Alex Walsh Breaks American Record in 200 IM with 1:50.08

2022 NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Virginia sophomore Alex Walsh set a new American Record in the 200 IM tonight at the Women’s NCAA Championships swimming a time of 1:50.08. That time also set NCAA, US Open, Meet, and Pool records.

Walsh broke the previous record held by Stanford’s Ella Eastin set back at the 2018 NCAA Championships as Eastin won back then with a time of 1:50.67.

Alex Walsh 2021 Ella Eastin 2018
23.95 24.59
27.50 27.45
31.64 32.28
26.99 26.35

The biggest difference makers were Walsh’s butterfly and breaststroke splits. Notably, Walsh was not leading at the 50 mark as Stanford’s Torri Huske was out in a 23.87. Eastin’s freestyle split was over half of a second faster than Walsh’s, but Walsh’s butterfly and breaststroke splits were able to propel her to the record breaking swim.

Walsh defended her title tonight as she won the event last year with a time of 1:51.87. Walsh’s best time prior to tonight was a 1:51.53 which she swam at 2021 ACCs.

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Santos
2 years ago

YASSS QUEENNNN, SLAYYYYY

Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Didn’t think she had much of a chance to win the 200 fly, but taking it out sub-24 in the 2 IM and barrelling home like she did made me rethink it. I mean her breathe every stroke fly — which she even sprints really fast with — is built for the 200 fly.

Snarky
2 years ago

I have to say I am bit surprised. Her 400 IM is going to be filthy. Record alert.

Meow
Reply to  Snarky
2 years ago

You think she can drop 5 seconds??

MTK
Reply to  Meow
2 years ago

Dropped 1.5 in an event that she swims a lot, so I wouldn’t put it past her to drop 3,4,5 seconds in the 400IM, which she has swam very little but seems to have been training hard for all year.

Last edited 2 years ago by MTK
Yup
2 years ago

Wins natty, then drops another 1.8 seconds in one year….

coach
2 years ago

Great swim by Alex Walsh. Congrats to Alex and her coaches.

MTK
2 years ago

Are we gonna see like 2:07.5 or faster from Alex this summer?

Steve Nolan
Reply to  MTK
2 years ago

I wouldn’t predict that fast, but 2:08 flat wouldn’t be too shocking.

Caleb
Reply to  MTK
2 years ago

Why not? 2:08.6 last summer and she’s had a great season. I think a lot of swimmers (in all countries) were still catching up from COVID breaks last year, and this year is going to have some knockout performances.

swimgeek
Reply to  MTK
2 years ago

She’s almost 2 sec faster than she was a year ago in yards. I know it’s a diff race, but some of that has to carry over to LC

Yay
2 years ago

Abby Harter and Emma Weyant did great too. Wow Virginia really blew their taper. 🙄🤣

PFA
Reply to  Yay
2 years ago

I know right! Desorbo ruined their entire taper tsk tsk breaking the 2 IM and 50 free records so disappointed.

Mac
2 years ago

Holy Moly almost 1:49!!!!!!!!!

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 and 2023 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. Currently, Anya is pursuing her B.A. in Economics and a minor in Government & Law at …

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