Gretchen Walsh Swims 21.02 50 Free At Virginia Sprint Olympics

2024 Virginia Sprint Olympics

Six Virginia Sprint Olympics records went down on Tuesday with two on the women’s side and four on the men’s side.

The meet is a quadrathalon-style setup, with each swimmer racing 50 yards of each stroke and the lowest aggregate time winning.

Jasmine Nocentini broke Kate Douglass‘s record in the 50 breast. Nocentini went a 26.77 faster than the old record of a 26.90 that Douglass set a year ago. Nocentini had the 3rd fastest 50 breaststroke split all-time just last month as she swam a 25.49 on Virginia’s 200 medley relay at ACCs.

Also breaking a record on the women’s side was Gretchen Walsh. Walsh broke her own 50 free record of a 21.03 as she was 0.01 seconds faster in a 21.02. Walsh notably swam an NCAA record in prelims of the 50 free with a 20.77 before swimming a 20.57 at finals of ACCs. Walsh was also faster this year in her total time as she swam an aggregate time of a 1:34.57 compared to a 1:34.76 last year with her improvement coming from the breaststroke.

  • Click here to see the full 2022 UVA sprint Olympic results.
  • Click here to see the full 2023 UVA sprint Olympic results.

On the men’s side, Matt Brownstead broke three records. Brownstead broke his own overall record swimming a 1:26.56, faster than his old record of a 1:26.73. Brownstead was slightly slower in butterfly this year but faster in back, breast, and free to set a new record. Brownstead also broke his own 50 back record that stood at a 21.45 as he swam a 21.19. His final swim of a 19.32 in the 50 free broke Matt King‘s record from 2022 of a 19.34.

Noah Nichols broke his own 50 breast record swimming a 23.61, faster than his 26.94 from a year ago.

Other highlights:

MEET RECORDS

WOMEN’S RECORDS:
OVERALL 2023 DOUGLASS 1:33.86
50 FLY 2023 DOUGLASS 22.27
50 BACK 2022 G. WALSH 23.04
50 BREAST 2023 DOUGLASS 26.90 
50 FREE 2023 G. WALSH 21.03
FRESHMAN 2022 G. WALSH 1:35.38
50 FLY 2022 G. WALSH 22.86
50 BACK 2022 G. WALSH 23.04
50 BREAST 2023 WEBER 27.09
50 FREE 2022 G. WALSH 21.06
MEN’S RECORDS:
OVERALL 2023 BROWNSTEAD 1:26.73
50 FLY 2023 BROWNSTEAD 21.03
50 BACK 2023 BROWNSTEAD 21.45
50 BREAST 2023 NICHOLS 23.94
50 FREE 2022 KING 19.34
FRESHMAN 2022 AIKINS 1:29.29
50 FLY 2022 AIKINS 22.03
50 BACK 2022 AIKINS 22.32
50 BREAST 2021 NICHOLS 24.79
50 FREE 2022 AIKINS 19.70

 

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Swimdad
9 months ago

Walsh showing she is the fastest female sprinter in the world at the moment.

Last edited 9 months ago by Swimdad
Andrew
9 months ago

How many UVA men individually qualified for NCs?

Irrelevant Swim Production
9 months ago

goat of female swimming

Pan Fan
Reply to  Irrelevant Swim Production
9 months ago

… in America

Coach
Reply to  Irrelevant Swim Production
9 months ago

You’d take Gretchen Walsh over Ledecky?
Even currently in only the US she’s not the goat

HOO love
9 months ago

Another highlight: 31.02 from Claire in 50 breast

Admin
Reply to  HOO love
9 months ago

At least we have the answer to two important questions:

-Will Claire try the IM??
-Can UVa make anybody into a breaststroker?

NCAAs will be closer this year!
Reply to  HOO love
9 months ago

Did anyone see the 37.87 (meters) split that Tori Huske threw down during the 2IM at Westmont last weekend! She even outsplit an ellite breaststroker in Leah Hayes. Her progression in the 2 IM is amazing and her breaststroke improvement is unprecedented by anything I can remember. 4IM days are paying off for her at Stanford!!

Last edited 9 months ago by NCAAs will be closer this year!
Cindy loo Hoo
Reply to  HOO love
9 months ago

PB by 3 seconds

Swemmer
9 months ago

Crazy that a 21.02 flat start done by a woman is now regarded as pedestrian by some of us.

Walsh is on another level in the short course yards

woods
9 months ago

Jaycee Yegher’s 2023 performance is truly a thing of beauty

SWIM SAM
Reply to  woods
9 months ago

She was all in on breaststroke💯

Noah
9 months ago

Curzan’s breastroke being 31.2 is insane

Caleb
Reply to  Noah
9 months ago

Tiltmann with a 34 (!) last year.. how does that happen? Brought it down to a 32 this year, watch out

Sweet Sweet Peter Rosen
9 months ago

Any idea how many minutes between 50’s for each swimmer?

KD’s combined time may not be beat for years, 🔥

green
Reply to  Sweet Sweet Peter Rosen
9 months ago

The uvaswimming ig posted the full workout on their story. I believe it said 10 mins.

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, 2023, and 2024 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. She also attended 2023 US Summer Nationals as well as the 2024 European Championships …

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