It has been a meet full of Pan Pacific Championship records for Gretchen Walsh and the U.S. women.
On Night Three from Irvine, California, Walsh threw down another one, crushing the 100 butterfly in 55.15.
Walsh now has the top 18 swims in the history of the event, which isn’t surprising the way she has progressed into one of the world’s most versatile and dominant sprinters.
But the top 18 is starting to sound like a Ledecky stat, especially in an international meet like the Pan Pacific Championships.
“I just want to keep adding to my list of top times every time I go. I am trying to solidify my place in the history books in that event. Every chance I get to do that is a great opportunity, so tonight was another moment to celebrate that,” Walsh said. “One time USA Swimming made a graphic of the top 10 times ever and I got really emotional. When I was young, the 100 fly was my thing, everyone called me, ‘Fly Girl.’ Coming back to it now having the top 18 times in history is the coolest thing ever. It will take time for that to really sink in. I feel like every time I compete in that event, I remind myself that I have a lot to be proud of, that ‘Little Gretchen’ would be shocked by.”
Walsh crushed a field of Olympic medalists during the prelims and the finals, showcasing that dominance in her first international meet on home soil. It also makes it even more impressive that she is able to throw down swims like that when battling Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske, and Olympic medalists Yu Yiting, Alexandria Perkins and Taylor Ruck.
Then again, she knows she has to be at her best to top a field of this caliber.
In the final, Walsh took an early lead and turned at 25.16, ahead of Ruck and Huske.
Walsh pulled away on the back half and won in 55.15 to break the meet record.
“I feel like I am going my fastest times at the oddest times of the year,” Walsh said. “A best time might not have happened tonight, but I know it will again.”
Ruck won the silver in 56.71 – her best time by a full second – and Perkins was third in 56.75. Huske was fourth in 56.93 and Yiting fifth at 57.17.
It was the fourth medal of the meet for Ruck, who earned three bronze medals on the first night.
“I feel like after my rest this morning, I was thinking it would be really cool to break a 57, but I didn’t know if it would be possible. I was trying to work on my turn and focused on my mechanics. My coach told me to keep my hips up on the second 50,” Ruck said. “The silver medal is huge. It was really cool to be in a field with giants (and do that well). It was just so cool. I am happy and grateful to bring another medal to Canada. All the pieces coming together for that is something I am going to celebrate.”
