Gretchen Walsh Goes 53.84 100 Free In Prelims, Douglass (2:12.42) A. Walsh (2:13.74) Do 200 IM

2024 NCAP ELITE QUALIFIER

In the final prelims session, Gretchen Walsh led the way clocking a 53.84 in the 100 freestyle. Walsh currently sits as the #4 American this season in the event as her season best stands at a 53.17 from last month’s Pro Series- San Antonio. Her personal best is a 53.14 that she swam to finish 3rd at 2023 US Summer Nationals as she went on to make the 2023 Worlds roster. Today’s swim was her fastest prelims swim of the season as she swam a 54.00 in San Antonio, a 54.07 in Knoxville (January), and a 53.95 at the US Open (December 2023).

Maxine Parker finished behind Walsh this morning in a 55.84. That was around her time from prelims at this meet a year ago as she swam a 55.65 then before swimming a 56.14 in finals. A month later, she went on to make the US Worlds roster as she swam a personal best 53.51 at US Summer Nationals.

Also highlighting prelims were Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh who led the way in the 200 IM. Douglass swam to a 2:12.42 while Walsh swam a 2:13.74. The two look to have a showdown tonight in the event next to each other. Last night, Douglass earned the win in the 200 breaststroke ina. 2:19.95 while Walsh swam a personal best 2:22.87. The two are the fastest Americans in both the 200 IM and 200 breaststroke this season.

Douglass leads the US women this season with a 2:07.05 that she swam to win the World title in the event at Doha in February. That also marked a personal best. Walsh has a season best of a 2:07.63 from Knoxville in January.

Other prelims highlights:

  • 16 year old Virginia Hinds swam to a 2:14.53 in the 200 backstroke, a personal best by 1.53 seconds. Hinds was just off of the Trials cut of a 2:13.59. She will have another chance tonight.
  • Will Thompson clocked a 2:02.57 in the men’s 200 backstroke, a 0.22 second drop. The Trials cut is a 2:01.69.

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Lotus
10 months ago

hmm claire curzan you might be in danger girl

Sub13
Reply to  Lotus
10 months ago

She claimed to be fully unrested in Doha but then hasn’t been anywhere near her Doha times since. I suspect she’ll be around her Doha times at trials and I don’t think that’ll be enough

Yikes
Reply to  Lotus
10 months ago

I know there is a lot that we don’t know about her decision making process, but I really don’t think she should have given up on sprint free and gone all in on the backstrokes, possibly the deepest events in the US

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  Lotus
10 months ago

What’d she go?

Yikes
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
10 months ago

2:09.5

Aragon Son of Arathorne
Reply to  Lotus
10 months ago

“Molly- you in danger girl”

what movie?

Swimfan
10 months ago

any know what Gretchen Walsh did in the 100 free?

Yikes
Reply to  Swimfan
10 months ago

53.8

jeff
Reply to  Swimfan
10 months ago

53.80

cheese
10 months ago

2:07.76 for Douglass, 2:07.99 for Walsh.

Swimmerfan
Reply to  cheese
10 months ago

Splits??

cheese
Reply to  Swimmerfan
10 months ago

Douglass: 28.12 / 32.79 / 37.44 / 29.41
Walsh: 28.12 / 32.30 / 37.35 / 30.22

Helk bengur
Reply to  cheese
10 months ago

WoW backstroke!!

Eddie
Reply to  cheese
10 months ago

Pretty interesting splits since KD usually takes it out in a 26.8 or so. And their breast splits are surprisingly slower than expected after their swims yesterday.

I bet it was a great race to watch

moonlight
Reply to  cheese
10 months ago

strong backstroke split for KD. good to see that leg falling into place, since that’s her weak stroke.

seems likely that one or both break 2:07 at Trials.

jeff
Reply to  Swimmerfan
10 months ago

28.12 / 32.79 / 37.44 / 29.41 Douglass, 28.12 / 32.30 / 37.35 / 30.22 Walsh

VASWAMMER
Reply to  Swimmerfan
10 months ago

Douglass: 28.12 32.79 37.44 29.41 for 2.07.76
Walsh: 28.12 32.30 37.35 30.22 for 2.07.99

RealCrocker5040
10 months ago

Douglass 2:07.76 and Walsh 2:07.99!!!

Joel Lin
Reply to  RealCrocker5040
10 months ago

Alex was 2:09 mid at this meet last year.

Look out…2 Hoos going 2:06 in Indy.

Swimmerfan
10 months ago

G.Walsh 53,37

Douglass 2:07:46
A. Walsh 2:07:69

Curzan 2:07:68

IMO
Reply to  Swimmerfan
10 months ago

Delusional.

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  IMO
10 months ago

How are these delusional? Based on the times they’ve shown this weekend, I don’t think these are unreasonable at all.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
10 months ago

I think G Walsh and Curzan will be a little slower.

Free Thinker
Reply to  IMO
9 months ago

He damn near nailed 3 out of 4 there I hope you come back here and fall on the sword.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Swimmerfan
10 months ago

I was expecting more from Gretchen Walsh (100 FL, 50 FR) at the 2024 NCAP Elite Qualifier.

RealCrocker5040
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
10 months ago

Greg Meehan’s fault

VASWAMMER
Reply to  Swimmerfan
10 months ago

Wow! Exactly .3 off both 200IM swims. Impressive!

Octavio Gupta
10 months ago

KD and AW washed? Wtf

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Octavio Gupta
10 months ago

There is no reason to knock yourself out in the heats of the 200 IM.

RMS
10 months ago

So yall just gonna leave Curzan out? What did she throw down in the 200 back?

Octavio Gupta
Reply to  RMS
10 months ago

A blistering 2:15

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Octavio Gupta
10 months ago

Remember, the Bacon sizzles.

RMS
Reply to  Octavio Gupta
10 months ago

Desorbo effect

I miss the ISL (go dawgs)
Reply to  RMS
10 months ago

She went a very pedestrian 2:15. Added 10 seconds. Would venture to say that’s why they didn’t include her prelims swim in the recap. She’ll do something much faster tonight.

Helk bengur
Reply to  I miss the ISL (go dawgs)
10 months ago

I Hope 2:08

Swimfan
10 months ago

52 incoming from Walsh tonight would be a game changer and bodes well for trials

Jonathan
Reply to  Swimfan
10 months ago

No way is G Walsh going 52 tonight.

Swimfan
Reply to  Jonathan
10 months ago

We will find out later then 😉

snailSpace
Reply to  Jonathan
10 months ago

I don’t see why she couldn’t? Wasn’t she slower in prelims when she went 53.1 in April?

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Swimfan
10 months ago

I sincerely doubt it.

What’s your ludicrous prediction for the W 4 x 100 FR-R this year?

Last edited 10 months ago by Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims

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, 2023, and 2024 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. She also attended 2023 US Summer Nationals as well as the 2024 European Championships …

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