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.
I wonder if Curzan will sub the 200 free in for the 100 fly. At the moment, she seems to have a better chance at getting 1st-3rd in the 200 than the 100 fly. Walsh is likely going 46+, Huske probably 48 low and then it would be a toss up between Sticklen (not sure if I spelled that right) and Curzan.
Neither? More likely 50 Free, 100 Back, 200 Back to avoid individual doubles. She’ll swim a relay each of the four days. And she’ll be absolutely needed to swim the 400 medley relay on day 3 — when the 100 fly, 200 free and 100 back are contested. Don’t think she’ll be doing a triple.
Ultimately it doesn’t really matter because UVA is wining regardless what events she swims. But you’re right, that spreading out her events will probably allow her to be a little faster both individually and on relays.
Absolutely insane. I love swimming
Imagine being these girls parents.
Petition for a GW 2IM??
I would love if she does what dressel did in his senior year and swims “off” events at conferences just so we can see what she could do. Although as phenomenal as she is at all four strokes and the 100 IM I still think her better shot at breaking the everything record in a 200 is free. Of course before yesterday I also didn’t think she had a 56 100 breast in her so what do I know?
I haven’t done the maths but where would Gretchen land if she swam 200 IM and 400 IM?
I think I did it right, but using Gretchen’s best 100 times (all flat starts) she pencils at 3:17 in the 400 IM. The NCAA record is Ella Eastin’s 3:54. That would be a permanent record.
UVA is going to win so big at ACCs does it really matter that much if GW scratches the 50 to give it a go?
That’s… not how the 400IM works.
I love the . . . 😁
Just trying to convey my astonishment lol.
contender for worst swimming comment oat
If you scale up all of her 100s to 200s the same proportion as her 100 free to 200 free and then average them out, it’s a 1:50.1. Very rough estimation method ofc but the time seems reasonable. Don’t think there’s anywhere enough information to guess what she’d go in a 400 IM
For the love of swimming, she needs to do the 200IM at the ACCs
3 years ago, only 2 swimmers ever broken 57
Today 2 did in the same last chance / tune up race
Neither are ~breastrokers~
Absurd.
Huh? Alex Walsh is a breaststroker. While she is more known for IM, she has been the staple br leg for UVA for years. Or fly.
its a jab at the “pure breast” ethos
Ah! Got you.
Where do they rank in the top 10 100yd breaststroke now?
8th and 9th sandwiched between Wenger and Elendt
Great swim by Claire! They should go for the NCAA record in the 800 free relay at ACC’s! The best line up if they wanna go for it is Curzan, Walsh, Walsh and Canny!
Imagine they tied