Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2023 NCAA WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

TOP 10 TEAMS THRU DAY 2

1. Virginia – 208.5
2. Texas – 162
3. Louisville – 117
4. Stanford – 106
5. Ohio State – 93
6. Indiana – 83
7. Florida – 76
8. Cal – 74
9. UNC-Chapel Hill – 73
10. Georgia – 66.5

DAY 3 FINALS HEAT SHEET

It’s moving day at the 2023 Women’s Division I NCAAs. With finals of the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, 3-meter diving, and 400 medley relay, Virginia will aim to put this meet firmly out of reach. The Cavaliers had a good morning, picking up 9.5 projected points versus seed. Stanford had the best morning though, as their current seeds have them up 32 points from the scored psych sheet. There’s plenty of racing to be done though, and you have to swim to get the points.

We’ll kick things off with the 400 IM, where Alex Walsh aims to defend her 400 IM title. She finished third in the 200 IM yesterday, coming in a hundredth under her old NCAA record. The Cavaliers look to get the session started with a bang, as they not only have Walsh as the top seed, but Ella Nelson sitting second just a hundredth behind her.

Then, it’s on to what could be the race of the meet: the 100 fly. It’s the first time that Kate Douglass and Maggie MacNeil will go head-to-head and both having shown themselves to be on incredible form at this meet as they each took down an NCAA record last night. Also having a great meet is Torri Huske, who dropped a massive personal best in the 200 IM yesterday to finish second. She’s the top qualifier and was the only one in the field sub-50 in prelims (49.77). Looking to spoil the party for the three favorites are Emma Sticklen (50.00), Claire Curzan (50.45), and Gabi Albiero (50.46).

The 200 freestyle looks to be anyone’s race. Defending champion Taylor Ruck posted the fastest time of the morning with a 1:42.70, but Virginia freshman Aimee Canny looked strong and pushed Ruck in the closing yards of their heat. Brooklyn Douthwright still holds the fastest season best of the field, and she’s got the home pool advantage. Just five and six-hundredths behind Douthwright are Kayla Wilson, Anna Peplowski, and Maxine Parker. 

The 100 breast should be a great race between defending champion Kaitlyn Dobler and the Texas duo of Anna Elendt and Lydia Jacoby. Additionally, OSU’s breaststroke pair of Josie Panitz and Hannah Bach are lurking, as is the SEC record holder, Tennessee’s Mona McSharry.

In the 100 back, Gretchen Walsh looks to claim her first individual title of the meet. She threw down a 49.12–a new pool record–to decisively take the top seed heading into finals. She’ll have to unseat American record holder Katharine Berkoff though, who’s aiming for a 3-peat in the event. And don’t forget about Curzan, who’ll be on her second individual race of the session but could pull out the win.

400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 3:54.60, Ella Eastin (Stanford) – 2018
• Meet Record: 3:54.60, Ella Eastin (Stanford) – 2018
• American Record: 3:54.60, Ella Eastin (Stanford) – 2018
• US Open Record: 3:54.60, Ella Eastin (Stanford) – 2018
• Pool Record: 3:58.36, Elizabeth Beisel (California) – 2012
• 2022 Champion: Alex Walsh (Virginia) – 3:57.25

Top 8:

1. Alex Walsh (Virginia) – 3:57.24
2. Ella Nelson (Virginia) – 3:59.54
3. Emma Weyant (Florida) – 4:03.50
4. Mabel Zavaros (Florida) – 4:04.09
5. Grace Sheble (NC State) – 4:04.83
6. Megan Van Berkom (Minnesota) – 4:05.37
7. Lucy Bell (Stanford) – 4:05.56
8. Lauren Poole (Kentucky) – 4:05.74

She wasn’t able to defend her 200 IM title yesterday, but Alex Walsh left no doubt about who was going to win the 400 IM. She successfully defender her title in a pool record time of 3:57.24, knocking a hundredth off her lifetime best. She led from the start of the race, throwing down a 53.51 100 fly split and a 59.66 on backstroke. Walsh was ahead of NCAA record pace through the first 200-yards, and about .18 seconds off it after a 1:07.13 breaststroke split. She fell off the pace on the freestyle leg with a 56.94 but still had more than enough space to the rest of the field and easily took the win by over two seconds.

