Virginia Swimming Concludes Competition at Toyota U.S. Open

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Virginia swimmers finished with eight medals (three gold, four silver, one bronze) over four days at the Toyota U.S. Open Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

Virginia had 11 swimmers hit the Olympic Trials standard at the Toyota U.S. Open Championships.

Claire Curzan kicked off the night for UVA swimmers, finishing second in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 2:06.39. With her time, she set a new program long course record, which beat out Reilly Tiltmann’s time of 2:08.65 at the 2023 Phillips 66 National Championships. Junior Ella Bathurst competed in the C Finals, finishing 20th overall with a time of 2:14.22

In the 200-meter backstroke, Jack Aikins finished ninth in the B Final with a time of 1:56.82. Sam O’Brien finished 22nd with a time of 2:03.44.

Gretchen Walsh led Virginia swimmers in the 100-meter freestyle, finishing fifth overall with a time of 53.95. Aimee Canny finished 10th (54.80), Curzan was 16th (55.61) and Maxine Parker finished 24th overall (55.47).

In the 200-meter breaststroke, Douglass took home the gold with a time of 2:21.87, setting a new U.S. Open meet record which was previously held by Emily Escobedo with a time of 2:22.00. Alex Walsh (2:25.39) and Ella Nelson (2:25.98) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Freshman Tess Howley was Virginia’s lone swimmer in the women’s 200-meter butterfly, ending with a time of 2:12.04.

Sebastian Sergile rounded out the night with a 19th place finish in the men’s 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:00.87.

On the night, Aikins, Canny, Curzan, Douglass, Howley, Nelson, Parker, Alex and Gretchen Walsh each hit the Olympic Trials standard for their respective events.