Virginia vs. Florida 2022 — Dual Meet Live Recap

Virginia vs. Florida

• October 22, 2022 at 10 AM EST
• SCY (25 yards)
• Charlottesville, Virginia
• Live Results
• Biggest Storylines

Robert Gibbs contributed to this report.

With the exception of the Virginia-Texas meet last year, SwimSwam hasn’t typically done live recaps of collegiate dual meets in the past. However, this season we plan on doing live recaps of duals between some of the top-ranked teams in the NCAA, with Virginia vs. Florida being one of them.

There doesn’t appear to be a live stream of this meet, but you can follow along via the live results page provided in the link above or via this article.

On the women’s side, we will get a matchup between two-time defending national champions Virginia and the #11-ranked Florida. This meet will be the regular season debut of Kate Douglass, Alex Walsh, and Gretchen Walsh, who were the top three scorers at last season’s NCAA Championship meet. We will also get to see Florida all-Americans Talia Bates, Mabel Zavaros and Tylor Mathieu, as well as top-ranked freshman Hayden Miller, compete. However, sources tell SwimSwam that top Florida transfers Emma Weyant and Caroline Pennington (ironically, both of them were once part of UVA’s team) will not be cleared to compete at this meet—although we won’t find out for sure until the competition starts.

The men’s meet features the #3 Florida men against the #9 Virginia men. The highest profile male swimmer competing today will be World Championship medalist Josh Liendo, who is racing in just his second-ever yards meet. However, the Gators have several stars that will also be making an appearance, such as Trey Freeman, Adam Chaney, Dillon Hillis, and Olympian transfer Jake Mitchell. Virginia’s team is highlighted by a group of sprint titans, which includes American record holders Matt King, Matt Brownstead, August Lamb, and Connor Boyle, as well as all-American Jack Aikins.

Yesyterday, competition opened up with the women’s and men’s three-meter diving events. Florida’s Elettra Neroni won for the women with 316.50 points, while her teammate Christopher Donald won on the men’s side with 319.50 points.

Prior to the start of this meet, Virginia unveiled their 2022 national championship banner for their women’s team. When the meet is over, the UVA women will be receiving their national championship rings. You can watch the banner unveiling here:

To answer everyone’s first question, nobody here is suited.

Women’s 200 Medley Relay

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:36.24
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:37.02

Top 3:

1. UVA “B” Relay — 1:36.34
2. UVA “A” Relay — 1:36.37
3. UVA “C” Relay — 1:39.89

There was a tight race between UVA’s “B” team of Carly Noveline, Zoe Skirboll, Alex Walsh, and Maxine Parker and their “A” team of Kate Douglass (24.03), Jaycee Yegher (27.69), Gretchen Walsh (21.91), and Reilly Tiltmann (22.74), although the “B” team ended up winning by 0.03 seconds.

Although many of the splits were messed up from this race, UVA head coach Todd DeSorbo confirmed that Gretchen Walsh did, in fact split 21.91 on fly, which is the fastest recorded 50 fly split in history on the women’s side. Prior to today, Walsh’s teammate Douglass had the fastest split ever at 21.95.

Anna Keating split a 27.40 50 breast on the ‘C’ relay, whereas freshman Emma Weber split 27.54 on the ‘D’ relay. The fastest free split (that wasn’t messed up by timing) was from Florida’s Ekaterina Nikonova, who anchored the fourth-place finishing Gator ‘B’ relay in a time of 22.38.

Men’s 200 Medley Relay

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:23.76
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:24.42

Top 3:

1. Florida ‘B’ Relay — 1:25.94
2. UVA ‘B’ Relay — 1:29.13
3. UVA ‘C’ Relay — 1:29.26

Unlike the close women’s race, the Florida ‘B’ relay dominated the men’s 200 medley relay, as Adam Chaney (21.98), Julian Smith (24.69), Eric Friese (20.35), and Josh Liendo (18.92) put up a time of 1:25.94 to win by over three seconds. Liendo’s sub-19 split indicates that he is adjusting well to yards, as he joins Gui Caribe, Bjorn Seeliger, Grant House, and Owen Harlow in a group of men who have split a sub-19 50 free this season so far.

