.13, nearly 4 seconds faster than her prelims swim and just over 2 seconds faster than her B-final win last year.

Women 100 Yard Butterfly – Finals

• NCAA Record: 48.89 – Maggie MacNeil, Michigan (2021)
• Meet Record: 48.89 – Maggie MacNeil, Michigan (2021)
• American Record: 49.24 – Claire Curzan, TAC Titans (2022)
• US Open Record: 48.89 – Maggie MacNeil, Michigan (2021)
• Pool Record: 49.43 – Kelsi Worrell, Louisville (2016)
• 2021 Champion: Maggie MacNeil, Michigan – 48.89

Podium:

1. Kate Douglass, JR Virginia – 49.04
2. Torri Huske, FR Stanford – 49.17
3. Maggie MacNeil, SR Michigan – 49.18
4. Emma Sticklen, SO Texas – 50.29
5. Kylee Alons, SR NC State – 50.64
6. Gabi Albiero, SO Lousiville – 50.88
7. Olivia Bray, SO Texas – 50.97
8. Ellen Walshe, FR Tennessee – 51.42

Stanford freshman Torri Huske turned .07 ahead of Michigan’s Maggie MacNeil at the 50, but MacNeil looked to be in control over the second half of the race. That is, until Virginia junior Kate Douglass accelerated over the last 25 yards, and got to the wall in an American record-time of 49.04. Huske out-touched MacNeil by .01 to finish second, also under the old American record mark.

Emma Sticklen of Texas led the next wave of finishers with 50.29 for fourth place.

Ellen Walshe of Tennessee was eighth after a very tough double.

Michigan senior Olivia Carter edged Rhyan White of Alabama, 50.82 to 50.85, to win the B final.

Women 200 Yard Freestyle – Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:39.10 – Missy Franklin, California (2015)
• Meet Record: 1:39.10 – Missy Franklin, California (2015)
• American Record: 1:39.10 – Missy Franklin, California (2015)
• US Open Record: 1:39.10 – Missy Franklin, California (2015)
• Pool Record: 1:41.70 – Mallory Comerford, Louisville (2017)
• 2021 Champion: Paige Madden, Virginia – 1:42.35

Podium:

1. Taylor Ruck, JR Stanford – 1:41.12
2. Isabel Ivey, SR California – 1:41.59
3. Kelly Pash, JR Texas – 1:42.38
4. Lillie Nordmann, FR Stanford – 1:42.63
5. Lia Thomas, 5Y Penn / Riley Gaines, SR Kentucky – 1:43.40
6. –
7. Laticia-Leig Transom, SR USC – 1:43.49
8. Morgan Tankersley, SR Stanford – 1:43.78

Stanford junior Taylor Ruck and Cal senior Isabel Ivey blasted off to the lead right away, gaining an advantage over the field at the first turn. They were 23.23 and 23.51 at the 50 wall, with USC’s Laticia-Leigh Transom in third place (23.84). At the halfway point it was Ruck (48.83), Ivey (49.05) and Transom (49.60). Penn’s Lia Thomas, who had come into the meet with the nation’s top time, was seventh.

Over the next 100 yards, as Ruck and Ivey continued to lead by about a body length and duke it out for the top position, there was some movement going on behind them. Texas junior Kelly Pash moved into third place and Thomas passed Transom to stop the clock at 1:43.40, exactly at the same time as Kentucky senior Riley Gaines. Lillie Nordmann of Stanford came to the wall half a body length ahead of them with 1:42.63.

Virginia freshman Reilly Tiltmann went 1:43.55 to win the B final by .02 over Indiana freshman Anna Peplowski.

