U.S. Nationals, Day Five Women’s Prelims: Gretchen Walsh Pops Sub-24 Outing in 50 Freestyle
University of Virginia superstar Gretchen Walsh, the world-record holder in the 50-meter freestyle, will be in action in that event on the final day of the United States National Championships in Irvine, California. In late June, Walsh set a world record of 23.55 in the one-lap dash, taking the record from training partner, Kate Douglass (23.59). Douglass was a declared false start for the 50 freestyle in Irvine.
Walsh is preparing for this month’s Pan Pacific Championships and will be joined in the 50 free by teammate Anna Moesch, the American-record holder in the 100 freestyle. On the opening night of Nationals, Moesch clocked 51.88 for the 100 free and came back a day later to win the 200 freestyle.
The 200 individual medley is also on the schedule for Day Five, with Virginia’s Alex Walsh as the top seed. Also racing the 200 IM are UVA’s Leah Hayes and University of Texas recruit Audrey Derivaux, who has already locked down several berths to the Junior Pan Pacific Championships.
Here is an event-by-event recap of the Day Five prelims:
Women’s 200 Individual Medley
Alex Walsh, a three-time medalist at the World Championships and the silver medalist at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, secured the top seed for the final of the 200 IM. Walsh moved through her morning swim in 2:10.39, one of two performances under 2:11. The other effort was turned in by Campbell Chase, who touched the wall in 2:10.86.
Advancing to the final with marks in the 2:11 range were Leah Hayes (2:11.10) and Teagan O’Dell (2:11.39). The 18-and-under final will feature an enticing duel between Audrey Derivaux (2:13.72) and Sadie Buckley (2:13.81), who have both qualified to represent the United States at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships.
Women’s 50 Freestyle
Racing in the final heat of the 50 freestyle, Gretchen Walsh dialed up an effort of 23.96, easily the fastest time of the morning prelims. Walsh was less than a half-second off her world record and was followed in qualifying by Anna Moesch, who registered a time of 24.39 for the seed. In third was Liberty Clark, the Indiana University standout going 24.53 for a personal best.
Tennessee’s Camille Spink, who put together strong performances earlier in the meet in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle, advanced to the final as the fourth seed. Spink checked in with a time of 24.55.
