KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Junior Gretchen Walsh swam two of the fastest times ever and Virginia swimming & diving won six events on the final night of competition at the 2023 Tennessee Invite on Friday.
Walsh set an unofficial American, NCAA & US Open record in the 100-yard butterfly during the women’s 100-yard freestyle event. Her historic time of 48.30 in the 100 fly broke Kate Douglass’s records set in March and was still the second-fastest time in the 100 free event. Walsh then closed out the meet with the fastest-ever 100 free relay split, going 45.18 in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
UVA’s women finished first at the meet with 1107 points, while the men finished second with 855.5 points.
WOMEN’S RESULTS
- Virginia won five of the six events on Friday night.
- Freshman Cavan Gormsen opened the night with a win in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 16:08.99. Graduate student Maddie Donohoe finished third in 16:21.19 and sophomore Sophia Knapp was fourth in 16:23.32.
- Junior Ella Bathurst won the 200-yar back with a time of 1:54.08 and senior Reilly Tiltmann was second in 1:54.13. Freshman Tess Howley finished fourth (1:54.92) and senior Sophia Wilson was eighth (1:57.57).
- Junior Maxine Parker finished fourth in the 100-yard free with a time of 48.91.
- Senior Alex Walsh won the 200-yard breaststroke with a NCAA A time of 2:04.22. Graduate student Ella Nelson was second in 2:06.10. Senior Anna Keating finished seventh (2:10.44) and sophomore Emma Weber was eighth (2:11.72).
- Senior Abby Harter won the 200-yard fly with a time of 1:54.71 and freshman Maggie Schalow was third in 1:55.28. Howley finished fifth (1:55.52), freshman Lainey Mullins was sixth (1:57.59) and sophomore Emma Weber was eighth (2:04.32).
- Graduate student Jasmine Nocentini led off the 400-yard free relay with the third-fastest 100 free time in UVA history. The relay group of Nocentini, Parker, G. Walsh and A. Walsh, respectively, won with a meet record time of 3:07.60.
- Junior Lizzy Kaye advanced to the finals and finished tied for third on the 1-meter board with a score of 296.75.
MEN’S RESULTS
- Junior Sam O’Brien finished fourth in the 1650-yard free (15:16.07), senior Tanner Hering was fifth (15:19.83) and junior Peter Thompson was sixth (15:22.68).
- Freshman Will Thompson placed second in the 200-yard back with a time of 1:42.24. Junior Colin Bitz was seventh (1:45.97) and O’Brien was eighth (1:46.83).
- Senior Matt Brownstead tied for fourth in the 100-yard free with a time of 42.36.
- Junior Max Iida won the 200-yard breast, finishing in 1:53.22. Senior Noah Nichols took second in 1:54.20. Graduate student Will Tenpas was fifth (1:57.61) and sophomore Matt Heilman was seventh (1:58.63).
- Sophomore Sebastien Sergile made the podium with third in the 200-yard fly (1:43.41). Junior Matt Styczen finished fourth in 1:45.28 and junior Colin Bitz was seventh (1:46.91).
- Senior Oliver Mills placed 10th (265.40) and junior Nicholas Sanders was 11th (244.65) on the platform.
UP NEXT
Virginia will have a break for winter training before returning to dual meet action on Saturday, Jan. 13 at Virginia Tech.