23 Minutes: Ellen Walshe Continues to Wow with Day 3 400 IM, 100 Fly Double

by Sarah Berman 14

March 18th, 2022 College, SEC

2022 NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

During Friday morning’s prelims session at the Women’s NCAA Division 1 Swimming and Diving Championships, freshman Ellen Walshe of Tennessee competed in the 400 IM (4:03.60) and 100 butterfly (50.65) with just 23 minutes in between each race. Heading into finals, Walshe is seeded 3rd in both events.

During Friday’s finals session, Walshe will have roughly the same amount of time between events between the walk-out/lane assignments and the awards ceremony. She will also likely appear on Tennessee’s 400 medley relay at the end of the session.

Although we can’t be certain, we don’t think that anyone has done this double at a high level meet before because of the close proximity between the events.

At the SEC Championships last month, Walshe won the 400 IM (4:01.53) and 100 butterfly (50.34) double on day three of the meet. 

Earlier in the meet, Walshe swam the 2nd leg on Tennessee’s 800 freestyle relay that finished in 8th place. She split a 1:43.48, which was .54 seconds faster than her split from the SEC Championships where she also swam the 2nd leg (1:44.06) on Tennessee’s winning relay.

On Thursday, Walshe competed in the 200 IM, where she was seeded 3rd on the psych sheet (1:52.97), but finished 16th (1:56.89), which was 3.92 seconds off from her seed time. She was seeded with her winning time from the SEC Championships.

Walshe has made an impressive bounce back this morning, especially as a freshman international swimmer from Ireland who isn’t as accustomed to swimming yards. 

Walshe is an Irish Olympian, competing in the 100 fly and 200 IM at the Tokyo Olympics. At the 2021 Short Course World Championships (25m), Walshe won a silver medal in the 400 IM.

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Marcy Spann
2 years ago

still in awe of Ellen Walshe killing it in both the 400 IM & 100 Fl back-to-back!!! she is the ultimate iron woman, I only ever knew of one other person (at the DIII level mind you) that took on that event load plus the 200 fly the next day lol

also s/o to the amazing Taylor Ruck for also having a tough back-to-back schedule tonight with the 200 FR & 100 BK!!! I know it might no seem that hard, but to change from mid-distance to sprint gears that quick is hard af too

Steve Wierhake
2 years ago

Impressive.

RJM
2 years ago

Would be curious to know why she doesn’t pick one of these and the swim the 200 fly instead. If you are great at 400 IM and 100 fly, seems like you should be pretty good at 200 fly. On the other hand, 200 fly hurts.

Meow
Reply to  RJM
2 years ago

But does it hurt more than the 400 IM? I have a hard time deciding which one is worse 😆

Dee
Reply to  Meow
2 years ago

200fl is so much worse

IU Swammer
Reply to  Dee
2 years ago

I swam both and respectfully disagree. The pain from the 3rd 50 on in the 200 fly hits during the 4th 50 of the 400 IM, but instead of just having one 50 to gut through, you still have a 200. Plus, most 400 IMers take the 400 IM out at basically the same pace as the first 100 of their 200 fly. It also takes a lot longer to recover from the 400 IM than the 200 fly.

I think the difference for Walshe is between the 100 and 200 fly. The 100 is about rhythm and strength where the 200 is rhythm, strength, breath control, and endurance. My guess is she can muscle her way through the… Read more »

swimfan
Reply to  IU Swammer
2 years ago

What about 2 back 2 fly

IRO
Reply to  swimfan
2 years ago

Yeah, I would argue that one is a little worse.

AndySUP
Reply to  RJM
2 years ago

I would disagree that this logic always works. You can be great at a back half 400 im and a great sprint 100 flyer and still not be able to pull off a decent 200 fly or the 200 fly may take you a week to recover from. I would pick the 200 fly over the 100 fly any day since i never had the power to do well in the 100 fly. Just like I would pick the 400 im over the 200 im all day long.

CavaDore
2 years ago

They grow them different in Ireland, I guess.

“Erin go bragh”

SEC
2 years ago

Sick earlier in the meet?

kazoo
Reply to  SEC
2 years ago

Maybe: Certainly her 200 IM was well below her standard. Seemingly all of the Tennessee women were below
par in the first 2+ days of this meet, as if they’ve not fully recovered mentally from the SEC meet at which there were all so good. Of course everybody has had to recover from conference meets, so not an excuse just a guess.

Steve Nolan
2 years ago

Trying to figure out if Huske is yawning or screaming in the background of that there picture.

CavaDore
Reply to  Steve Nolan
2 years ago

Or releasing a demon from her soul??