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)
- Live Results
- Championship Central
- SwimSwam Preview Index
The 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships had 27 record setting performances between American, U.S. Open, NCAA, and Meet Records. The 27 records fell across nine different events.
Of the 27 records, 22 were broken by Virginia performances. The only non-Cavalier records occurred in the following events:
- 100 Backstroke, Katharine Berkoff, 48.74, NC State, American/U.S. Open/NCAA/Meet
- 1 Meter Diving, Mia Vallee, 365.75, University of Miami, Meet Record
Leading the way in record breaking performances is Kate Douglass of Virginia, who etched her name on 18 of the 27 records that fell over the course of the meet. Douglass went three-for-three in American Records in her individual events: 50 freestyle (20.84), 100 butterfly (49.04), and 200 breaststroke (2:02.19). She now owns three American Records in three different strokes that span three different distances.
Katharine Berkoff of NC State defended her NCAA title in the 100 backstroke in American/U.S. Open/NCAA/Meet Record time. Her winning time (48.74) establishes her as the first woman to break 49-seconds in the 100 backstroke. Gretchen Walsh also dipped under the previous American Record (49.16), finishing 2nd (49.00).
Alex Walsh re-wrote the entire record book in the 200 IM, topping Ella Eastin’s mark of 1:50.67 by .59, posting a 1:50.08, and nearly breaking the 1:50-second barrier. A. Walsh now owns the American/U.S. Open/NCAA/Meet Record in this event.
Virginia had dominant relay performances throughout the meet. G. Walsh, Alexis Wenger, A. Walsh, and Douglass tied their own American/U.S. Open/NCAA Record in the 400 Medley Relay (3:22.34) from the 2022 ACC Championships, while also setting the Meet Record.
Virginia also broke the Meet Record in the 200 medley relay with a lineup of G. Walsh, Wenger, Lexi Cuomo, and Douglass (1:32.16), just off their own American/U.S. Open/NCAA Record (1:31.81) set at the 2022 ACC Championships with the same lineup.
Virginia concluded their exceptional performance by breaking the American/U.S. Open/NCAA/Meet Record in the 400 Freestyle Relay with Douglass, A. Walsh, Reilly Tiltmann, and G. Walsh (3:06.91). Virginia topped Cal’s record from 2019 (3:06.96).
American Records:
- 200 IM- Alex Walsh, Virginia, 1:50.08
- 50 Freestyle- Kate Douglass, Virginia, 20.84
- 100 Butterfly- Kate Douglass, Virginia, 49.04
- 100 Backstroke- Katharine Berkoff, NC State, 48.74
- 400 Medley Relay- Virginia (G. Walsh, Wenger, A. Walsh, Douglass), 3:22.34
- 200 Breaststroke- Kate Douglass, Virginia, 2:02.19
- 400 Freestyle Relay- Virginia (Douglass, A. Walsh, Tiltmann, G. Walsh), 3:06.91
U.S. Open Records:
- 200 IM- Alex Walsh, Virginia, 1:50.08
- 50 Freestyle- Kate Douglass, Virginia, 20.84
- 100 Backstroke- Katharine Berkoff, NC State, 48.74
- 400 Medley Relay- Virginia (G. Walsh, Wenger, A. Walsh, Douglass), 3:22.34
- 200 Breaststroke- Kate Douglass, Virginia, 2:02.19
- 400 Freestyle Relay- Virginia (Douglass, A. Walsh, Tiltmann, G. Walsh), 3:06.91
NCAA Records:
- 200 IM- Alex Walsh, Virginia, 1:50.08
- 50 Freestyle- Kate Douglass, Virginia, 20.84
- 100 Backstroke- Katharine Berkoff, NC State, 48.74
- 400 Medley Relay- Virginia (G. Walsh, Wenger, A. Walsh, Douglass), 3:22.34
- 200 Breaststroke- Kate Douglass, Virginia, 2:02.19
- 400 Freestyle Relay- Virginia (Douglass, A. Walsh, Tiltmann, G. Walsh), 3:06.91
Meet Records:
- 200 Medley Relay- Virginia (G. Walsh, Wenger, Cuomo, Douglass) 1:32.16
- 200 IM- Alex Walsh, Virginia, 1:50.08
- 50 Freestyle- Kate Douglass, Virginia, 20.84
- 1 Meter Diving- Mia Vallee, Miami, 365.75
- 100 Backstroke- Katharine Berkoff, NC State, 48.74
- 400 Medley Relay- Virginia (G. Walsh, Wenger, A. Walsh, Douglass), 3:22.34
- 200 Breaststroke- Kate Douglass, Virginia, 2:02.19
- 400 Freestyle Relay- Virginia (Douglass, A. Walsh, Tiltmann, G. Walsh), 3:06.91
Are there any situations where the US open record would ever be different than the NCAA record?
Sometimes the US Open in winter is scy so a pro could have the US open record from that
Sometimes it’s high school kids, too – Regan’s Smith’s 2 back record is from a couple years ago.
Yes, if a non-collegiate swimmer had the US Open Record.
Currently true, for example, in the 200 back (Regan Smith, 1:47.16 when she was in HS).
Right now, most align. That’s not always the case.
Who else has held/set 3 different American records in 3 different strokes, of 3 different distances, all set at the same meet? Swimswam, inquiring minds want to know! Did Jill Sterkel possibly manage to do this?
Not the same meet, but Dressel with the 50 free, 100 fly, and then 200 IM from SECs is the only other one that comes close off the top of my head
Caulkins. But she did it in 4 strokes, since the IM has all 4 (the three IMs, 100 and 200 fly, and would’ve won the 100 and 200 breast by a mile had she swum them). She also had ARs in free. So ARs/NCAArs in free, fly, breast, IMs all sorts of distances. Coughlin had ARs in fly, back, free from 50-200 (and held a SCM WR in the 100 IM) but don’t think they all happened the same meet. But look, her 2002 NCAAs – with sub-50 100 fly, 50.01 100 back, sub 1:50 200 back would’ve been the hunt at this meet 20 years later.
Paige McKenna is National Champ, 1650m free!!!
What a story of courage and resilience she is.