2022 W. NCAA Previews: Huske and MacNeil Meet Again In 100 Fly

2022 NCAA WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • When: Wednesday, March 16 – Saturday, March 19, 2021
  • Where: McAuley Aquatics Center / Georgia Tech / Atlanta, GA (Eastern Time Zone)
  • Short course yards (SCY) format
  • Defending champion: Virginia (1x) – Meet Results
  • Psych Sheets

WOMEN’S 100 Butterfly

Last year, Maggie MacNeil and Kate Douglass battled it out in the 100 butterfly. Douglass had the fastest prelims time of 49.94, but MacNeil swam a 48.89 in finals to win the event and set an NCAA record as the first woman under 49 seconds. 

This year, US Olympian Torri Huske enters the mix though. Huske and MacNeil already have raced each other at the international level, but this will be their first meeting at the collegiate level. 

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Huske was slightly faster than MacNeil in prelims with a time of 56.29 compared to MacNeil’s 56.55. The same happened in the semi-finals as Huske swam a 56.51 compared to MacNeil’s 56.56. In the final, though, MacNeil swam to gold winning in a time of 55.59. Huske was fourth in a time of 55.73. 

More recently, the two met at the 2021 SC World Championships in December. Once again, Huske had the faster time between the two in the heats, 56.59 to MacNeil’s 57.32. In the semi-finals, MacNeil swam a time of 55.45 compared to Huske’s 56.13. In the final, MacNeil won the event in a time of 55.04, and Huske was fourth in a time of 55.75.

Huske is the top seed entering the meet with a time of 49.43, MacNeil is second with a seed time of 49.74, and Douglass is third with a seed time of 49.86. The three are the only seed times under 50 seconds. 

While these three are most likely going to be the top three, based on her track record, don’t expect MacNeil to be the top seed heading into finals (again). 

Almost all of last year’s ‘A’ final will be back to race the event again as none of the 16 swimmers that earned a second swim in 2021 were senors. The only difference is that Cal senior Isabel Ivey has opted to not swim the race as she is entered in the 200 IM, 200 freestyle, and 100 freestyle instead. 

The fourth seed Tennessee freshman Ellen Walshe is competing in back-to-back events with the 400 IM first and the 100 butterfly right after. Although it is hard to predict exactly what effect this will have on her, it most likely will have at least some. She did prove though that she could win both events at SECs when they were back to back as well. The biggest difference here is that there will not be men swimming in between, making the turnaround time even shorter. 

Another person doing two events in one day is Alabama’s Rhyan White. White competed in both the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly last year, and is the 9th seed in the fly and the 4th seed in the back this year. This shouldn’t make as big of a difference though as the 100 backstroke is after the 100 butterfly. 

NC State’s Kylee Alons improved upon her seed time of 50.74 last year to finish third in a time of 50.35. This year she is entered with a slightly slower time of 50.82 but is still the sixth seed. 

Michigan’s Olivia Carter also improved upon her seed time of 51.44 last year to finish sixth in a 51.19. Carter is more known for her 200 butterfly as she won NCAA title in the event last year, but she still shows her speed both on Michigan’s 200 freestyle and medley relays. 

Emma Sticklen is entered as the fifth seed with a time of 50.76. The Texas sophomore was 11th last year swimming a time of 51.91 in finals. Her seed time was a 51.49 last year, but now she has a year of experience under her belt. 

TOP 8 PICKS:
Place Swimmer School Season Best Lifetime Best
1 Maggie MacNeil Michigan 49.74 48.89
2 Torri Huske Stanford 49.43 49.43
3 Kate Douglass Virginia 49.86 49.55
4 Kylee Alons NC State 50.82 50.35
5 Ellen Walshe Tennessee 50.24 50.24
6 Rhyan White Alabama 51.19 50.75
7 Emma Sticklen Texas 50.76 50.76
8 Olivia Carter Michigan 51.29 51.19

Darkhorse: Katherine Zenick (Ohio St)- Zenick is the 12th seed this year with an entry time of 51.35. This is a huge improvement from last year as she was entered with a 52.73 then, but was able to improve by almost half of a second to finish 22nd in a time of 52.26. Although she did not make finals last year, if she improves by almost half of a second again, she has the potential to make the A final.

In This Story

20
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

20 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
no1swimfreak
2 years ago

Huske will be tough to beat—w/a 22.7 going out I think she has more to give!

Pacific whirl
2 years ago

It will be Douglass’ show.

Last edited 2 years ago by Pacific whirl
Katie
2 years ago

Maggie is the queen of doing enough in prelims but saving it for finals. You can never count her out! I just don’t see her losing this one.

Hswimmer
2 years ago

I think Rhyan White will be faster. IMO

Swammer2009
2 years ago

I want to root for Maggie because she really does always come through when it counts. But, I feel Douglass and Huske are coming in with this “something to prove” mentality which could get them the W. I did pick Maggie for the pick ’ems though…

Can’t wait!

Klorn8d
2 years ago

I feel like leaving out Olivia bray is a miss, I bet she’ll be top 8. I had her 4th in my pick

Swammer2009
Reply to  Klorn8d
2 years ago

Agreed. She’s been solid all season.

RMS
2 years ago

This will be the race of the meet. I predict Huske, MacNeil, and Douglass all go under 49.

Swimfan
Reply to  RMS
2 years ago

I doubt Douglass does but yes to the others.

Swimm
Reply to  RMS
2 years ago

Still think the 50 free or one of the backstrokes will be the race of the meet, but this is setting up to be a good one

Big Mac #1
2 years ago

I have been a fan since she short a school record in her second duel meet in yards. Maggie is GOAT and she will win.

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022 and 2023 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. Currently, Anya is pursuing her B.A. in Economics and a minor in Government & Law at …

Read More »