UVA’s Alex Walsh Swims Nation-Leading 400 IM Against NC State, UNC (Day 1 Recap)

by Robert Gibbs 17

January 19th, 2024 ACC, College, News, Previews & Recaps

UVA vs NC State vs UNC

  • January 19-20, 2024
  • Aquatic and Fitness Center, Charlottesville, VA
  • Double Dual Format
  • SCY
  • Results on Meet Mobile as “UVA vs NCST vs UNC”

The first day of a two-day double dual meet between ACC rivals didn’t disappoint. Not only did we see the fastest 50 free split ever, and Daniel Diehl‘s college debut, but UVA’s Alex Walsh popped a 4:00.52 that now stands at the fastest time in the nation.

So far, results are only on Meet Mobile, and there’s no scores on there, but according to UVA’s release (the only one available as of publication) after the first day, UVA leads NC State by 119-48 and UNC 125.5-41.5 on the women’s side. NC State men are beating UVA 117-50, while the UVA men lead UNC 95-72.

Women’s Recap

The UVA women jumped out to an early lead, as Gretchen Walsh went 48.77 on the backstroke leg of the 400 medley relay, the #3 performance ever. Jasmine Nocentini split 59.15 on breast, Alex Walsh split 50.69 on fly, and Maxine Parker anchored in 49.42, good for 3:28.03. The Texas Longhorns currently have the fastest time this season with a 3:25.25, while the Cavaliers sit 2nd at 3:26.15.

Outside of Gretchen’s aforementioned sizzling splits, her sister Alex Walsh had the biggest swim of the day. In the final individual event of the session, the 400 IM, she uncorked a 4:00.52. Not only did that win by nearly four seconds, but it’s now the top time the nation this season, displacing Florida’s Bella Sims and her 4:01.47 from the UGA Fall Invite. Walsh is the defending NCAA champ in this event, and her teammate Ella Nelson, who finished 2nd at last year’s NCAAs, took 2nd tonight in 4:04.24.

Bouncing back to G. Walsh, the sprintier sister won the 50 free tonight in 20.98. It’s worth noting that her 100 back leadoff set an UVA pool record, as did the 200 free relay where she split her 20.19. Nocentini led off that relay in 21.73, Maxine Parker split 22.07, and Carly Novelline anchored in 22.48, good for a 1:26.47 all together.

UVA also got wins from Cavan Gormsen in the 500 free (4:43.41), Aimee Canny in the 200 breast (2:10.75), Abby Harter in the 200 fly (1:57.91), and Tess Howley in the 200 back (1:53.47). If you’re keeping count, the Cavalier women took all 8 swimming events on the first day’s docket.

NC State took 2nd in both relays, going 3:34.68 in the 400 medley and 1:30.24 in the 200 free. Additionally, Abby Arens took 2nd in 200 breast 2:11.33, while Kennedy Noble placed 2nd in the 200 back in 1:54.09. UNC’s best swimming finish  came courtesy of Ellie Vannote, who broke up a potential UVA sweep of the top three by going 1:58.73.

Men’s Recap

The NC State men also started off the meet with a bang, taking down UVA’s pool record with a 3:07.89 in the 400 medley relay. Kacper Stokowski led off in 45.92, Sam Hoover split 53.43 on breast, Luke Miller split 45.76 on fly, and Quintin McCarty anchored in 42.78. Hoover and McCarty both missed substantial time last season, but both look like they’re primed to be key players for the Wolfpack men heading into championship season.

McCarty would go on to win the 50 free in 19.27, as one of four individual champions for the Wolfpack men on the night. James Plage kicked off the individual competition with a 4:23.65 win in the 500 free, then Noah Bowers took the 200 fly in 1:45.27 over the defending NCAA champion Aiden Hayes (1:46.72).

We already mentioned that Daniel Diehl made his college debut tonight, and the very-recent high school graduate entered the world of ACC swimming by taking the UVA pool record with a 1:42.64. He’d later swim on NC State’s ‘C’ 200 free relay, splitting 20.38 on the third leg.

Note: while NC State’s Instagram announced that Diehl broke the pool record, UVA’s release noted that Jack Aikins, who’s redshirting this year, also broke the pool record with a 1:41.49 exhibition swim. Regardless, Carson Foster held the actual Pool Record in 1:42.2, so Diehl never actually broke it.

