Gretchen Walsh Sets American Record on Day Two of Tennessee Invitational

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Virginia men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams completed the second of the three-day Tennessee Invitational meet Thursday (Nov. 21) at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatics Center in Knoxville, Tenn.

Senior Gretchen Walsh set an American record in the first individual event of the evening. Walsh’s 47.35 in the 100 Butterfly is an American, NCAA, US Open, Virginia program, meet and pool record, topping her own previous record of 47.42.

Freshman Spencer Nicholas set a program record in the 100 Fly in prelims, only to break it in the evening finals. His time of 44.41 also ranks 11^th all-time for American swimmers in that event. It was the first of two program records set on the night as junior Sebastien Sergile set the school record in the 200 Free with a 1:32.38.

Grad student Noah Nichols won the lone race for the men, taking the 100 Breast (51.32).

Both sophomore Claire Curzan and junior Aimee Canny advanced to two Super Finals after finishing in the top two in the prelims. Curzan won the 100 Back (49:37) and finished second in the 100 Fly to Walsh. Canny won the 200 Free (1:42.67) and was second in the 100 Breast.

Freshman Leah Hayes won the 400 IM and the women took the 200 Medley Relay, giving them five race wins in the session’s six finals.

The meet is a double-dual against Tennessee and Kentucky. The top two times in the morning preliminaries advance to a Super Final. Positions 3-8 advance to the B-Final. C and D finals are also competed, but no points are awarded.

Virginia leads both duals on the women’s side. The men trail Tennessee but are leading Kentucky.

Team Scores (After Day II)

Women: Virginia 147, Tennessee 110
Women: Virginia 192, Kentucky 156

Men: Tennessee 178, Virginia 76
Men: Virginia 156, Kentucky 100

WOMEN’S NOTES

• Lizzy Kaye won 3M Diving, adding to her 1M victory on Wednesday
• Leah Hayes’s 4:01.34 in the 400 IM is the third fastest time in program history
• Claire Curzan’s 49.37 in the 100 Back is the second fastest time in program history
• Gretchen Walsh opened the meet with a 22.80 in the 50 back split of the 200 Medley Relay
• Walsh’s record-setting time in the 100 Fly was the This is the 59^th time a Virginia swimmer has broken an American record since 2021

UP NEXT

• The meet concludes on Friday (Nov. 22) with swimming prelims at 10 a.m. and finals at 5 p.m.
• Platform diving will be finals-only starting at noon
• There will be a 1650 time trial at 3:30 with the final heat (by seeding) at 5 p.m.
• Other swimming events: 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly and 400 Free Relay

SCHEDULE OF REMAINING EVENTS