2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Championships: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships

• March 16-19, 2022
• McAuley Aquatic Center, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia (Eastern Daylight Time)
• Prelims 10AM /Finals 6PM
• Short Course Yards (25 yards)
• Championship Central
• Official Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Video (ESPN3): Swimming / Diving
• Saturday morning heat sheets

It’s the final morning of prelims in Atlanta, and we’ve got a great day on tap with heats of the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly, followed by platform diving.

Stanford freshman Regan Smith is top seed in the 200 back and 200 fly. She will be challenged by her teammate Taylor Ruck and Cal’s Isabelle Stadden in the former, and Kentucky’s Riley Gaines and defending champion Olivia Carter of Michigan in the latter.

Virginia freshman Gretchen Walsh leads the qualifiers in the 100 free. NC State’s Katharine Berkoff, who set the American record in the 100 back last night, and Stanford’s Torri Huske are also eyeing the title.

Virginia’s Kate Douglass, NC State’s Sophie Hansson, and Texas’ Anna Elendt all come in to the 200 breast with 2:03s but Kaitlyn Dobler of USC, who won the 100 breast last night, shouldn’t be counted out.

Women 200 Yard Backstroke – Prelims

• NCAA Record: 1:47.24 – Beata Nelson, Wisconsin (2019)
• Meet Record: 1:47.24 – Beata Nelson, Wisconsin (2019)
• American Record: 1:47.16 – Regan Smith, Riptide (2019)
• US Open Record: 1:47.16 – Regan Smith, Riptide (2019)
• Pool Record: 1:49.61 – Alexia Zevnik, NC St (2016)
• 2021 Champion: Phoebe Bacon, Wisconsin – 1:48.32

Finals qualifiers:

1. Regan Smith, FR Stanford – 1:49.22P
2. Isabelle Stadden, SO California – 1:49.94
3. Phoebe Bacon, SO Wisconsin – 1:50.08
4. Emma Atkinson, SO VT / Reilly Tiltmann, FR Virginia – 1:50.34
5. –
6. Rhyan White, SR Alabama – 1:50.36
7. Emma Muzzy, SR NCSU – 1:51.06
8. Lucie Nordmann, JR Stanford – 1:51.20
9. Taylor Ruck, JR Stanford – 1:51.47
10. Kate Moore, 5Y NCSU – 1:51.90
11. Sophie Sorenson, SR Kentucky – 1:51.99
12. Paige Hetrick, SO Louisville – 1:52.05
13. Caitlin Brooks, JR Kentucky – 1:52.76
14. Julia Cook, SR Texas – 1:52.80
15. Rye Ulett, FR Louisville – 1:53.11
16. Sophie Lindner, SR UNC – 1:53.21

Cal’s Alicia Wilson kicked off the heats of 200 back with a1:54.49 in heat 1, dropping 2.1 seconds from her entry time. Mabel Zavaros of Florida took heat 2 in 1:53.73, .03 ahead of Bowling Green senior Daisy Platts (1:53.66).

Texas senior Julia Cook blasted a 1:52.88 from lane 8 to win heat 3 ahead of Wisconsin’s Mara Newman (1:53.78). Virginia freshman Ella Bathurst went 1:53.32 to win heat 4. Stanford junior Alex Crisera was second from the outside lane in 1:53.47. Susan Lagrand of Oakland came in third with 1:53.87.

Virginia freshman Reilly Tiltmann crushed the first circle-seeded heat, wining in 1:50.34 ahead of Taylor Ruck from Stanford (1:51.47) and Kate Moore of NC State (1:51.90). Tiltmann and Ruck turned virtually together at the 150 but Tiltmann accelerated over the final 50 to get the win by more than half a body length.

Emma Atkinson of Virginia Tech, Cal’s Isabelle Stadden, and Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon all turned together at the 150 wall but Stadden brought it home to win with 1:49.94. Bacon (1:50.08) touched out Atkinson (1:50.34) for second place. Sophie Sorenson of Kentucky was fourth.

Stanford freshman Regan Smith was first out of the gates, turning first at the 50 and 100 walls. Alabama’s Rhyan White was right with her through 150 yards but Smith killed the final 50 to win in a pool-record time of 1:49.22. White went 1:50.36 and NC State’s Emma Muzzy was third with 1:51.06.

Women 100 Yard Freestyle – Prelims

• NCAA Record: 45.56 – Simone Manuel, Stanford (2017)
• Meet Record: 45.56 – Simone Manuel, Stanford (2017)
• American Record: 45.56 – Simone Manuel, Stanford (2017)
• US Open Record: 45.56 – Simone Manuel, Stanford (2017)
• Pool Record: 46.70 – Olivia Smoliga, Georgia (2016)
• 2021 Champion: Maggie MacNeil, Michigan – 46.02

Finals qualifiers:

1. Gretchen Walsh, FR Virginia – 46.78
2. Katharine Berkoff, JR NC State – 46.89
3. Morgan Scott, SR Alabama – 47.27
4. Lia Thomas, 5Y Penn – 47.37
5. Gabi Albiero, SO Louisville – 47.45
6. Grace Countie, SR North Carolina – 47.50
7. Cora Dupre, JR Alabama – 47.51
8. Iszac Henig, JR Yale – 47.55
9. Isabel Ivey, SR Cal – 47.61
10. Maggie MacNeil, SR Michigan – 47.77
11. Kalia Antoniou, SR Alabama – 47.84
12. Katherine Zenick, SO Ohio State – 47.91
13. Lindsay Flynn, FR Michigan – 47.94
14. Kylee Alons, SR NC State – 48.02
15. Torri Huske, FR Stanford – 48.12
16. Talia Bates, JR Florida – 48.14

Kylee Alons of NC State won heat 1 with 48.02, taking 1.3 seconds off her entry time. Last year, she placed sixth in this event with 47.71.

Lexi Cuomo of Virginia went 48.44 to win the following heat over Chloe Larson of Washington State (49.18). Stanford senior Anya Goeders went 48.40 to take heat 3 ahead of Akron senior Sarah Watson (48.50). Christiana Regenauer of Louisville was the heat 4 winner with 48.45.

Florida freshman Ekaterina Nikonova went 48.24 to just touch out Louisville senior Arina Openysheva (48.31) and Tennessee fifth-year Tjasa Pintar (48.32).

Alabama’s Morgan Scott controlled heat 6, winning in 47.27. Louisville sophomore Gabi Albiero was next in 47.45, followed closely by Grace Countie of North Carolina (47.50) and Cal’s Isabey Ivey (47.61). Ivey was third in this event at NCAAs last year. Overall #3 seed Torri Huske of Stanford posted a 48.12 to finish sixth in the heat.

NC State junior Katharine Berkoff, the newly-minted American record-holder in the 100 back, cracked 47 seconds for the top spot so far, winning heat 7 in her entry time of 46.89. Yale’s Iszac Henig went 47.55, taking .25 off their seed time, to finish second in the heat ahead of Alabama senior Kalia Antoniou (47.84).

Virginia freshman Gretchen Walsh won the final heat in 46.78, lowering her entry time by .08. Penn fifth-year Lia Thomas touched second in 47.37, just ahead of Alabama junior Cora Dupre (47.51). Defending champion Maggie MacNeil of Michigan was relegated to fourth place in the heat with 47.77.

Women 200 Yard Breaststroke – Prelims

• NCAA Record: 2:02.60 – Lilly King, Indiana (2018)
• Meet Record: 2:02.60 – Lilly King, Indiana (2018)
• American Record: 2:02.60 – Lilly King, Indiana (2018)
• US Open Record: 2:02.60 – Lilly King, Indiana (2018)
• Pool Record: 2:03.02 – Alexandra Walsh, Virginia (2022)
• 2021 Champion: Sophie Hansson, NC State – 2:03.86

Finals qualifiers:

1. Kate Douglass, JR Virginia – 2:03.67
2. Anna Elendt, SO Texas – 2:04.92
3. Sophie Hansson, SR NC State – 2:06.12
4. Ella Nelson, JR Virginia – 2:06.21
5. Gillian Davey, JR Kentucky – 2:06.68
6. Avery Wiseman, FR Alabama – 2:06.76
7. Anna Keating, SO Virginia – 2:06.89
8. Brooke Forde, 5Y Stanford – 2:07.05
9. Alexis Wenger, SR Virginia – 2:07.34
10. Lauren Poole, JR – Kentucky 2:07.42
11. Bailey Bonnett, 5Y Kentucky – 2:07.46
12. Sally Foley, SO Duke – 2:07.55
13. Zoie Hartman, JR Georgia – 2:07.71
14. Allie Raab, SR Stanford – 2:07.86
15. Christie Chue, FR Florida International – 2:07.99
16. Mackenzie Looze, SR Indiana – 2:08.14

Auburn 5Y Carly Cummings started with a .21-second improvement from her seed time to win heat 1 in 2:10.19. Klara Thormalm of San Diego State edged NC State fifth-year Julia Poole, 2:08.53 to 2:08.97 to win heat 2. Northwestern senior Tara Vovk was third with 2:09.16.

Florida International freshman Christie Chue lowered her time by .7 to win heat 3 with 2:07.99. Michigan freshman Letitia Sim was second with 2:08.19, a .5 drop from her seed time.

Brooke Forde of Stanford had a big lead at the 100, but Kentucky junior Lauren Poole ate into it with a stronger back half. Forde took the heat in 2:07.05, with Poole finishing in 2:07.42. Indiana senior Mackenzie Looze touched third with 2:08.14. All three dropped from their entry times.

Texas sophomore Anna Elendt took the first circle-seed out heat quickly and was a body length up headed into the final 50 yards. She finished with 2:04.82, well ahead of Kentucky junior Gillian Davey (2:06.68) and Virginia sophomore Anna Keating (2:06.89).

Defending champion Sophie Hansson claimed the heat 6 win in 2:06.12. Alabama freshman Avery Wiseman was second in 2:06.78, while Stanford senior Allie Raab finished third from out in lane 8 with 2:07.86. Raab made it into the B final with her swim, which is good news for Stanford after the 100 free, where they were down 14 points from their projected score.