Women 100 Yard Breaststroke – Finals

• NCAA Record: 55.73 – Lilly King, Indiana (2019)
• Meet Record: 55.73 – Lilly King, Indiana (2019)
• American Record: 55.73 – Lilly King, Indiana (2019)
• US Open Record: 55.73 – Lilly King, Indiana (2019)
• Pool Record: 56.72 – Sophie Hansson, NCSU (2022)
• 2021 Champion: Sophie Hansson, NC State – 57.23

Podium:

1. Kaitlyn Dobler, SO USC – 56.93
2. Alexis Wenger, SR Virginia – 56.97
3. Sophie Hansson, SR NCSU – 57.01
4. Mona McSharry, SO Tennessee – 57.18
5. Anna Elendt, SO Texas – 57.24
6. Hannah Bach, JR Ohio St – 57.32
7. Sophie Angus, SR Northwestern – 58.00
8. Tara Vovk, SR Northwestern – 58.31

USC sophomore Kaitlyn Dobler avenged her runner-up finish at the 2021 NCAA Championships with a lifetime-best time of 56.93 to win the crown this time around. It was Virginia senior Alexis Wenger who set the pace from the outset, turning first at the 25 and at the 50 (26.66). Dobler was in second place, .14 behind Wenger and .17 ahead of defending champion Sophie Hansson of NC State.

Just as it looked as if Wenger was on her way to winning the NCAA title, Dobler powered home over the last 10 meters to get the touch by .04, 56.93 to 56.97. Hansson was another .04 behind Wenger with 57.01.

Tennessee’s Mona McSharry was fourth in 57.18, just touching out Anna Elendt of Texas, who had posted the top time of the morning (56.88).

Alabama freshman Avery Wiseman took three-tenths off her prelims time to win the B final in 58.19.

Women 100 Yard Backstroke – Finals

• NCAA Record: 49.18 – Beata Nelson, Wisconsin (2019)
• Meet Record: 49.18 – Beata Nelson, Wisconsin (2019)
• American Record: 49.16 – Regan Smith, Riptide (2021)
• US Open Record: 49.16 – Regan Smith, Riptide (2021)
• Pool Record: 49.41 – Katharine Berkoff, NCSU (2022)
• 2021 Champion: Katharine Berkoff, NC State – 49.74

Podium:

1. Katharine Berkoff, JR NC State – 48.74
2. Gretchen Walsh, FR Virginia – 49.00
3. Regan Smith, FR Stanford – 49.96
4. Rhyan White, SR Alabama – 50.34
5. Reilly Tiltmann, FR Virginia – 50.67
6. Grace Countie, SR North Carolina – 50.77
7. Isabelle Stadden, SO Cal – 50.81
8. Olivia Bray, SO Texas – 51.02

The most anticipated match-up of the night lived up to its billing as TWO swimmers came to the wall under the American record, and the person who had held it came in third behind them.

Virginia freshman Gretchen Walsh kicked it off from lane 3, flipping first at the 25 wall just ahead of Stanford freshman and American record-holder Regan Smith and defending champion Katharine Berkoff of NC State. Berkoff’s second 50 was a thing of beauty. She came home six-tenths faster than Walsh to become the first American woman to dip under the 49-second barrier with 48.74. Walsh was also under Smith’s old American record with her second-place time of 49.00. Smith finished third in 49.96.

Alabama senior Rhyan White led the next group to the wall with 50.34 for fourth place. Virginia freshman Reilly Tiltmann (50.67) edged North Carolina senior Grace Countie (50.77) and Cal sophomore Isabelle Stadden (50.81) for fifth.

Wisconsin sophomore Phoebe Bacon won the B final in 50.83. She was third at 2021 NCAAs.

Women 3-Meter Diving – Finals

• Meet Record: 437.75 – Christina Loukas, Indiana (2009)
• Pool Record: 429.05 – Abby Johnson, Duke (2011)
• 2021 Champion: Sarah Bacon, Minnesota – 408.60

Podium:

1. Sarah Bacon, SR Minnesota – 409.25
2. Kristen Hayden, SR Indiana – 397.20
3. Tarrin Gilliland, SO Indiana – 382.00
4. Mia Vallee, JR Miami (Florida) / Delaney Schnell, JR Arizona– 376.20
5. –
6. Paola Pineda, SR Texas – 359.59
7. Carolina Sculti, SR Stanford – 344.00
8. Hailey Hernandez, FR Texas – 339.70

Sarah Bacon won her fifth career NCAA title with 409.25 points on the 3-meter board. That makes back-to-back wins for the Minnesota redshirt senior, who was runner-up in 1-meter diving on Thursday night. She won the 1-meter titles in 2018, 2019, 2021.