Virginia’s ‘B’ relay of Jack Aikins, Daniel Worth, Josh Fong, and August Lamb was second in 1:29.13 (their splits were messed up), but their ‘A’ relay of Max Edwards (22.23), Noah Nichols (23.25), Matt King (20.18), and Matt Brownstead (19.26) were DQed. Had they not been DQed, they would have combined for a time of 1:24.92, which is faster than Florida’s winning time.

Notably, Florida’s Dillon Hillis split 24.74 on Florida’s fourth-place finishing relay labeled as their ‘A’ team, instead of on the winning relay with the team’s strongest swimmers. Hillis was on Florida’s NCAA Championship winning 200 medley relay las season.

Women’s 1000 Free

Top 3:

1. Hayden Miller, Florida — 9:43.68
2. Anna Auld, Florida — 9:47.74
3. Elise Bauer — 9:54.66

The Florida women showed their distance prowess by taking the top three positions in the 1000 free, led by freshman Hayden Miller. Miller went a 9:43.68, beating out her season-best of 9:53.62 from the Florida-Arkansas dual meet las month. Her time sits behind Deniz Ertan’s 9:43.62 as the second-fastest time in the country this year.

Virginia’s fastest finisher was freshman Claire Tuggle, who placed 4th.

Men’s 1000 Free

Top 3:

1. Alfonso Mestre, Florida — 9:06.91
2. Eric Brown, Florida — 9:08.90
3. Brennan Gravley, Florida — 9:09.09

Just like in the women’s race, the Florida men also went 1-2-3. Alfonso Mestre led the pack with a 9:06.91, whereas Eric Brown and Brennan Gravley followed. In Florida’s meet against NOVA Southeastern, Gravley had won in a 9:09.98, which means three Gators were significantly faster than they were a month ago.

Virginia’s Tanner Hering took fourth in 9:21.33, making him the highest-placing swimmer for his team.

Women’s 200 Free

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:42.84
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:47.12
• 2022 Invite Time: 1:45.42

Top 3:

1. Alex Walsh, Virginia — 1:45.25
2. Ella Nelson, Virginia — 1:45.81
3. Katie Mack, Florida — 1:48.36

A pair of 1:45-points headline the 200 free, as Alex Walsh and Ella Nelson went 1-2. In fact, they split their races very similar, as Walsh went 24.64/26.76/26.81/27.03 whereas Nelson went 25.03/26.88/26.87/27.03, with most of Walsh’s advantage over Nelson coming from that first 50.

Walsh and Nelson’s times makes them the second and third swimmers to go 1:45-point this season, after Kelly Pash of Texas went 1:45.86 yesterday. In addition, both of them overtake Pash as the two fastest swimmers in the event this year.

Katie Mack of Florida had a strong swim for third, clocking a 1:48.36 that is just over two seconds off her personal best of 1:46.23.

Men’s 200 Free

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:31.98
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:35.88
• 2022 Invite Time: 1:33.08

Top 3:

1. Trey Freeman, Florida — 1:36.14
2. Jack Wright, Virginia — 1:36.36
3. Oskar Lindholm, Florida — 1:36.45

The Florida men kept their streak rolling behind a 1:36.14 win from Trey Freeman. Freeman and UVA’s Jack Wright battled close together for most of the race, with another Gator, Oskar Lindholm, stayed within striking distance. Wright’s back half was a bit faster than Freeman’s, but he couldn’t close the gap and took second in 1:36.36. Lindholm charged home with a 24.09 final 50, touching just 0.09s behind Wright.

A pair of impact transfers took 4th and 5th. Olympian Jake Mitchell, who came to Florida from Michigan, touched 4th in 1:39.18. Tim Connery, in his first meet as a Cavalier after transferring from Texas, touched 5th in 1:39.89.

Women’s 100 Back

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 50.89
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 53.69
• 2022 Invite Time: 52.46

Top 3:

1. Reilly Tiltmann, Virginia — 53.18
2. Carly Novelline, Virginia — 53.93
3. Talia Bates, Florida — 54.08

Virginia’s Reilly Tiltmann and Carly Novelline went times of 53.18 and 53.93 respectively to go 1-2, whereas Tailia Bates of Florida was third in 54.08.

Both Tiltmann and Bates were significantly faster than they were at this point of the year last year. Tiltmann’s first 100 back of the 2021-22 season was a 54.00 at the Virginia-Cal meet in October 2021, and Bates’s was a 54.01 from the Florida-Georgia meet that happened around the same time.

