CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – It was a big weekend for Virginia swimmers who were competing on three different continents. Here’s a breakdown:
TYR Pro Swim Series – San Antonio, Texas
Several current and former Cavaliers took part in the event from April 10-13. In the 200 breast, former All-American Kate Douglass dominated the A-finals, winning by almost five seconds. She touched the wall at 2:19.89, about a half second off her American record of 2:19.30 that she set in January’s Pro Swim Series event in Knoxville. It marked the third-fastest time ever by an American behind her own record and Rebecca Soni’s time of 2:19.59 from the 2012 Olympics. She was also second in the 100 free (52.98).
Former Hoo Paige Madden opened the meet by winning the 1500 free by almost 15 seconds with a time of 16:19.77. Madden was the runner-up in the 400 free (4:04.86).
In other A-finals, Jack Aikins was second in the 200 back (1:58.81), Claire Curzan was third in the 100 back (59.16), 200 back (2:07.64) and the 100 fly (57.67), Ella Nelson was third in the 400 IM (4:45.08) and 200 breast (2:25.39), Alex Walsh was second in the 200 IM (2:08.60), Gretchen Wash was second in the 100 free (53.17), 100 fly (56.14) and third in the 50 free (24.29) and Emma Webber was the runner-up in the 100 breast (1:06.50).
TYR Pro Swim Series Top Results
Jack Aikins
• Second in A-final of 200 back (1:58.81)
• Fourth in A-final of 100 back (54.73)
Izzy Bradley
• Fourth in B-final of 100 back (1:01.98)
Claire Curzan
• Third in A-final of 200 back (2:07.64)
• Third in A-final of 100 fly (57.67)
• Third in A-final of 100 back (59.16)
• Sixth in B-final of 100 free (55.16)
Kate Douglass
• First in A-final of 200 breast (2:19.89)
• Second in A-final of 100 free (52.98)
• Sixth in A-final of 100 breast (1:06.85)
Cavan Gormsen
• Sixth in A-final of 400 free (4:12.50)
• Sixth in B-final of 200 free (2:01.31)
Abby Harter
• Seventh in B-final of 100 fly (1:00.11)
• Seventh in B-final of 200 fly (2:13.79)
Tess Howley
• Seventh in A-final of 200 fly (2:11.73)
• Sixth in B-final of 100 back (1:01.98)
August Lamb
• Fifth in B-final of 50 free (22.47)
Paige Madden
• First in the 1500 free (16:19.77)
• Second in A-final of 400 free (4:04.86)
• Third in 800 free (8:31.37)
• Fourth in A-final of 200 free (1:57.25)
Ella Nelson
• Third in A-final of 400 IM (4:45.08)
• Third in A-final of 200 breast (2:25.39)
• Fifth in B-final 100 breast (1:09.24)
Noah Nichols
• Fifth in A-final of 100 breast (1:00.64)
• Seventh in A-final of 200 breast (2:15.23)
Maxine Parker
• Eighth in A-final of 50 free (25.28)
• Seventh in B-final of 100 free (55.19)
Alex Walsh
• Second in A-final of 200 IM (2:08.60)
• Fifth in A-final of 100 fly (57.95)
• Second in B-final of 100 breast (1:08.17)
• Second in B-F=final of100 breast (1:08.17)
Gretchen Walsh
• Second in A-final of 100 free (53.17)
• Second in A-final of 100 fly (56.14)
• Third in A-final of 50 free (24.29)
• Fourth in A-final of 100 free (53.17)
Emma Weber
• Second in A-final of 100 breast (1:06.50)
• Seventh in C-final of 200 IM (2:20.76)
South Africa National Aquatics Championships
Virginia sophomore Aimee Canny (Knysna, South Africa) booked her ticket to this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris by achieving the required qualifying time in the opening leg of the 4x200m freestyle relay at the South Africa Olympic Trials.
Canny swam a time of 1:56.80, well below the required standard of 1:57.26. Her time was also a South African record that had stood for 10 years and also the African continental record set in 2008.
Canny also won national titles in the 100 free (53.61), the 200 free (1:57.39) and the 200 individual medley (2:12.23). In the 200 free, Canny missed the Olympic qualifying mark by .13 seconds. Canny competes for the Western Cap Aquatics team in her home country.
New Zealand Swimming Championships
Freshman Aimee Crosbie (Auckland, New Zealand) competed in the 50 fly, 50 free and 100 free at the New Zealand Swimming Championships. She finished fifth in the 50 fly with a personal best time of 56.65 and was sixth in the 50 free (25.84). She set a personal best in the prelims of the 50 free with a time of 25.74.