Gretchen Walsh’s First 25 In 100 Fly Prelims Was Faster Than First 25 In 50 Free Finals

2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships

• March 19-22, 2025
• Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center — Federal Way, Washington
• Short Course Yards (25 yards)
• Start Times: Prelims: 10 AM ׀ Finals: 6 PM (Pacific Daylight Time)
• Meet Central
• Official Psych Sheets
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Live Recaps:
  • Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2

Women’s 100 Butterfly

• NCAA Record: 47.35 — Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
• Championship Record: 47.42 — Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
• American Record: 47.35 — Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 47.35 — Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
• 2024 Champion: Gretchen Walsh, Virginia — 47.42

Top 16

1. Gretchen Walsh (Virginia)- 47.21 **New Everything Record**
2. Emma Sticklen (Texas)- 49.76
3. Torri Huske (Stanford)- 50.19
4. Ella Welch (Louisville)- 50.72
5. Miranda Grana (Indiana)- 50.79
6. Abby Arens (Texas)- 50.81
7. Gabi Albiero (Louisville)- 50.96
8. Oliva Peoples (Florida)- 51.02

Gretchen Walsh swam faster on the first 25 of her 100 butterfly this morning than she did last night in the first 25 split of her 50 freestyle. Walsh split a 9.93 this morning to go on to set a new NCAA record with a 47.21. She flipped in a 10.04 last night in the individual final of her 50 free before swimming a 20.49.

Walsh First 25 Split Analysis

As seen in the chart, there is some correlation of Walsh’s first 25 indicating she will go on to swim a faster time than if she were out slower. Her 50 free and 100 fly first 25 splits are typically similar. The 50 free has a flip vs to the hand while the 100 fly has her pacing for a 100 vs a 50 so the two have different reasons why they may be similar.

Walsh is the top seed tonight heading into finals of the 100 fly after swimming a 47.21 to break her own NCAA and American Records this morning. No other swimmer was under 49 seconds.