Walsh’s teammate, senior Ella Nelson earned her second NCAA-runner up trophy in this event. She was 2nd in 2021 and 3rd in 2022. She was about two-tenths off her personal best from ACCs, but was still under the 4:00 barrier again with a 3:59.54. She really moved up through the breaststroke leg. In the post-race interview, it was clear how much Walsh and Nelson valued this 1-2 finish together and they did so in decisive fashion, as Emma Weyant was a distant third in 4:03.40.

Gators Weyant and Mabel Zavaros went 3-4. Weyant dropped time from this morning, but was still off the 4:01.18 she went to win ACCs. For her part, Zavaros clipped her lifetime best in 4:04.08.

Freshman Lucy Bell dropped more time in finals, grabbing seventh in 4:05.56. It’s her first time under 4:06.

Mid-major swimmer Nicole Maier of Miami (OH) won the ‘B’ final in a big lifetime best of 4:05.84. She didn’t event swim this race at NCAAs last year, and not only did she make the ‘B’ final but now she’s gotten Miami (OH) on the board with 9 points.

100 BUTTERFLY – FINALS

Top 8:

1. Kate Douglass (Virginia) – 48.46 (NCAA and American Records)
2. Maggie MacNeil (LSU) – 48.51
3. Torri Huske (Stanford) – 48.96
4. Claire Curzan (Stanford) – 50.09
5. Gabi Albiero (Louisville)/Emma Sticklen (Texas) – 50.15
6. (tie)
7. Kylee Alons (NC State) – 50.44
8. Kit Kat Zenick (Ohio State) – 51.11

The 100 fly is a race we’ve been excited for since September, and wow, did it live up to the hype. The top three swimmers Kate Douglass, Maggie MacNeil, and Torri Huske were all under 49 seconds, and the top two were both under the previous NCAA records.

The three turned at the 50 in the order they finished, with Douglass turning first in 22.48. MacNeil was just behind after a long second turn in 22.56, and Huske was running third in 22.75. They were the only three out sub-23. MacNeil charged home on the second 50, splitting 25.95. It came down to the touch between her and Douglass, and in the end it was the Cavalier who got her hands on the wall first for the new NCAA record of 48.46, five-hundredths ahead of MacNeil’s 48.51.

Huske’s 48.96 was just off the previous NCAA mark in 48.96, cutting .21 seconds from her lifetime best. She came home in a 26.21. The Cardinal went 3-4 with her freshman teammate Claire Curzan grabbing fourth in 50.09. Curzan was just ahead of Gabi Albiero and Emma Sticklen, who tied for fifth in 50.15.

NC State’s Abby Arens won the ‘B’ final in a lifetime best of 50.60, dropping from the 50.84 she swam at 2023 ACCs. She beat Northwestern fifth-year Miriam Guevara, who has now broken the program’s 100 fly record twice today and just brought it under 51 for the first time in 50.91.

200 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 1:39.10, Missy Franklin (California) – 2015
• Meet Record: 1:39.10, Missy Franklin (California) – 2015
• American Record: 1:39.10, Missy Franklin (California) – 2015
• US Open Record: 1:39.10, Missy Franklin (California) – 2015
• Pool Record: 1:41.40, Missy Franklin (California) – 2013
• 2022 Champion: Taylor Ruck (Stanford) – 1:41.12

Top 8:

1. Taylor Ruck (Stanford) – 1:42.36
2. Brooklyn Douthwright (Tennessee) – 1:42.41
3. Aimee Canny (Virginia) – 1:42.50
4. Kayla Wilson (Stanford) – 1:42.90
5. Maxine Parker (Virginia) – 1:43.48
6. Anna Peplowski (Indiana) – 1:43.57
7. Chloe Stepanek (Texas A&M) – 1:43.76
8. Paige Hetrick (Louisville) – 1:44.32

Taylor Ruck got it done, holding off late charges from Brooklyn Douthwright and Aimee Canny to repeat as the NCAA champion. Ruck took the race to the field, turning first at the 50 in 23.23, more than a half second ahead of second place Chloe Stepanek. She held onto that lead to the finish, but got tired on the last 50; she was the only one in the field with a closing split over 27 seconds (27.27). She had enough left in the tank though, and touched in 1:42.36, five-hundredths ahead of Douthwright.