Top-seeded Kate Douglass of Virginia went 2:03.67 to win the last heat, with teammate and classmate Ella Nelson in tow (2:06.21). Kentucky fifth-year went 2:07.36 to come in third from lane 1.

Women 200 Yard Butterfly – Prelims

• NCAA Record: 1:49.51 – Ella Eastin, Stanford (2018)
• Meet Record: 1:50.01 – Ella Eastin, Stanford (2018)
• American Record: 1:49.51 – Ella Eastin, Stanford (2018)
• US Open Record: 1:49.51 – Ella Eastin, Stanford (2018)
• Pool Record: 1:50.61 – Kelsi Worrell, Louisville (2016)
• 2021 Champion: Olivia Carter, Michigan – 1:51.33

Finals qualifiers:

1. Emma Sticklen, SO Texas – 1:51.45
2. Dakota Luther, SR Georgia – 1:51.64
3. Regan Smith, FR Stanford – 1:51.76
4. Olivia Carter, SR Michigan – 1:51.86
5. Alex Walsh, SO Virginia – 1:51.90
6. Kelly Pash, JR Texas – 1:52.42
7. Olivia Bray, SO Texas – 1:52.61
8. Rachel Klinker, JR Cal – 1:53.37
9. Riley Gaines, SR Kentucky / Lillie Nordmann, FR Stanford – 1:53.83
10. –
11. Abby Harter, SO Virginia – 1:53.89
12. Lindsay Looney, JR Arizona State – 1:54.04
13. Abby Hay, JR Louisville – 1:54.70
14. Grace Sheble, FR NC State – 1:54.75
15. Tristen Ulett, SO Louisville – 1:54.81
16. Alena Kraus, SR Louisville – 1:54.83

Paulina Nogaj of Akron won a tight race in heat 1 over Wisonsin’s Alivia Lindorfer, 1:58.73 to 1:58.95. Virginia Tech fifth-year Reka Gyorgy was first to the wall in heat 2 with 1:55.72, edging Cal State Bakersfield’s Autumn D’Arcy (1:55.84).

Michigan senior Victoria Kwan (1:55.56) touched out Wisconsin teammates Mallory Jump (1:55.82) and Mackenzie McConagha (1:56.25) in heat 3. NC State freshman Grace Sheble was the stealth winner of heat 4 from lane 1, where she just got by Louisville sophomore Tristen Ulett, 1:54.75 to 1:54.81. Third place went to Ohio State fifth-year Kristen Romano (1:55.12).

Defending champion Olivia Carter of Michigan, who came into the meet this year seeded third, opened the circle-seeded heats with a 1:51.86. Texas sophomore Olivia Bray (1:52.61) beat out Cal’s Rachel Klinker (1:53.37) for second place.

Alex Walsh of Virginia took the penultimate heat in 1:51.90. Texas junior Kelly Pash placed second in 1:52.42. There was a tie for third place as both Riley Gaines of Kentucky and Stanford freshman Lillie Nordmann came to the wall together in 1:53.83. Gaines had dropped out of the 100 free this morning to focus on this race, where she was the #2 seed.

Texas sophomore Emma Sticklen was out early in the final heat, up by a body length at the 100 over Georgia senior Dakota Luther and top-seeded Regan Smith of Stanford. Sticklen led 52.96 to Luther’s 53.48 and Smith’s 54.27 at the 100 and 1:21.49 to 1:22.20 and 1:22.89 at the 100. Smith had an impressive last 50, especially given her early 200 back, and came home faster than the two leaders. It wasn’t quite enough to take the heat, though, and she finished third in 1:51.76. Sticklen got the win with 1:51.45, .19 ahead of Luther (1:51.64).

Texas wound up with three A-finalists, which will be important as they attempt to overtake Stanford for second place on the final day of competition here in Atlanta.

Women Platform Diving – Prelims

• Meet Record: 396.75 – Haley Ishimatsu, USC (2013)
• Pool Record: 360.30 – Yu Zhou, MINN (2016)
• 2021 Champion: Tarrin Gilliland, Indiana – 338.40

Finals qualifiers:

1. Delaney Schnell, JR Arizona – 351.50
2. Tarrin Gilliland, SO Indiana – 350.20
3. Abigail Knapton, SR Rutgers – 333.25
4. Nike Agundiade, JR USC – 304.25
5. Maggie Merriman, SR Purdue – 298.55
6. Jordan Skilken, JR Texas – 295.30
7. Janie Boyle, JR Texas – 294.50
8. Paola Pineda, SR Texas – 294.20
9. Markie Hopkins, JR Northwestern – 287.75
10. Montserrat Lavenant, SO LSU – 284.40
11. Aran Vasquez Montano, SO UNC – 275.85
12. Kyndal Knight, SR Kentucky – 275.20
13. Melissa Mirafuentes, JR Wyoming – 271.40
14. Kristen Hayden, SR Indiana – 270.55
15. Else Praasterink, SO Louisville – 269.70
16. Anne Tuxen, JR LSU – 263.95