Men’s 100 Back

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 44.79
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 47.59
• 2022 Invite Time: 45.87

Top 3:

1. Adam Chaney, Florida — 47.65
2. Will Cole, Virginia — 48.51
3. Max Edwards, Virginia — 48.66

Adam Chaney kept the momentum rolling for Florida, winning the 100 back by nearly a second. He was the only swimmer in the race that was sub-48, as Virginia’s Will Cole and Max Edwards touched second and third just over a tenth of a second apart with times of 48.51 and 48.66 respectivley.

Chaney was signficiantly faster than the 48.45 100 back that he put up at last month’s dual meet against NOVA Southeastern, the season opener for Florida.

Women’s 100 Breast

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 58.10
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:01.56
• 2022 Invite Time: 59.87

Top 3:

1. Kate Douglass, Virginia — 59.27
2. Emma Weber, Virginia — 1:00.77
3. Anna Keating, Virginia — 1:01.12

Virginia’s Kate Douglass displayed her versatility by racing and winning the 100 breast, an “off” event for her. Her time of 59.27 is less than a second off her personal best of 58.64, and actually would have been fast enough to qualify for the ‘B’ final at 2022 NCAAs.

The Cavaliers were stacked in this event from top to bottom, as Emma Weber, Anna Keating, and Jaycee Yegher (who raced exhibition) had the second, third, and fourth-fastest times respectively. Emma Weber‘s time of 1:00.77 was a bit over a second off her best time of 59.03, which made her one of the top-ranked breaststroke recruits in the high school class of 2022.

Newly-added transfer Nina Kucheran was Florida’s highest finisher in this event, placing fourth in 1:01.78. She was significantly faster than the 1:02.09 she went last month, which was her first-ever 100 breast as a Florida Gator.

Men’s 100 Breast

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 51.40
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 53.87
• 2022 Invite Time: 52.20

Top 3:

1. Noah Nichols, Virginia — 52.23
2. Aleksas Savickas, Florida — 53.73
3. Julian Smith, Florida — 53.97

Noah Nichols was dominant in this 100 breast race, winning by over a second in 52.23. Notably, this time is not far off his NCAAs time of 52.00 from last year. Nichols broke out as a freshman by dropping nearly two seconds to hit his personal best of 51.36 at 2021 ACCs, but he was not able to touch that time as a sophomore. His early-season speed indicates that he could be going back to hitting his personal bests this season.

Nichol’s time is the second-fastest 100 breast time this year that was not set in an intrasquad, just behind Reid Mikuta’s 51.41, which was clocked suited at the USC invite.

Lithuanian freshman and 2021 European Juniors 100 breast silver medalist Aleksas Savickas was second in 53.73, improving upon his best time of 55.51 set last month. Behind him was teammate Julian Smith, who went 53.97. He was just over a second off his personal best of 52.45, and was notably faster than he was at mid-season invites last year, where he went 54.06.

Women’s 200 Fly

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:52.86
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:59.23
• 2022 Invite Time: 1:56.14

Top 3:

1. Abby Harter, Virginia — 1:57.55
2. Amanda Ray, Florida — 1:57.85
3. Sam Baron, Virginia — 1:58.99

There was a close battle between Virginia’s Abby Harter and Florida’s Amanda Ray in the 200 fly. Harter was over a second ahead of Ray at the 150 mark, splitting 1:26.43 compared to Ray’s 1:27.83, but Ray had a 30.02 final 50 that was over a second faster than Harter’s 31.12 to touch second just 0.3 seconds behind.

Virginia’s Sam Baron, a transfer from UCLA, made her individual event debut for her new team in this event, finishing third in 1:58.99. She was just over a second slower than her Pac-12s time of 1:57.63 last year, which bodes well for the rest of her season.

Men’s 200 Fly

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:40.20
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut:  1:46.31
• 2022 Invite Time: 1:42.42

Top 3:

1. Mason Laur, Florida — 1:46.55
2. Joaquin Gonzalez Pinero, Florida — 1:46.73
3. Josh Fong, Virginia — 1:46.79

This wasn’t one of the faster events of the morning, but it was one of the tightest, as the top four finishers all touched within 0.26s of each other.Florida sophomores Mason Laur and Joaquin González Pinero combined for a 1-2 sweep with times of 1:46.55 and 1:46.73, respectively. UVA’s Josh Fong, like Laur a NCAA qualifier in this event, split 27.19 on the final 50 to take 3rd.

