Watch: Maggie MacNeil Blasts 20.79 To Reset 50 Freestyle NCAA & US Open Record

by Ben Dornan 12

March 16th, 2023 College, News

2023 NCAA WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Maggie MacNeil swam her way to victory in the women’s 50 freestyle at the 2023 NCAA Championships, establishing a new NCAA record of 20.79. MacNeil took the record in the event from Gretchen Walsh who swam a 20.83 at the 2023 ACC Championships last month. The swim is also a new US Open record.

Prior to Walsh’s swim, Kate Douglass held the NCAA record at a 20.84, which she posted at the 2022 NCAA Championships. Douglass’ meet record was also taken out here by MacNeil’s 20.79. As MacNeil is a Canadian, Walsh retains the American record at a 20.83.

Walsh was present in this historic heat and swam in lane 4, next to MacNeil who raced in lane 5. Walsh threw down a 20.85 to slightly miss that American record she set a few weeks ago. Walsh took silver and Louisville junior Gabi Albiero swam a 21.30 for the bronze medal.

MacNeil and Walsh both disrupted the all-time rankings in the women’s 50 freestyle, hitting the #1 and #4 times in history. The top four times ever in the 50 freestyle now come from the past two years.

Fastest All-Time Performers, Women’s 50 Free:

  1. Maggie MacNeil – 20.79 (2023)
  2. Gretchen Walsh – 20.83 (2023)
  3. Kate Douglass  – 20.84 (2022)
  4. Gretchen Walsh – 20.85 (2023)
  5. Abbey Weitzeil – 20.90 (2019)
  6. Erika Brown (2020)/Maggie MacNeil (2022) – 21.03

You can watch MacNeil’s race here:

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jim
1 year ago

wow….great race overall, but that 2nd 25 breakout stroke was flawless!

IndividualMedleyEnjoyer
1 year ago

Saw that stroke rate and had to check my settings to make sure it wasn’t sped up. Jesus Christ

Seth
1 year ago

5 swimmers under 21 in the 50 free. Wow

Mike McCormack
1 year ago

Maggie Double Mac!! So calm while we Tiger fans out here are losing it! What an epic tomorrow; what an absolute epic. It’s going to take 48.5 or 6, I think. Victoria, also, is on her best form, and well could be significantly sub-49. The fans are the big winners yet again… if they can hold their composure!

jeff
1 year ago

would be funny if douglass led off in 20.82 and then Walsh went 20.81 next year

Mrworldwide
1 year ago

Maggie Two 3 weeks ago: “I want to leave on my terms”

the TERMS 20.79

Wahooswimfan
1 year ago

If Douglas leads off the UVA free relay, this record could be very short-lived.

Stephen Strange
Reply to  Wahooswimfan
1 year ago

This aged like milk

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Stephen Strange
1 year ago

wait isn’t that like, cheese

Kat
Reply to  Wahooswimfan
1 year ago

*laughing in macneil’s not short-lived 20.79*

bubo
1 year ago

Crazy how fast that Lara Jackson record fell down the all-time list

Waterbear13
Reply to  bubo
1 year ago

Same with Freddy Bousquet. They both were head and shoulders above their competition in the 2000s.