NC State’s ‘A’ relay won that event. McCarty led off in 19.39, followed by Hoover (19.33), Noah Henderson (19.11), and Jerry Fox (19.12). That combined time of 1:16.95 won by over a second, with NC State’s ‘B’ relay taking 2nd at 1:18.16.

The host Virginia Cavaliers got a single win on the day. That win came from Noah Nichols, who outlasted UNC’s Ben Delmar in the 200 breast to win 1:56.15 to 1:56.89. Nichols, who’s been swimming fast all season in the 100 breast, also split 51.27 on the Cavaliers’ 2nd-place 400 medley relay.

UNC’s lone swimming win of the day came from Louis Gramm, who won the 400 IM by nearly three seconds with a 3:44.41.

Action resumes tomorrow morning, with diving at 10am and swimming at 12:30pm (EST). It’ll be senior day for the Cavaliers, all at the action will be streamed on ACCNX through the ESPN app and at WatchESPN.com.

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VikingSteve
11 months ago

So great to see Alex seemingly more happy/content in the pool this year leading to predictably better results!

Joel Lin
11 months ago

One small adjustment that has been a positive for Alex Walsh is no more breathing to both sides in the middle of the pool. Into a wall, yes sometimes just to get a look across the pool (shout out to Rowdy).

It’s given her freestyle a boost. There’s no need for her to breathe to both sides to stay balanced – her mechanics are just fine without. It also seemed breathing to both sides shortened up her stroke some – crocodile arms coming home in the IM. No more of that makes for a stronger finish in the IMs.

Breezeway
11 months ago

An awkward part of the ACCN livestream when the female announcer interviewed Braden Holloway and ask him about “his” swimmer Matt Van Deusen in the 200 breast. The dude swims for UNC. 😂

Similar to the reporter asking the Tampa Bay head coach about playing at Detroit with the winter elements in the NFL playoffs this weekend. Detroit has played in a “dome” for decades

Greg
11 months ago

Daniel Diehl’s 200 back time was not a pool record at any time. Carson Foster did a 142 low (I think 142.2), so NCST Instagram was misinformed.

Breezeway
Reply to  Greg
11 months ago

The announcer on the ACCN said it was a pool record when he touched. So they must be misinformed also or UVA hasn’t updated their data.

Nonrevhoofan
Reply to  Breezeway
11 months ago

The previous record was 1:42.14, set by Carson Foster on Nov 6, 2021. Jack Aikins set the new record yesterday at 1:41.49. Someone forgot to update the record book.

TreeFrog
Reply to  Greg
11 months ago

Also really bad form to sit all over the lane lines screaming at someone else’s pool when you just got to college 5 minutes ago.

Breezeway
Reply to  TreeFrog
11 months ago

Beat him and he won’t get on the lane line

Swimfan27
11 months ago

This is a big swim for Alex, as someone who usually requires a bit more of a taper than Kate and Gretchen, and who doesn’t swim AS fast in-season, usually. That’s a really fast time, and unsuited too. I’m predicting a 3:55 at NCAAs, ahead of Ella East in’s record pace until the final 100.

USA
Reply to  Swimfan27
11 months ago

Walsh and Nelson were suited, per the UVA youtube video

Swimfan27
Reply to  USA
11 months ago

Ah, okay. Still a great swim for her.

Bill Lumberg
Reply to  Swimfan27
11 months ago

i’m thinking she’s got 3:54 in her. Plus, if she goes even faster, i’m thinking she has a very good chance to clinch #2 at trials behind Grimes. She was very impressive not letting Summer get too far away from her last week

Yikes
Reply to  Bill Lumberg
11 months ago

Very possible. Walsh and Weyant seem pretty even in the event right now. Weyant looks the best she has since 2021 as far as in-season swims go; it’ll be interesting to see what she throws down with a taper. She looked good in prelims at nationals last year.

Bill Lumberg
Reply to  Yikes
11 months ago

Agree. I just think Walsh is just more talented than Emma overall, even though Emma has produced amazing swims. I’m rooting for both of them

Yikes
Reply to  Bill Lumberg
11 months ago

Yeah, I think she is too. Emma has a better PB than Alex right now but Alex’s ceiling seems higher. She’s only swum the event at a big meet once since her breakthrough. I do hope Emma can make the team and this event is her only shot. We’ll see what happens!

Josh J
11 months ago

“Ella Nelson, who finished 2nd at last year’s NCAAs, took 2nd tonight in 4:00.52.”

fact checkers help us out

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