Douglass Wins 200 IM, Four Cavaliers Heading to 2023 World Aquatic Championships
INDIANAPOLIS – Kate Douglass closed out a strong week at the 2023 US Phillips 66 Nationals by winning the 200-meter IM on Saturday night at the Indiana University Natatorium.
Over the five days, Douglass won two events (200 IM and 100 free) and finished second in the 200-meter breaststroke to qualify for the World Championships in those three events. Douglass also added two third-place finishes (50 free and 100 fly) to total 88.5 points and earn the High Point Award for the meet.
Douglass leads four Cavaliers that will be competing with Team USA to Fukuoka, Japan, for the World Championships July 14-30. Senior Alex Walsh, senior Maxine Parker and junior Gretchen Walsh also earned spots with Team USA. Also traveling with Team USA will be UVA associate head coach Blaire Bachman.
Alex Walsh added the 200-meter IM to her slate after finishing second in the event on Saturday night. Walsh had previously qualified in the 400-meter IM.
Gretchen Walsh finished second in the 50-meter freestyle on Saturday to give her three individual events heading to Worlds. G. Walsh will compete in the 100-meter butterfly and 50-meter butterfly along with the 50 free. She will also be part of the USA’s relay group.
Parker qualified for Worlds as part of USA’s relays after finishing sixth in the 100-meter freestyle. Parker closed out her week by winning the B Final of the 50-meter freestyle, finishing ninth overall.
Junior Jack Aikins won the C Final of the men’s 50-meter freestyle to finish 17th with a time of 22.64.
IN PRELIMS
- Junior Ella Bathurst was 29th in the 200-meter IM and sophomore Zoe Skirboll finished 46th.
- Junior Connor Boyle was 34th in the men’s 50-meter freestyle.
- Sophomore Sophia Knapp finished 20th in the women’s 1500-meter freestyle.