2019 SPEEDO SOUTHERN PREMIER MEET
- March 1st-3rd, 2019
- Alan Jones Aquatic Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
- 25y, prelims/finals
- Real-Time Results
- Psych Sheets
In the next girls’ open event after her sister Gretchen broke the National Age Group Record in the 100 free, 17-year old Alex Walsh took down a record of her own. She swam a 2:05.87 in the 200 breaststroke, which breaks the old 17-18 record of 2:05.99 set in 2013 by Annie Zhu. According to USA Swimming, that ranks her as the 16th-fastest swimmer of any age in the history of the event.
Zhu was a freshman in college when she swam her time, at the 2013 SEC Championships, whereas Walsh is still just a junior in high school. That wound up being the fastest time of Zhu’s career.
Comparative Splits:
| Alex Walsh | Annie Zhu | |
| New Record | Old Record | |
| 1st 50 | 28.53 | 28.71 |
| 2nd 50 | 31.54 (1:00.07) | 32.25 (1:00.96) |
| 3rd 50 | 32.47 | 32.34 |
| 4th 50 | 33.33 | 32.69 |
| Total | 2:05.87 | 2:05.99 |
Walsh was out almost a second faster than Zhu was in her record. While she paid on the back-half of her swim, she still held on to just out-touch the metaphorical record line.
Alex Walsh is part of the new breed of super-versatile swimmer whose range knows no bounds. Evidence of that comes in that she split 23.64 in the 50 backstroke leading off Nashville’s record-setting relay on Saturday. For comparison’s sake: only 3 swimmers split faster than that at NCAAs last year. One, Ally Howe, won the 100 back NCAA title and is the 2nd-fastest swimmer ever in the 100 back. Another, Kathleen Baker, is the World Record holder in the 100 back in long course. Walsh was within a tenth of them both. (The 3rd was Indiana senior Ally Rockett).
If they both make 2020 that would be so cool. Watch out Campbell sisters new sister duo is coming. Biggest USA sister duo that I know of, at least in recent history
After ACC’s, I’m assuming that Alex must be looking hard at NC State. Seems like a really good match.
I assume UVA is on her short list also. Her teammate Ella Nelson is headed there in the fall
Or Stanford… don’t they try and lock up everyone?
Anyone know what other schools Alex is looking at? I feel like she’ll end up at Stanford but I have no inside info. Would love if either girl wanted to stay home at Tennessee but that seems like a long shot for some reason.
According to bear insider which has been tracking college visits she’s visited Stanford, UVA, UGA, and Texas. Since the rules now allow juniors to make official visits if we assume all the visits were official those may be 4 of her top 5 college choices.
Walsh’s trips have all involved schools with a strong swim history, and or top academics: Stanford, Cal, Texas, Virginia, Georgia. Can’t go wrong with any of those! My bet’s on one of the Bay Area programs.
Amazing Alex’s strength in the single strokes: shortly later this Nag in the 200 br, she has swum a 51.3 in the 100 fly.
Her 200 Im could be incredible if she’ll improve her endurance and strokes’ transitions.
Her current PBs in SCY:
100 fly. 51.31 (March 2019)
100 back. 50.88 (December 2018)
100 breast. 58.19 (December 2017)
100 free. 48.90 (December 2016)
Sure her 200 IM in college will be something to watch. I’m more cautious about next olympic trials as it’s fair to say that she’s a better short course swimmer so far. Let’s see her next summer first.
And talking about her endurance, I’m very pleased to see that she has swum the 400 IM at that meet and won it in 4.07.
😀 😀 the long pause in Bobo’s postings was probably caused by Bobo being busy exterminating his opponents. The +11 to -0 score — your life at Swimswam is getting boring 😀 😀
Name a faster duo…I’ll wait… (that being Gretchen and Alex)
The Campbell sisters…..what do I win?
Boom. Nicely done. Then again, the Walshes are just 16 & 17 right now. We don’t know their ceiling yet . . . given what we’re seeing now, who’s to say they won’t experience international stardom?
C1 had an unbelievable 50 and 100 free times aged 15 …….24.13 and 53.30 long course
Would be nice to see a comparison of the Walsh Sisters to the Foster Brothers. Which set is more impressive? Who has more NAGs? Who has better long term potential?
The Foster bros are amazing, but I don’t think only Carson is setting indv. NAGs. The Walshes are both breaking NAGs
I can’t even wrap my head around that kind of versatility.
Any videos from this meet??
Foster’s dad always post their videos on YouTube