UVA freshman Kamal Muhammad blasted out to the early lead with a 23.76 opening split, and held onto that lead through the 150 mark. However, his 28.47 final lap wasn’t quite enough, and he finished 4th in 1:46.86. Even though he didn’t get the win, Muhammad still had a big lifetime best, getting under 1:50 for the first time in his career.

Women’s 50 Free

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 21.66
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 22.71
• 2022 Invite Time: 22.16

Top 3:

1. Gretchen Walsh, Virginia — 21.40
2. Maxine Parker, Virginia — 22.21
3. Ekaterina Nikonova, Florida — 22.68

Gretchen Walsh was doing Gretchen Walsh things again as she won this 50 free by nearly a second, putting up a 21.40. She is now the first swimmer to get under the NCAA ‘A’ cut of 21.66, and obliterates Maggie MacNeil‘s mark of 21.90 to become the new fastest 50 freestyler of the 2022-23 season. In fact, her time would have been fast enough to finish fourth at last year’s NCAAs, just behind Kate Douglass, herself, and MacNeil.

And while overshadowed by Walsh, Maxine Parker had a strong swim for second, clocking a 22.21. She was just a little bit off her 2022 NCAAs time of 22.09, as well as her personal best of 21.93 from 2021. Parker struggled to her hit best times from the 2020-21 season last year in the 50/100 free, and being this fast to open up her season this year could mean that she is adjusting well to her new team after transferring from Georgia this May.

Parker’s time is the fourth-fastest of the 2022-23 season, behind Walsh, MacNeil, and Gabi Albiero.

A series of 22-points came from Florida’s Ekaterina Nikonova, Talia Bates, and Katie Mack, who went 22.68, 22.79, and 22.88 respectively to go 3-4-5. Nikonova was just slightly off her winning time of 22.45 from the Florida-Arkansas meet.

Men’s 50 Free

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 18.88
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 19.82
• 2022 Invite Time: 19.28

Top 3:

1. Josh Liendo, Florida — 19.27
2. Matt King, Virginia — 19.42
3. Macguire McDuff, Florida — 19.81

The matchup between the 200 free relay national champions and American record holders did not disappoint, as some of the fastest times of the country were put up in this race.

A month after swimming a 19.69 in his first ever 50-yard free, Josh Liendo has topped the NCAA leaderboard by clocking a 19.27. This overrtakes Bjorn Seeliger’s 19.29 from last week as the new fastest time of the 2022-23 season. Matt King also moved himself up the season rankings, going a 19.42 to finish second. He was substantially faster than the 19.79 he swam to open up the season last year.

Macguire McDuff, Alberto Mestre, and Matt Brownstead went 3-4-5, all clocking sub-20 times of 19.81, 19.86, and 19.94 respectivley.

Scores At the Break:

Men: Florida 99, Virginia 51

Women: Virginia 98, Florida 52

Women’s One-Meter Diving

Top 3:

1. Elettra Neroni, Florida — 278.78
2. Elizabeth Kaye, Virginia — 273.08
3. Jennifer Bell, Virginia — 266.78

Elettra Neroni, a freshman from Italy, backed up her three-meter win with a victory in the one-meter, although Elizabeth Kaye of Virginia finished less than five points behind her in second.

Women’s 100 Free

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 47.18
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 49.44
• 2022 Invite Time: 48.44

Top 3:

1. Kate Douglass, Virginia — 47.49
2. Maxine Parker, Virginia — 48.49
3. Ekaterina Nikokova, Florida — 49.29

Just a few races after Gretchen Walsh dropped an insanely fast 50 free, Kate Douglass did it in the 100 free, going 47.49. Although her time would have been quick enough to make the ‘A’ final at 2022 NCAAs, it is not the fastest time of the 2022-23 season, as Maggie MacNeil went 47.43 in September.

Maxine Parker continues to impress, going 48.49 to take a second. She was notably much faster than the 49.35 she went at NCAAs last year to finish 51st, and just slightly off her 2021-22 season-best of 48.31. Finishing third was Ekaterina Nikonova, whose time of 49.29 is a few tenths slower than the 48.95 she went last month.

