Over the last five years, the Virginia women’s swim team has become an NCAA powerhouse. They’ve recruited stars and continued to develop them to new heights and have consistently gotten the clutch performances from their depth swimmers—many of whom would be the stars of almost any other NCAA program—that are necessary to win an NCAA championship.
It’s these types of factors that have them chasing a fifth consecutive NCAA team title this season. As a testament to the consistent success of the program at the NCAA, national, and international levels, the team only continues to grow deeper. They regularly secure commitments from top-20 ranked recruits and scored a commitment from two-time Olympian Katie Grimes, who will join the team in January.
After an incredible weekend at the 2024 Tennessee Invitational when Gretchen Walsh lowered her own NCAA record in the 100 fly and Claire Curzan, another Olympian addition to the team this season, broke the NCAA and American records in the 200 backstroke, SwimSwam commenter Cannonball asked: what NCAA records don’t the Virginia women have?
It’s a good question, and the answer is another example of Virginia’s dominance in the NCAA as it’s actually quicker to list the NCAA records they don’t own than the ones they do.
With Curzan breaking Beata Nelson’s NCAA record in the 200 backstroke, Virginia Cavaliers own 12 of the 19 women’s DI NCAA records (counting the 1000 freestyle) or about 63% of the total records. She took Wisconsin off the NCAA record board, leaving only four programs with an NCAA record: Virginia, Stanford, Cal, and Indiana.
On the men’s side of the board, Florida and Arizona State are tied with six NCAA records each. Florida owns the 50 free, 100 free, 1650 free, 100 fly, 200 free relay, and 200 medley relay. Arizona State has the 500 free, 200 breast, 200 IM, 400 IM, 400 free relay, and 400 medley relay).
So, which records don’t the Virginia women own?
NCAA Women’s Records Owned by non-Virginia Swimmers:
- 200 freestyle: Missy Franklin, Cal — 1:39.10 (2015)
- 500 freestyle: Katie Ledecky, Stanford — 4:24.06 (2017)
- 1000 freestyle: Katie Ledecky, Stanford — 9:06.90 (2017) ** not an official DI NCAA championship event**
- 1650 freestyle: Katie Ledecky, Stanford — 15:03.31 (2017)
- 100 breaststroke: Lilly King, Indiana — 55.73 (2019)
- 400 IM: Ella Eastin, Stanford — 3:54.60 (2018)
- 800 freestyle relay: Stanford (Manuel, Neal, Eastin, Ledecky) — 6:45.91 (2017)
Virginia has had women put pressure on the NCAA record in a number of the events where they don’t own the NCAA record. For example, Gretchen Walsh was out lightning fast during her 200 freestyle lead-off at ACCs last season, where she swam 1:40.23. Jasmine Nocentini swam 56.09 to win the 100 breaststroke at the 2024 NCAA Championship. Alex Walsh owns a 3:55.97 lifetime best in the 400 IM.
The distance freestyle events are one of the few weak spots for the Cavaliers, though Grimes’ arrival (4:28.27 500 free/15:26.17 1650 free) will help amend that. However, it would be no small thing to take down a Katie Ledecky record—it’s not like anyone in any other program has come particularly close to that feat either. Currently, Leah Smith holds all three distance freestyle records for the Virginia women (4:28.90/9:20.15/15:25.30). Their program record in the 800 freestyle relay stands at 6:46.28 from 2024 ACCs with G. Walsh, A. Walsh, Aimee Canny, and Ella Nelson, which is also the ACC record.
Each non-Virginia record is from the pre-pandemic era and has its own significance; breaking any of them would be a major accomplishment for any swimmer. The Virginia swimmers have built a reputation for their team that’s defined by breaking records and surpassing limits. Rather than questioning if they’ll snag one of these NCAA records they currently don’t own, their history has taught us that instead; the question should be which one they’ll get first.
Since they skip the 800 free relay at midseason does UVA need to be safe with their exchanges at ACCs to make sure they get an NCAA cut with no DQ? Can they load up to go for the record and let the “B” relay play it safe and get the cut, or does the cut need to be made by an “A” relay? Does anyone know the rule?
No, they don’t need to play it safe. Composite time add-ups are allowed, so they’re in even if they never do a legal 800 relay before NCAAs
Thanks! That record is toast if Walsh/Walsh/Canny/Grimes go for it.
Lol a “B” relay of Curzan/Moesch/Parker/Tiltmann could challenge for an NCAA title if they were all on. A “C” relay of Hayes/Gormsen/Hartman/Novelline would finish top 8. The depth on this team is insane.
First NT entry in NCAA Championship history?
There is just above zero chance that Grimes breaks the 500 record. There is zero chance Hayes breaks the 4IM. Slight chance Grimes breaks it.
Alex could as well, we have no idea what she’s gonna be like this season so far
I see G Walsh breaking the 200 free record leading off at ACC’s. Probably something nuts like 1:37.9
Missy Franklin’s 200 free record still standing is crazy
Basically the Biedermann swim in terms of the standard it set for women’s 2fr
I still remember Missy’s 200 free…can’t believe it is 10 years old in a few months. I’m getting old….
The 800 relay comes first in the meet order. The two women have a legitimate shot at the 400 IM this year. Grimes has a good shot at the 500, but it probably won’t happen this year. I think Walsh could break the 200 free, but will she swim it? Maybe she leads off the 800 relay at ACCs and takes it for the “first” record.
‘Good shot’ at the 500 is a stretch
Yeah, I should have said she has a good shot at the 500 in 26/27. Or if she comes back for 28/29 after the Olympics. (I assume she’ll redshirt 27/28.)
say goodbye to that 4IM record. K Grimes or even L Hayes.
only problem is they might break 800 free relay before that because it’s the first day of the meet
My bet is that they go for the 800 FR at ACCs.
G Walsh needs to swim it for them to break it and she won’t swim it at NCAAs. She is needed for the other relays.