Virginia Drops Swimmer To Add Diver Elizabeth Kaye To NCAAs, Duke’s Catherine Belyakov In

2024 WOMEN’S NCAA SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

After originally having 19 swimmers above the NCAA cutline, Virginia has now dropped another swimmer, Ella Bathurst to allow for diver Elizabeth Kaye to be added to their roster. This also allows Duke’s Catherine Belyakov into the meet.

Kaye recently competed at Zone A Diving Championships. She won the 3 meter event, was 2nd in the 1 meter and 3rd off of the platform. Kaye made NCAAs last year finishing 17th off both the 1 and 3 meters and finished 46th off platform.

Bathurst is the second swimmer to be dropped from Virginia’s roster as Maddie Donohoe was originally removed to bring the team’s roster from 19 swimmers to 18. The NCAA has a roster limit of 18 athletes for the NCAA Championships with divers counting as half.

Out of Virginia’s remaining invited swimmers, Bathurst had the lowest invite seed as she was the #34 seed in the 400 IM. Bathurst made NCAAs a year ago, with her highest finish coming in the 200 IM as she was 32nd in prelims. Two years ago, Bathurst just missed the NCAA 200 back B final as she was 17th in a 1:53.32.

As Bathurst has been scratched, Duke’s Catherine Belyakov will join the Blue Devils roster as she was originally the 37nd seed in the 200 IM. Belyakov will also swim the 100 breast and 100 freestyle. She brings Duke’s roster to seven individual invites.

With Belyakov moving off the alternates list, Virginia Tech’s Emma Atkinson is now the first alternate if another scratch/drop is made.

OFFICIAL ALTERNATES LIST

  1. Catherine Belyakov, Duke 200 IM 1:57.05
  2. Emma Atkinson, Virginia Tech 200 back 1:54.08
  3. Ela Noble, Princeton 50 free 22.13
  4. Lexie Mulvihill, Auburnm 50 free 22.13
  5. Casey Caffrey, Northern Arizona 1650 free 16:15.27
  6. Elizaveta Klevanovich, Auburn 100 free 48.37
  7. Erin Dawson, Colorado State 400 IM 4:11.13
  8. Jessica Maeda, Denver 200 breast 2:09.75
  9. Mackenzie Brandt, Alabama 500 free 4:41.31
  10. Brooke Travis, NC State 1650 free 16:15.76

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igor
8 months ago

Very nice job by Nanya Pelshaw and Swimswam by covering all issues related to the NCAA meet. Detailed information are very helpful and well presented. Thank you!

igor
Reply to  igor
8 months ago

Anya Pelshaw – misspelled, sorry!

Mark R. Lambert
8 months ago

The meet is called:
NCAA D1 Sw/Di Championships
DIVING MATTERS!

igor
Reply to  Mark R. Lambert
8 months ago

Sure –  diving matter. Divers should have the same chances for consideration for this meet as swimmers! No doubt about that. 

Masters swammer
8 months ago

Sad for Ella and Maddie

emily
Reply to  Masters swammer
8 months ago

Maddie is a 5th year and opted out to let a younger teammate compete. She was not “dropped.”

ShermanO
8 months ago

Won’t affect much for VA. The diver addition likely won’t add points. Respect for giving Kaye a chance to compete.

Meow
8 months ago

Do divers ever get dropped to make room for another swimmer or does it only ever go one way?

Swim Alchemist
Reply to  Meow
8 months ago

I believe the Texas men have left diver(s) at home. They were at least planning to in 2020: https://swimswam.com/eddie-reese-texas-will-take-16-swimmers-and-4-divers-to-ncaa-championships/

Jimbo
Reply to  Swim Alchemist
8 months ago

They also left two in 2022, including one who made a B final the previous year.

Swim Dad
8 months ago

I wish they would change this rule! You drop one male and one female swimmer from the meet…. Fastest swimmers should swim.

Anon
Reply to  Swim Dad
8 months ago

I’m sure the Dodgers wish they could put 11 guys on the field but they can’t. Team size is not ambiguous. The US only gets two spots per event in the Olympics.

John
Reply to  Swim Dad
8 months ago

Yeh! Participation trophies for everyone as well while we’re at it!

Parke Cooper
8 months ago

Congrats Lizzy! Well earned. Go Wahoos and Sharks!
The Cooper Family.

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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