Men’s 100 Free

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 41.64
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 43.59
• 2022 Invite Time: 42.34

Top 3:

1. Matt King, Virginia — 42.68
2. Alberto Mestre, Florida — 43.69
3. Macguire McDuff, Florida — 43.82

Matt King won this 100 free race by over a second with a time of 42.68, an extremely fast time for an unsuited dual meet. He opened in 20.60 just 0.32 seconds ahead of Alberto Mestre, but had a closing split of 22.08 (which was the fastest in the field by 0.69 seconds) that gave him the 1.01-second advantage over the rest of his field.

King’s time overtakes Danny Krueger’s 42.69 (which was clocked suited at the SMU invite) as the fastest mark of the 2022-23 season in bona fide competition.

Alberto Mestre had a strong swim for second, going a 43.69 to beat out his season-best of 44.31. Macguire McDuff was close behind for third, swimming a 43.82.

Women’s 200 Back

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:50.50
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:57.07
• 2022 Invite Time: 1:53.97

Top 3:

1. Reilly Tiltmann, Virginia — 1:56.87
2. Ella Bathurst, Virginia — 1:58.09
3. Zoe Dixon, Florida — 1:58.77

Reilly Tiltmann dominated the 200 back, going 1:56.87 and sweeping the backstroke events at this meet. She descended the last 150 yards of her race, opening in 27.50 and then splitting 30.40/29.75/29.22. Tiltmann, the fastest 200 backstroker for Virginia, was a few tenths faster than her season-opening time of 1:57.32 from 2021.

Ella Bathurst and Zoe Dixon were second and third with times of 1:58.09 and 1:58.77 respectively. Carly Novelline, one of Virginia’s top recruits whose best events are arguably the 100 and 200 back, went a 1:59.46 to finish fifth. Her personal best in the event is a 1:53.17. This time shouldn’t be a cause of concern for Novelline though, as her first 200 back of the 2021-22 season was even slower at 1:59.83.

Men’s 200 Back

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:39.13
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:44.82
• 2022 Invite Time: 1:40.92

Top 3:

1. Jack Aikins, Virginia — 1:46.06
2. Adam Chaney, Florida — 1:46.20
3. Sean Conway, Virginia — 1:46.84

This was one of the more successful events of the day for the Cavalier men, as they took four of the top five spots overall. UVA school record holder Jack Aikins, who won the B-final at last season’s NCAA Championships, took over the lead from teammate Will Cole on the third lap and held on to win in 1:46.06.

Florida’s Adam Chaney is known more his sprint prowess, but he swam a conservative front half and then came home in 25.88 on the final lap to take 2nd in 1:46.20. Coming into this season Chaney had never been faster than 1:54.41, and he didn’t swim this event as a freshman last year. But he went 1:49.11 a few weeks ago, and now lopped nearly another three seconds off of his lifetime best.

Sean Conway took 3rd in 1:46.84, followed closely by Cole at 1:46.89. Both Conway and Cole swam this event at the 2021 NCAA Championships, but missed qualifying last year. Conway missed the UVA intrasquad due to an injury, and appears to be healthy again considering that he’s racing at this meet.

Women’s 200 Breast

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 2:06.18
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 2:13.89
• 2022 Invite Time: 2:09.15

Top 3:

1. Alex Walsh, Virginia — 2:09.89
2. Anna Keating, Virginia — 2:12.51
3. Jaycee Yegher, Virginia — 2:13.31

Virginia once again showed how dominant they were in the 200 breast by taking the top four spots in this event (even without American record holder Kate Douglass racing). Alex Walsh was first in 2:09.89, just a few tenths slower than last year’s NCAAs invite time. She is now the third person to break 2:10 this season and the third-fastest performer, just behind Isabelle Odgers and Kaitlyn Dobler, who went 2:09.15 and 2:09.65 respectively suited at the USC invite.

Anna Keating, Jaycee Yegher, and Emma Weber wered second, third, and fourth with times of 2:12.51, 2:13.31, and 2:14.11 respectivley. The highest finish for Florida was once again Kucheran, who was fifth in 2:14.93 (but technically fourth because Weber swam exhibition). Keating was over three seconds faster than the 2:15.53 she swam at the UVA-Texas meet last November, which was her first 200 breast of the 2021-22 season.