Douthwright, a sophomore at Tennessee, shaved four-hundredths off her lifetime best from SECs to win second. It’s a huge improvement for her from this meet last year, where she was 25th in 1:45.87.

After arriving at Virginia this semester, freshman Aimee Canny continues to impress. She earned third in 1:42.50, dropping .12 seconds from her lifetime best. Kayla Wilson, the other freshman in the field, also swam a lifetime best. She clocked 1:42.90, her first time sub-1:43 and adding a fourth place finish for Stanford to go along with Ruck’s title.

NC State junior Abbey Webb won a nail-biter of a race in the ‘B’ final of the 200 free. At the touch, it was her, Emma Atkinson, and Kelly Pash all with a chance to win. Webb touched first in 1:43.48, a tenth ahead of Atkinson (1:43.58) and .13 ahead of Pash (1:43.61).

100 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 55.73, Lilly King (Indiana) – 2019
• Meet Record: 55.73, Lilly King (Indiana) – 2019
• American Record: 55.73, Lilly King (Indiana) – 2019
• US Open Record: 55.73, Lilly King (Indiana) – 2019
• Pool Record: 56.64, Molly Hannis (Tennessee) – 2017
• 2022 Champion: Kaitlyn Dobler (USC) – 56.93

Top 8:

1. Lydia Jacoby (Texas) – 57.03
2. Mona McSharry (Tennessee) – 57.16
3. Anna Elendt (Texas) – 57.29
4. Kaitlyn Dobler (USC) – 57.50
5. Heather MacCausland (NC State) – 57.74
6. Hannah Bach (Ohio State) – 58.08
7. Josie Panitz (Ohio State) – 58.12
8. Emma Weber (Virginia) – 58.95

In a finish eerily reminiscent of the one that earned her Olympic gold in Tokyo, Lydia Jacoby got what she described post-race as her “first big win since the Olympics.” She got the win in a new personal best time of 57.03, undercutting the 57.29 that she swam last month at Big-12s. She was third at the 50 behind Mona McSharry and Anna Elendt in 26.93, then powered home in 30.10 to sneak ahead and win the title.

Her teammate Anna Elendt used a strong third 25 to finish third in a season best of 57.29. It’s an improvement on last year, when she finished fifth after adding time from prelims to finals.

Also jumping up in the standings was Tennessee’s McSharry. McSharry, who’s an Irish Olympian, finished fourth last year in 57.18, which was her lifetime best. She dropped down to 57.16–a new SEC record–to place second in her home pool.

Last year’s champion Kaitlyn Dobler took fourth in 57.50, off her season best of 56.94 which she swam at midseason.

Heather MacCausland has made big strides this season, and she showed that off here with a fifth-place finish in 57.74. She came into the meet with a personal best of 58.16, then lowered it to 58.14 in prelims before going her first sub-58 time here in finals. Over the course of the day, the senior has taken another .42 seconds off her lifetime best.

The ‘B’ final went to Michigan’s Letitia Sim, who posted 58.48 to win ahead of Duke freshman Kaelyn Gridley.

100 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 48.74, Katherine Berkoff (NC State) – 2022
• Meet Record: 48.74, Katherine Berkoff (NC State) – 2022
• American Record: 48.74, Katherine Berkoff (NC State) – 2022
• US Open Record: 48.74, Katherine Berkoff (NC State) – 2022
• Pool Record: 49.12, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2023
• 2022 Champion: Katherine Berkoff (NC State) – 48.74

Top 8:

1. Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 48.26 (NCAA and American Records)
2. Katharine Berkoff (NC State) – 49.13
3. Claire Curzan (Stanford) – 50.08
4. Phoebe Bacon (Wisconsin) – 50.54
5. Olivia Bray (Texas) – 50.61
6. Isabelle Stadden (Cal) – 51.03
7. Josephine Fuller (Tennessee) – 51.18
8. Rhyan White (Alabama) – 51.26

After getting second in the 50 freestyle yesterday and losing her NCAA record, Gretchen Walsh responded by going out and earning the 100 backstroke title in NCAA and American record fashion. She was out in a blistering pace, hitting 23.02 to her feet. She was over half a second ahead of Katharine Berkoff, who flipped second, at that point in the race.

