U.S. Nationals Day 5 Women’s Prelims: Alex Walsh Cruises to Top Seed in 200 IM
The final morning of the 2025 U.S. National Championships kicked off from the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.
The Day 5 prelims is a short one, just the 200 IM and 50 freestyle.
Here is a look at what happened in the women’s events:
US Nationals: Women’s 200 IM
Alex Walsh took the early lead in the final heat with Leah Hayes and Zoe Dixon just behind. Walsh gave herself a little more separation in the breaststroke leg, as expected. Walsh finished in 2:10.92, ahead of Hayes (2:11.22).
In the second circle-seeded heat, Caroline Bricker (2:11.63) passed Phoebe Bacon (2:11.68) in the final five meters to take the heat win.
Lucy Bell claimed the first circle-seeded heat in 2:12.82.
Walsh, Hayes, Bricker and Bacon led the field. Audrey Derivaux took the fifth seed in 2:11.90, followed by Campbell Chase (2:12.28), Bell and Teagan O’Dell (2:12.97).
Campbell Stoll missed the A final by a hundredth of a second.
Kate Douglass, Beata Nelson, Alex Shackell, Erin Gemmell and Torri Huske scratched the event.
US Nationals: Women’s 50 Freestyle
Gretchen Walsh went a 24.30 to take the top seed into the finals.
In the first circle-seeded heat, Kate Douglass went a 24.38 to hold off Julia Dennis (24.57) and Simone Manuel (24.70).
Torri Huske won the second circle-seeded heat in 24.42 ahead of Rylee Erisman (25.03).
Walsh, Douglass and Huske took the top times, ahead of Dennis and Manuel.
Anna Peplowski, Katharine Berkoff and Claire Curzan scratched the event.