Men’s 200 Breast

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:51.54
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:57.95
• 2022 Invite Time: 1:53.23

Top 3:

1. Noah Nichols, Virginia — 1:55.00
2. Aleksas Savickas, Florida — 1:55.63
3. Kevin Vargas, Florida — 1:58.07

Noah Nichols and Aleksas Savickas, the top two finishers in the 100 breast, once again went 1-2 in the 200 breast. The race between them was much closer this time around though, as Nichols “only” won by 0.63 seconds. He was leading Savickas 55.30 to 56.30 at the 100-yard mark, but Savickas split 29.71/29.62 on his last 100 compared to Nichols’ 29.68/30.02 to even out the gap between them.

Nichols now ties Reece Whitley as the fourth-fastest performer of the 2022-23 season, and the fastest performer in a dual meet. Savickas improves upon his personal best of 2:00.56 from last month by nearly five seconds.

Florida’s Kevin Vargas swam his first 200 breast of the season, going 1:58.07 to finish third.

Women’s 500 Free

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:35.76
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 4:47.20
• 2022 Invite Time: 4:43.08

Top 3:

1. Claire Tuggle, Virginia — 4:47.19
2. Ella Nelson, Virgnia — 4:48.64
3. Anna Auld, Florida — 4:48.72

This 500 free race saw four women dip under 4:50, as Claire Tuggle, Ella Nelson, Anna Auld, and Elise Bauer went 4:47.19, 4:48.64, 4:48.72, and 4:48.74 respectivley.

Tuggle backed up her wins the 300 and 600 free at the UVA intrasquad by taking first in this 500 free race by over a second. Her time was the fastest that she’s ever swam to open up a season, which bodes well for the rest of the year. Tuggle’s personal best remains at a 4:41.96 from back when she was 14 years old, and her momentum from this season indicates that we could see her beating that mark soon.

Beating out Abby McCullouh’s 4:47.90, Tuggle’s time is now the fastest mark set in a dual meet this season.

Both Bauer and Auld were faster than the 4:51.93 and 4:58.61 times that they went respectively last month.

Men’s 500 Free

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:11.40
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 4:22.35
• 2022 Invite Time: 4:14.96

Top 3:

1. Alfonso Mestre, Florida — 4:21.70
2. Eric Brown, Florida — 4:27.43
3. Oskar Lindholm, Florida — 4:27.88

Just like they did in the 1000 free, Florida’s Alfonso Mestre and Eric Brown went 1-2 in the 500 free. Oskar Lindholm took third, making this event a 1-2-3 Gator sweep. Mestre and Lindholm did not race the 500 free last month, but Brown was 0.03 seconds faster than his 4:27.46 from the Florida-NOVA Southeastern meet.

After placing fourth in the 1000 free, Tanner Hering was once again fourth in the 500 free, clocking a 4:29.54 that was the fastest time for Virginia.

Women’s 100 Fly

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 50.92
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 53.69
• 2022 Invite Time: 52.35

Top 3:

1. Gretchen Walsh, Virginia — 50.53
2. Lexi Cuomo, Virginia — 54.10
3. Olivia Peoples, Florida — 54.26

Gretchen Walsh just does not stop. On the same day that she splits the fastest 50 fly ever and goes a 21.40, she also swims a 50.53 100 fly. That time not only would have been fifth at NCAAs, but it also is the fastest women’s 100 fly time that’s even been swam in a practice suit. This comes only two weeks after Maggie MacNeil went 50.84 in a practice suit, which was the previous “unsuited record”.

Walsh didn’t even swim the 100 fly at NCAAs last year (she only swam it in two dual meets), instead opting for the 50 free/100 free/100 back instead. Today’s results, plus a long course national championship in the event this summer, may prompt her to make an event lineup change this year.

Behind Walsh were Lexi Cuomo and Olivia Peoples, who were in a close race for second and ended up only being separated by 0.16 seconds.

Men’s 100 Fly

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 44.82
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 47.23
• 2022 Invite Time: 45.57

Top 3:

1. Eric Freise, Florida — 46.78
2. Josh Liendo, Florida — 47.05
3. Josh Fong, Virginia — 47.95

Eric Freise was the only man under 47 seconds in this 100 fly race, going 46.78. He is now the thrid-fastest performer of the 2022-23 season in bona fide competition, behind Nyls Korstanje (who went a suited 44.95 yesterday) and Jordan Crooks.

