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
Gretchen Walsh of the Nashville Aquatic Club broke the 15-16 National Age Group Record in the girls’ 100 yard freestyle. Swimming in finals in Knoxville, she posted a 47.49, which broke the old record of 47.73 set by Simone Manuel in 2013.
Walsh’s previous best time was a 47.79 done at Winter Juniors East in December.
Comparative Splits:
| Gretchen Walsh | Simone Manuel | |
| New Record | Old Record | |
| 1st 50 | 23.00 | 23.02 |
| 2nd 50 | 24.49 | 24.71 |
| Total | 47.49 | 47.73 |
Walsh was out in almost exactly the same split as Manuel was, but closed more than 2-tenths better than Manuel did in her previous record-setting swim.
Manuel went on after that swim to win a 2016 Olympic gold medal in the long course version of the same 100 free and a 2017 World Championship in the same. Just a few months after her National Age Group Record, she swam the American prelims 400 medley relay at the World Championships which would go on to win gold in finals.
Walsh tied the 15-16 National Age Group Record in the 50 free on Saturday. She now holds 3 National Age Group Records in yards individually, plus a relay. She also was a member of a 13-14 National Age Group Record-setting relay.
Certainly one to look out for!
With the addition of the mixed medley relay in 2020…
Can the US enter A. Walsh, J. Foster, C. Foster, G. Walsh??? Could legitimately make the final.
Good sign for Tokyo Olympic….hopefully USA will be favoured to win women’s 400 m free relay with Simone; Comerford; Abby; E. Brown along with Gretchen of course. At least two new swimmers Will break the hallowed barrier of 53 secs in 100 m free…
Next year after breaking this NAG record Simone Manuel became the fastest ever American sprinter. Then in two years she became first American under 53 sec and then next year she became third fastest ever in the world. Quite a progress curve. So beating Simone’s NAG record is a nice thing. But don’t getting overreacted – beating Simone Manual is an extremely tough task.
Pretty good meet for the Walsh girls. Wow
Watch out Simone and Abbey
Wow!