Gretchen Walsh Chomps Simone Manuel’s 15-16 NAG Record in 50 Free at 24.71

7TH FINA WORLD JUNIOR SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019

  • 50-Meter Course
  • Duna Arena, Budapest (Hungary)
  • Pool swimming: Tuesday, August 20 – Sunday, August 25, 2019
  • Heats 9:30am GMT+2 (3:30 am EDT / 12:30 am PDT)/ Semifinals and Finals 5:30pm GMT+2 (11:30am EDT / 8:30am PDT)
  • Meet site
  • Entries book
  • FinaTV Live Stream (subscription required)
  • Live results

Winning the World Junior title in the 50 free tonight out of lane 3 was 16-year-old Gretchen Walsh in a new best time of 24.71. That is a .14 improvement upon her old best, a 24.85 from the 2019 U.S. Nationals which had her tied in the 15-16 all-time rankings for #2 with Anya Goeders. Her time tonight breaks free of that tie and goes right past American record-holder Simone Manuel‘s 15-16 NAG record of 24.80 from the 2013 World Championships.

Despite a .73 reaction time off of the blocks, the third-slowest of the final tonight, Walsh held off her teammate, Maxine Parker, who went a best of her own at 24.75 to move to #2 in the 17-18 age group rankings. This record comes not long after Torri Huske broke a different 15-16 NAG record in the 100 fly.

Walsh has been electric this week, nearly taking down Missy Franklin‘s 100 free NAG record earlier in the meet and being a very dependable relay leg.

Breaking a Manuel NAG record is an impressive accomplishment. Four years after Manuel set her 15-16 NAG at 24.80, she clocked a 23.97 to claim the bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships and set the American record. Walsh continues to make her case as one of the most dangerous sprinters on the rise to watch out for with the Olympic Trials just about ten months away.

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Shibly
5 years ago

Walsh and Huske both are the revelation of the meet..USA ot will be highly electrifying

2 Cents
Reply to  Karl Ortegon
5 years ago

Or do you know something we dont about her college choice?? Chomps = Florida, Hooks = Texas, Axes = Stanford, Slices or stabs = UVA, Mauls = Cal
Hahaha, just joking, but her decision is a huge one coming up soon….

Rolypoly
5 years ago

Can we talk about how crazy fast this meet has been?! How are swimmers who presumably rested for Nationals all going best times by significant amounts a few weeks later?

Jjran
Reply to  Rolypoly
5 years ago

Agreed. These athletes must have shaved and tapered for nationals in order to make the meet. I’ve never seen time drops like these off a double taper. In fact, I usually see kids do far worse at these meets most of the time.

NoFlyKick
Reply to  Rolypoly
5 years ago

being 16 helps.

2 Cents
Reply to  Rolypoly
5 years ago

I feel dumb now… were these teams not selected last summer like all the other national team meets? Or how were these teams selected?… could they have known before Nats they were on the team and just half tapered? Like a Urlando or Walsh in this case?

Dude
5 years ago

In about 2 or 3 years the American women are gonna start dominating Australia in that 4×100 free relay. Much like the Australians do now against the US.

Swimfan
Reply to  Dude
5 years ago

After that 50 free swim by Walsh I’m starting to believe the Americans are going to have the depth and firepower to beat the aussies next yer

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Swimfan
5 years ago

they did offer a spendid challenge to Australia this year in Korea …unexpectedly – so its possible

Philip Johnson
Reply to  Dude
5 years ago

Yeah, USA has a bunch of young talent whereas Australia has been relaying on some veterans for several years now.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Philip Johnson
5 years ago

exactly …they also lost the 4 th best leg they had this year

Samesame
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
5 years ago

Meg HARRIS is coming through plus Webb and a few others .

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Samesame
5 years ago

same issue – they need a 52 + swimmer

Wondering
Reply to  Samesame
5 years ago

Same PEDs as Shayna?

Jalen Stimes
5 years ago

A new sprint freestyle queen!

Jjran
Reply to  Jalen Stimes
5 years ago

Don’t get too excited. Simone will be going almost a full second faster next year, and a few others will be there.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Jjran
5 years ago

nothing to do with the fact that Walsh is a new free super sprinter . Amazing talent

Jjran
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
5 years ago

He stated she is the new sprint Queen, which she is not. Fact. Nor is she close.

Daddy
Reply to  Jjran
5 years ago

Take a lap

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Jjran
5 years ago

she is , stop your nonsense , thanks

Justin
Reply to  Jjran
5 years ago

Simone is gonna be going 22.9?? Is this some sort of joke? 😂

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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