Kristen Hayden of Indiana finished second with 397.20 points. Teammate Tarrin Gilliland, who came in 11th last year, finished third (382.00).

There was a tie for fourth place, as 1-meter champion Mia Vallee of Miami and Arizona’s Delaney Schnell both amassed 376.20 points.

Texas took sixth and eighth places with Paola Pineda (359.59) and Hailey Hernandez (339.70), while Stanford’s Carolina Sculti was seventh (344.00).

Women 400 Yard Medley Relay – Timed Finals

• NCAA Record: 3:22.34 – Virginia/ G Walsh, A Wenger, A Walsh, K Douglass (2022)
• Meet Record: 3:24.59 – NC State/ K Berkoff, S Hansson, K Alons, J Poole (2021)
• American Record: 3:22.34 – Virginia/ G Walsh, A Wenger, A Walsh, K Douglass (2022)
• US Open Record: 3:22.34 – Virginia/ G Walsh, A Wenger, A Walsh, K Douglass (2022)
• Pool Record: 3:22.34 – Virginia/ G Walsh, A Wenger, A Walsh, K Douglass (2022)
• 2021 Champion: NC State – 3:24.59

Podium:

1. Virginia – 3:22.34
2. NC State – 3:23.29
3. Stanford – 3:25.63
4. Texas – 3:26.36
5. Michigan – 3:27.20
6. Alabama – 3:27.30
7. USC – 3:27.86
8. Ohio State – 3:28.49

Virginia wrapped up Day 3 with an American, U.S. Open, and NCAA record in the 400 medley relay. They tied their own NCAA, American, U.S. Open, and pool records but set a new meet mark with 3:22.34.

Gretchen Walsh led off with 49.44. She handed off to Alexis Wenger, who split 57.27 on the breaststroke. Alex Walsh went 49.45 on the fly, and Kate Douglass came home in 46.18.

NC State led through the first 250 yards, with splits from Katharine Berkoff (49.25), Sophie Hansson (56.56), and Kylee Alons (50.28). They were only .04 behind Virginia at the last changeover. Abby Arens anchored with 47.09 to give the Wolfpack a 3:23.29, a program record that was 1.3 seconds faster than their winning time from 2021 NCAAs.

Finishing third in the heat was #3 seed Stanford with 3:25.63. The Cardinal used Regan Smith (49.81), Allie Raab (59.15), Torri Huske (50.01), and Taylor Ruck (46.66).

Texas (Olivia Bray, Anna Elendt, Emma Sticklen, and Kelly Pash) beat Michigan by almost nine-tenths, 3:26.26 to 3:27.20. Alabama was only one-tenth behind Michigan.

USC (Calypso Sheridan, Kaitlyn Dobler, Anicka Delgado, and Laticia-Leigh Transom) placed seventh after having won the previous heat.

Team Standings Through Day 3

  1. Virginia                        386.5   2. Stanford                          276
  3. Texas                             257   4. NC State                          193
  5. Alabama                           177   6. California                        136
  7. Ohio St                           131   8. Louisville                        130
  9. Michigan                          126  10. Tennessee                         107
 11. UNC                                85  11. Florida                            85
 13. Southern California                83  14. Kentucky                         76.5
 15. Indiana                            75  16. Georgia                          71.5
 17. Northwestern                       56  18. Wisconsin                          49
 19. Minnesota                          43  20. Miami (Florida)                  41.5
 21. Arizona                          35.5  22. Penn                             33.5
 23. Duke                               27  24. Missouri                           25
 25. Arizona St                         21  26. Virginia Tech                      15
 27. Arkansas                           11  28. South Carolina                      9
 29. Notre Dame                          6  29. Rutgers                             6
 31. UCLA                                4  31. Lsu                                 4
 33. Wyoming                             2  33. San Diego St                        2
 33. Harvard                             2  36. Texas A&M                           1
 36. Yale                                1