2024 Cavalier Invitational
- February 6-8, 2025
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
- Short Course Yards (25 yards), Prelims/Finals
- Day 1 Results
Alex Walsh and Gretchen Walsh swam the top two times in the NCAA this season in the 100 breaststroke on Friday at the Cavalier Invitational. Alex touched in a 56.85, just 0.01 ahead of Gretchen who swam a 56.86.
The swim marked lifetime bests for both as well as Alex entered the meet with a lifetime best of a 56.98 that she swam in Texas just weeks ago. Gretchen entered the meet with a lifetime best of a 59.75 that she swam in January in a dual meet against Virginia Tech. Gretchen already swam a lifetime best in prelims with a 57.34.
Split Comparison
| Alex Walsh | Gretchen Walsh | |
| 50 | 27.77 | 26.81 |
| 100 | 29.08 | 30.05 |
| 56.85 | 56.86 |
Despite only being 0.01 apart at the touch, the sisters showed their differences in the way they swam the race. Known for being more of a sprinter, Gretchen was out fast at the 50 in a 26.81 and almost a full second ahead of Alex’s 27.77. Alex, more known for being a mid-distance swimmer, came back almost a full second faster with a 29.08 compared to Gretchen’s 30.05.
The two are the only women under the 57-second mark in the NCAA this season. Alex’s swim also broke the pool record that Gretchen swam in prelims.
Alex also time trialed the 200 free at the end of tonight’s session, touching in a 1:43.43. It was her second time swimming the event this season after swimming a 1:47.01 in a dual meet against NC State and UNC last month. Walsh notably swam a 1:43.43 in the event at midseason in 2023 but did not swim the event the rest of her senior season except for at the relay level.
In addition to the Walsh showdown, Claire Curzan also highlighted the night. Curzan swam to a 1:41.99 in the 200 freestyle, breaking the pool record of a 1:42.78 set by Aimee Canny in 2023. Curzan’s swim was a lifetime best as her previous best was a 1:42.43 from March 2022 prior to her arrival at Stanford. She now sits at #4 in the NCAA this season in the event.
Charlotte Wilson swam to a lifetime best 51.68 in the women’s 100 backstroke for Virginia. The freshman had a previous lifetime best of a 52.01 that she swam at midseason. She arrived at Virginia this fall with a best time of a 52.22. It took a 52.28 to earn an NCAA invite in the event last year.
Fellow Virginia swimmer Maggie Schalow also swam to a lifetime best as she swam a 51.74 in prelims of the 100 fly. That improved upon her previous best of a 52.31 that she swam at midseason in fall 2023.
David King of Virginia swam to a 45.51 in the men’s 100 backstroke for the win. That dropped over a second off his lifetime best of a 46.76 that he swam in March 2024. It also was much faster than his 48.04 from midseason. It took a 45.56 to earn an invite to 2024 NCAAs in the event.
Joe Castagno of Johns Hopkins swam to a lifetime best in the men’s 400 IM. Castagno touched 2nd in a 3:54.16, finishing behind Virginia’s Zach Larrick who swam to a 3:52.83. Castagno’s previous best was a 3:54.79 from the 2022 Cavalier Invite. The swim sits at #5 for Division III this season.
Imagine they tied
It’s remarkable how the rest of the top 10 list is pretty much just pure breaststrokers with a sprint focus (besides maybe Nocentini who also sprints freestyle), and then here comes along a pair of siblings that completely breaks that mold
I think we need to realize that Alex Walsh is our next TV color commentator for swimming if she chooses that path
Emma Weber represented America in this past summers 100 Breast. She just lost to Gretchen by almost 4 seconds….
That is a big difference but Emma is more suited to LC and Gretchen is just so good at SC. I doubt Gretchen would beat Emma in LC.
Besides showing how incredible Gretchen is at SC, this proves that LC breaststrokers are a unique talent. 110BR LC and SC are such different races. Charlie Swanson was also the surprise 100 breaststroke, USA representative despite the 400 IM being his best event in college
Fair enough. But Weber has gone 59.0 or better in six of the seven times she has taken on the 100 breast this season.
She’s in good shape to break 58 during championship season.
Alex said love you sis but you ain’t beating me in my best stroke lol
SCY 400 MR add up.
Gretchen Walsh vs. Best of everyone else in history.
Katharine Berkoff – 48.55
Lilly King – 55.73
Kate Douglass – 48.46
Simone Manuel – 45.56
3:18.30
Gretchen Walsh – 48.10
Gretchen Walsh – 56.86
Gretchen Walsh – 47.42
Gretchen Walsh – 44.83
3:17.21
WOW!
I wonder who is the second best add up of four 100 best times?
probably kate douglass?
Kates is around a 3:22, probably could be 3:20 if she swam the 100 breast seriously but Gretchen picks up a second on fly and free and over 2 on back
That’s insane! I wonder if Kate could throw down faster times now. She hasn’t swam SCY in 2 years and she’s improved since then.
yeah i am pretty sure KD went close to her 100 breast PB on her NCAA record 200 breast swim so probably a good amount to given their.
One of the best comments of year
Can’t wait for Gretchen to throw a faster 2 IM than alex
The Gretchen medley relay:
48.10
56.86
47.15 (flying start)
44.83
3:16.93
The current 400 MR record is 3:21…
The other Gretchen medley relay:
22.10
26.81
20.87 (flying start)
19.95 (flying start)
1:29.73
The current 200 MR record is 1:31.51 lol
and the 50 breast is her 100 split.. im dead
Is MR ‘Merican Record?🤪