Alex Walsh Blasts 1:54.02 200IM to Grab 15-16 NAG

2017 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – EAST

Just hours after her younger sister Gretchen downed the 13-14 50 free National Age Group record (NAG) in Thursday’s prelims, going 22.26, 16-year-old Alex Walsh nabbed her own NAG in the 200IM finals.

Her 1:54.02 just barely snuck under Dagny Knutson‘s longstanding record from December 2008 — 1:54.03. Walsh also owns the 13-14 NAG (1:56.20), set at the 2015 Speedo East Winter Junior Nationals.

Walsh took her fly out in a 25.52, threw down a 28.45 back split, then 33.61 in breast, then brought it home in 26.44. She was over three seconds ahead of the second place I swimmer, Olivia Carter, who went 1:57.91. In third was Kate Douglass with a 1:58.32.

Her previous best — also the previous meet record — was 1:54.48, swum last year at the 2016 Speedo East Winter Junior Nationals. In that swim, she split 26.02 / 28.74 / 32.11 / 27.61.

The following are the new top five 200IMs in 15-16 history:

  1. Alex Walsh, 2017 — 1:54.02
  2. Dagny Knutson, 2008 — 1:54.03
  3. Meghan Small, 2015 — 1:54.25
  4. Elizabeth Pelton, 2010 — 1:54.47
  5. Jasmine Tosky, 2011 — 1:54.80

 

 

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Tammy Touchpad Error
6 years ago

She reminds me of Thleen Baker except with better breaststroke instead of back. Which is funny cauee I was under the impression that she was a Backstroker until i realised 59.2 wasn’t her best time this morning. 22 low also?

I had almost written A Walsh off in favour of Reagen Smith until yesterday. Future is very bright for USA swimming…

George M
6 years ago

All of first, Alex Walsh is my hero

JimSwim
6 years ago

The splits listed add up to 1:56. Instead of the ones for her 1:54 race

Hannah
Reply to  JimSwim
6 years ago

Her actual splits were 25.55, 28.45, 33.61, 26.44.

About Torrey Hart

Torrey Hart

Torrey is from Oakland, CA, and majored in media studies and American studies at Claremont McKenna College, where she swam distance freestyle for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps team. Outside of SwimSwam, she has bylines at Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, SB Nation, and The Student Life newspaper.

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