Josh Liendo, the Worlds bronze medalist in the event, went 47.05 to finish second. This was second-ever 100 fly yards race, and he beat out his best time of 48.06 from last month by 10.1 seconds.

Third place finisher Josh Fong, who missed the UVA intrasquad because he was out on concussion protocol, is back racing at this meet.

Scores At the Break:

Men: Florida 152, Virginia 93

Women: Virginia 180, Florida 84

Men’s One-Meter Diving

Top 3:

1. Elisha Dees, Florida — 298.65
2. Christopher Donald, Florida — 279.60
3. Olivier Mills, Virginia — 266.10

Elisha Dees and Christopher Donald went 1-2 in the one-meter dive, while Olivier Millis was the highest place for Virginia, finishing third.

Women’s 200 IM

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:53.66
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:59.56
• 2022 Invite Time: 1:56.85

Top 3:

1. Abby Harter, Virginia — 1:59.85 (EXH)
2. Zoe Dixon, Florida — 2:00.09
3. Zoe Skirboll, Virginia — 2:00.61 (EXH)

Abby Harter picked up her second “win” of the day in the 200 IM, although it didn’t count as a win because she swam exhibition. She was trailing Florida’s Zoe Dixon at the halfway point, opening in 57.07 compared to Dixon’s 55.91, but the outsplit Dixon by over a second on breast to gain the lead.

Dixon was the “official” winner at 2:00.09, being substantially faster than her time of 2:05.75 from a month ago. Another Zoe, Zoe Skirboll, was third with a 2:00.61, although she also swam exhbition. She was just under two seconds slower than her best time of 1:58.75, which was set back in 2019.

Men’s 200 IM

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:41.22
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 1:46.52
• 2022 Invite Time: 1:43.36

Top 3:

1. Kevin Vargas, Florida — 1:47.15
2. Kamal Muhammad, Virginia — 1:47.49
3. Noah Nichols, Virginia — 1:47.59

This men’s 200 IM race was not the fastest, but it was extremely close. Due to a 26.75 back split, which was the fastest in the field by over a second, Muhammad was in a clear lead at the 100-yard mark. However, Kevin Vargas moved up on him in the second half of the race, closing in 25.01 to take the win.

At the end, Vargas, Muhammad, and Noah Nichols were separated by less than half a second to take the top three spots.

Women’s 400 Free Relay

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:14.40
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 3:16.32

Top 3:

1. Virginia ‘A’ relay — 3:11.34 (EXH)
2. Florida ‘B’ relay — 3:18.37
3. Virginia ‘B’ relay — 3:20.96 (EXH)

Virginia exhibitioned all of their teams for their relays, so Florida’s Talia Bates (49.37), Micayla Cronk (49.98), Katie Mack (49.68), and Ekaterina Nikonova (49.34) technically won in a 3:18.37. Virginia’s Gretchen Walsh (47.61), Kate Douglass (47.08), Maxine Parker (48.22), and Alex Walsh (48.43) touched the wall first with a time of 3:11.34 though, obliterating the NCAA ‘A’ cut time by over three seconds.

Walsh’s 47.61 leadoff time concludes a series of incredible performances from her today. It would have been fast enough to score at NCAAs, and is the third-fastest time of the season behind MacNeil and Douglass’ marks.

 Men’s 400 Free Relay

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 2:50.52
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut: 2:52.44

Top 3:

1. Florida ‘B’ relay — 2:52.24
2. Virginia ‘A’ relay — 2:53.82
3. Florida ‘A’ relay — 2:58.08

Florida secured their win on the men’s side by dominating the 400 free relay, as Macguire McDuff (43.93), Josh Liendo (42.30), Eric Friese (43.00), and Alberto Mestre (43.01) combined for a 2:52.24. Virginia was powered by a 42.46 leadoff from Matt King, which surpasses his 42.68 from earlier as the fastest time of the 2022-23 season. Following him were Matt Brownstead (44.36), Jack Aikins (43.53), and Jack Wright (43.47).

Final Scores:

Men: Florida 189, Virginia 111

Women: Virginia 180, Florida 115

As expected, Florida won on the men’s side and Virginia won on the women’s side of the meet. Florida did beat Virginia 304-291 in the combined team scoring, although that likely wouldn’t have been the case if the Virginia women didn’t exhibition several of their events.