She only continued to extend her lead and used her powerful underwaters to charge home in 25.24, stopping the clock at 48.26 to destroy the NCAA and American record, which Berkoff set at 48.74 at 2022 NCAAs. With her time, Walsh has taken .48 seconds off that record, earning her first individual title of the meet and her first career title in the 100 backstroke.

After winning this event the last two years, Berkoff takes the runner-up spot in a season best 49.13. It was a solid effort from Berkoff and she had a solid grip on second the whole time, she just couldn’t bridge the gap to Walsh on her back half (which is where she usually explodes).

Claire Curzan finished off her 100 fly/100 back double by taking third here in 50.08 (which is a hundredth faster than what she went earlier in the 100 fly).

Phoebe Bacon and Olivia Bray were the other two swimmers in the ‘A’ heat to go 50-point, with the Wisconsin junior grabbing fourth in 50.54. That’s seven-hundredths off what she went in prelims, but finishing fourth is a big upgrade from last year for Bacon, when she missed the championship heat and won the ‘B’ final. Bray’s 50.61 is a lifetime best cutting eight-hundredths off the best time she went at this meet last year.

UNC’s Grace Countie, who made the ‘A’ final the previous two years, won the ‘B’ final in a season best of 50.81, which is just off her personal best of 50.77. She held off a back-half surge from Emma Muzzy, who clocked 51.27 to out-touch her teammate, freshman Kennedy Noble (51.32).

3-Meter Diving — FINALS

• NCAA Record: 437.75, Christina Loukas (Indiana) — 2009
• Meet Record: 437.75, Christina Loukas (Indiana) — 2009
• Pool Record: 407.30, Brooke Schultz (South Carolina) — 2022
• 2022 Champion: Sarah Bacon (Minnesota) — 409.25

Top 8:

1. Aranza Vazquez Montano (UNC-Chapel Hill) – 385.80
2. Anne Fowler (Indiana) – 369.90
3. Brooke Schultz (South Carolina) – 364.25
4. Delaney Schnell (Arizona) – 362.30
5. Mia Vallee (Miami (FL)) – 355.65
6. Carolina Sculti (USC) – 328.95
7. Joy Zhu (Minnesota) – 322.55
8. Else Praasterink (Louisville) – 313.50

And she just keeps rolling. On the 1-meter board yesterday, Aranza Vazquez Montano became UNC-Chapel Hill’s first NCAA champion. Today, she’s gone 2-for-2, winning the 3-meter board with 385.80 points. Last year, she won the ‘B’ final in 355.80 points. Through two days of NCAA competition, Vazquez Montano has not trailed after a round. She’s also moved her championship winning streak up to 5, as at ACCs, she swept the 1-meter, 3-meter, and platform.

Indiana’s Anne Fowler earned second in 369.90. It was close between second and fourth, and there was some question as to whether either Brooke Schultz or Delaney Schnell would catch her on their final dives. Schultz moved ahead of Schnell for third, but neither were able to outdo Fowler, who put up her highest point total of the final on her last dive.

Mia Vallee, Carolina Sculti, and Joy Zhu were All-Americans in the 1-meter and now they’ve added All-America honors in the 3-meter as well.

Else Praasterink finished eighth for Louisville. She is the first Louisville diver man or woman, to make the ‘A’ final in NCAA Championship history.

400 Medley Relay — TIMED FINAL

• NCAA Record: 3:21.80, Virginia (G. Walsh, A. Walsh, K. Douglass, A. Canny) – 2023
• Meet Record: 3:22.34, Virginia (G. Walsh, A. Wenger, A. Walsh, K. Douglass) — 2022
• American Record: 3:22.34, Virginia (G. Walsh, A. Wenger, A. Walsh, K. Douglass) — 2022
• U.S. Open Record: 3:21.80, Virginia (G. Walsh, A. Walsh, K. Douglass, A. Canny) – 2023
• Pool Record: 3:26.64, Alabama (R. White, A. Wiseman, M. Scott, C. Dupre) — 2020
• 2022 Champion: Virginia (G. Walsh, A. Wenger, A. Walsh, K. Douglass) — 3:22.34

Top 8: