Gretchen Walsh Posts 20.09 50 Free Relay Split, #2 Flying Start Split All-Time

Anya Pelshaw
by Anya Pelshaw 3

November 20th, 2024 ACC, College

2024 Tennessee Invite

Women’s 200 Free Relay

  • NCAA Record: 1:23.63, Virginia-2024
  • 2025 NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:28.42
  • 2025 NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:29.00
  1. Virginia A- 1:24.68 A
  2. Tennessee A- 1:27.11 A
  3. Tennessee B- 1:28.79
  4. Virginia B- 1:30.94
  5. Kentucky A- 1:31.43
  6. Kentucky B- 1:33.54

Gretchen Walsh swam to another historic 50 freestyle split on Wednesday night, swimming to a 20.09 on the 2nd leg of Virginia’s 200 freestyle relay.

Walsh now holds five of the top 10 relay performances in the 50 free all-time, including the top 4. Walsh swam the fastest split of all-time in February at ACCs, posting a blistering 19.95 to crack the 20-second barrier.

Top 50 Free Flying Start Performances All-Time

1 19.95, Gretchen Walsh (2024 ACCs)
2 20.09, Gretchen Walsh (2024 Tennessee Invite)
3 20.19, Gretchen Walsh (2024 Dual Meet)
4 20.23, Gretchen Walsh (2024 NCAAs)
5 20.27, Anna Hopkin (2020 SECs)
6 20.34, Kate Douglass (2023 NCAAs)
7 20.36, Gretchen Walsh (2023 Tenn. Invite)
8 20.37, Maggie MacNeil (2023 NCAAs)
9 20.40, Katharine Berkoff (2024 ACCs)
10 20.44, Maggie MacNeil (2023 SECs)

Walsh notably split a 20.36 at mid-season last year so she continues to show her improvement from where she was a year ago as she was 0.27 seconds faster today.

Walsh holds the NCAA and American records in the flat start 50 freestyle after swimming a 20.37 to win the 2024 NCAA title. She is the fastest 50 freestyle by over 0.4 seconds as Maggie MacNeil is #2 all-time with a 20.79 from 2023 NCAAs.

This morning, Walsh posted a 20.88 in the 50 free this morning and will have a chance to post another top time in history in the flat start event tonight.

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jeff
2 hours ago

top swim of the day for sure

Awsi Dooger
3 hours ago

Her top four performances are odd

Viking Steve
6 hours ago

Third fastest of all time at a dual meet….. umm…dominance….

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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