Walsh Washes Away Another World Mark: 22.75 S/C 50 Free
When a domestic time-trial of an event in Virginia highlights the nature of a World Cup ripe for a face lift
There's no stopping Gretchen Walsh: at her home UVA Pro Elite SCM Worlds Prep Meet, the World champion and long-course 100m 'fly record holder broke her own global short-course mark with a 22.75 blast in the 50m freestyle last Friday night (Oct. 16).
The two-day meet at the Aquatic & Fitness Center on the Grounds of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, coincided with the conclusion of the World Cup series - and many an effort at the local meet in Virginia challenged or beat the very best of those on the 'Silk Road' tour.
Catching cup with the whistling speed of events in Virginia, Walsh was the one who beat her remote Cup rivals and everyone else in history: the 22.75 broke her own 22.83 standard and set the US Open record Kate Douglass established at 22.94 in morning time trials in the same pool.
Walsh's pioneering marked the second time she has set a world record in her home pool: two years ago this month, she set the 100 IM s/c record there.
Coached by Todd de Sorbo and his team at UVA on the pro side after her college days were done, Walsh did not leave it at a freestyle WR: she also won the 50m butterfly in 24.02, sixth-faster ever, ahead of former college and current USA teammate Claire Curzan (24.85).
In turn, Curzan took the 100 back in the fastest time of the year, a 54.94, sixth fastest ever and inside the best effort on World Cup tour, from Dutch ace and Cup overall winner among women, Marrit Steenbergen. Indeed, two others were faster, too: Regan Smith was just 0.02sec away from Curzan and Katherine Berkoff was third in 55.07. That made the top 3 in the world this year.
The California '28 Dreamin' is more than tangible - while the meet in Virginia also highlighted the fragile nature of the World Cup, here an analysis of an event in need of reform and a media strategy that appears to be confusing an echo chamber with growth:
The SOS FORUM
Craig Lord
Meanwhile, Douglass won the 200 IM, setting a US Open record of 2:02.76), Gretchen's elder sister Alex Walsh second in 2:05.19.
Other Swims of Note on Day 2:
- Katie Ledecky topped the 200 Free (1:53.28). Simone Manuel (1:53.89)
Luke Hobson won the 200 Free (1:42.76)
Comeback sprinter Jordan Crooks won the 50 'fly, setting a Cayman Islands record of 22.67. - RESULTS IN FULL
On the opening day, Douglass took the 100m free in the fastest time in the world this year, 50,20, with Gretchen Walsh second-fastest in that race and among all, 50.32.
Alex Walsh won the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.34, No4 in the world this year. And in the 400IM, she clocked the third-fastest time in the world so far this year with a 4:27.12 win.
The women's 200- back witnessed a 1:59.71 win from Longhorn Regan Smith ahead of UVA's Isabelle Stadden, on 2:00.55 - those times No1 and 2 in the world so far this year, the World s/c championships in Beijing in December set to be a rankings rattler. Smith also won the 200 'fly (2:03.41).
Other winners included:
- Jordan Crooks (100 Free, 45.98), Tyler Ray (200 Fly, 1:50.46), Pietro Ubertalli (200 Back, 1:53.55), Joanna Evans (400 Free, 4:08.17), Kieran Smith (400 Free, 3:41.10), Brian Benzing (100 Breast, 57.51) and Ahmed Jaouadi (800 Free, 7:33.79).
In the meet-opening morning session, Gretchen Walsh set a US Open mark of 53.04 in the 100 'fly, third-fastest ever and world No 1 in 2026.
Olympic 200m breaststroke champion Kate Douglass, beyond her 22.94 in the 50 free won that games-gold event in a 2:15.65 that markets the fastest in the world this year.
The women's 50 back witnessed a tie between Cavalier Curzan and visitor Berkhoff in a 25.43 snap, while Phoebe Bacon, the most recent addition to Virginia's pro-training group, took the 100 IM in 58.72.
Other notable efforts:
- Katie Ledecky, third-fastest all-time 1500 free - 15:15.91.
Caeleb Dressel topped the 100 IM - 51.98
Jordan Crooks set the US Open record in the 50 back in 22.60, which also established a Cayman Islands national record inside his previous best.
As expected, Crooks' comeback indicates he is faster than he was before he left the sport for a while after a sub-20sec World s/c record 50m free blast, which was chased down but not caught by Cam McEvoy on World Cup tour:
Craig Lord
