Gretchen Walsh (Unofficially) Breaks NCAA, American Records in the 100 fly, 48.30

by Laura Rosado 33

November 17th, 2023 ACC, College, News, Records

2023 TENNESSEE INVITATIONAL

After swimming butterfly in the morning long course prelims of the 100 free, Gretchen Walsh dropped a 48.30 from lane 8 to place 2nd overall. And yes, she was still swimming butterfly.

What that means is Walsh just became the fastest woman in the 100 yard butterfly, eclipsing her former Cavalier teammate Kate Douglass’ American and NCAA record by 0.16 seconds.

Compared to Douglass’ swim, Walsh was actually out 0.1 seconds slower, but blazed home 0.26 seconds faster. See the splits comparison below:

Gretchen Walsh (New Best time) Kate Douglass (Record)
50 22.58 22.48
100 48.30 (25.72) 48.46 (25.98)

However, Walsh will not add another American or US Open record to her already impressive resume. Since the swim was done in a 100 freestyle heat, it is unlikely to be ratified due to USA Swimming rule 102.23.1A2, which states:

“An official time for an event or a stroke can be achieved only in that event or stroke, or in an initial distance of such event or stroke (e.g., a backstroke time must be achieved in a backstroke event or the backstroke leg of a medley relay). Regardless of the stroke(s) used, times achieved in freestyle events can be recorded only as freestyle times.”

There is a chance it will be ratified as an NCAA record, however, since the NCAA rulebook does not officially address this situation explicitly. The Secretary Rules Editor, a position currently held by Greg Lockhart, is responsible for certifying NCAA records. The position has the responsibility of interpreting the rule book and determining if there is an applicable rule or previous precedence that addresses it. The SRE can also ask the entire rules committee to weigh in.

This swim joins a list of quirky and confusing records that sit in the gaps between the rules, like Libby Lenton’s fastest-ever 100 free swum on the leadoff leg of a mixed relay, World Records that weren’t American Records after USA Swimming outlawed polyurethane suits before FINA did, and Claire Curzan’s National Age Group Records set in mixed-gender heats shortly after COVID.

Walsh has been on fire throughout this season, and her invite performances have only continued that trend. She’s already dropped the third fastest 50 free split in history (20.36), lowered her American record in the 50 free and tied Maggie Mac Neil’s NCAA record (20.79), and improved her 200 free time in both meters (2:01.17) and yards (1:41.32), the latter of which would have won the event at last season’s NCAAs by over a second. And now she’s (unofficially) the fastest swimmer in history in another event, following the 100 back set at the 2023 NCAAs.

Walsh finished 2nd overall to Camille Spink, who clocked a 47.28 swimming freestyle. Had she swam the 100 fly earlier in the meet, Walsh would have easily cleared the field by 5.01 seconds over UVA teammate Maggie Schalow.

Today is also Kate Douglass’ 22nd birthday.

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Cannonball
1 year ago

Last year the 100 free NCAA invite time was 48.37 … so she’s in, doing butterfly now too 😳 I don’t even know how to contextualize how other worldly of a swimmer she is. She would be invited in the 100 free whether or not she chose to ACTUALLY swim freestyle – or she could do bk/fl and still qualify. Standing ovation!

ALEXANDER POP-OFF
1 year ago

The most surprising and impressive thing is that she outsplit Kate on the backhalf! I say she hits sub-56 LCM this summer.

Swimgeek
Reply to  ALEXANDER POP-OFF
1 year ago

She might do it next week at US open

Justin Pollard
Reply to  ALEXANDER POP-OFF
1 year ago

I hope she does. The US needs a superb butterflier.

Long Strokes
1 year ago

She’s an in-season beast like MA

ACC fan
1 year ago

Happy birthday Kate!!!

Pescatarian
1 year ago

Why doesn’t she just race. Too many games.

SinkOrSwim
Reply to  Pescatarian
1 year ago

It’s entertaining, something swimming needs desperately.

Swimgeek
Reply to  Pescatarian
1 year ago

FYI – 2 free and 100 fly are back to back events at a championship meet. This was a way to do both of these events.

tea rex
1 year ago

Forget about freestyle, she’s definitely wearing fins. Only way it makes sense.

jeff
1 year ago

Natalie Coughlin was the first to break 51 seconds in both in 2002, Regan Smith was the first to break 50 in 2021, Gretchen Walsh is the first to break 49 in 2023, and she very well may get under 48 by 2024

ididujejd
Reply to  jeff
1 year ago

kate broke 49 first

jeff
Reply to  ididujejd
1 year ago

I meant 49 in both, otherwise it would’ve been Maggie/berkoff

Last edited 1 year ago by jeff
ididujejd
Reply to  jeff
1 year ago

yeah srry i meant maggie

Joe
Reply to  jeff
1 year ago

You talking about backstroke or butterfly?

Andrew
1 year ago

Joseph Schooling also went a 46.9 100 yard breast unofficially in practice during his 100 fly

Lpman
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

I remember that! Wasn’t that with a drag suit on too?

Coach
Reply to  Lpman
1 year ago

Yeah he had a parachute on too