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Alexis Walker (second from right) has committed to swim at UNC Asheville beginning in the fall of 2020.
Alexis Walker has announced her decision to swim at the University of North Carolina at Asheville beginning in the fall of 2020. The butterfly specialist recently graduated from Charles E Jordan High School and swims year-round for the YMCA of the Triangle Area.
“I will be a student-athlete at UNC-Asheville ℅ 2024 in order to get an outstanding education, compete for conference championships and help others in my science career. Now thank you Lord! Special thanks to my family and friends, my teachers/staff and classmates at Jordan HS, my YOTA coaches and teammates. Another special thanks to Durham Ys aquatics director Stanley Bass for teaching me and many other Durham youths to swim, regardless of color or class. And my YOTA coach Tom Hazelett for being present for so many years. Finally, thank you Coach Elizabeth Lykins. See ya 2020! Go BULLDOGS!”
In February, Walker competed at the 4A NCHSAA Central Regional Championships in the 100 fly, 200 IM and 2 relays. She placed 7th in the 200 IM (2:12.52), taking 1.36 seconds off her entry time. She was runner-up in the 100 fly behind Apex Friendship High School’s Taylor Bloom. Walker swam the butterfly leg of Jordan E Charles’s 200 medley relay. Dillan Hickey, Keenan Day, Walker, and Kirsten Febre powered to the wall to earn 4th place in the event. Walker later anchored their 200 free relay with a split of 24.63.
A week later, she raced at the State Championship meet, making it back to the B-final in both of her individual events. Walker dropped 3.26 seconds in the 200 IM from the previous weekend, and finished 15th overall. Similarly, she went 0.64 seconds faster in the 100 fly than she had at her regional meet, placing 13th. Walker, Hickey, Day, and Febre all swam in both the 200 medley and 200 free relays, placing 18th in each.
In April of 2019, Walker qualified for the YMCA Short Course National Championships in the 100 breast, 200 IM, and the 100 and 200 fly. She earned personal best times in both butterfly events, and was the second alternate in the 100 fly. Her time of 56.18 was just 0.05 seconds away from a finals swim at the championship meet.
Walker has earned Futures qualifying times in the 100 fly and the 200 IM.
Top SCY Times:
- 100 fly – 56.18
- 200 fly – 2:06.90
- 200 IM – 2:07.41
- 50 free – 24.62
- 100 breast – 1:06.91
- 100 free – 53.49
Walker will become a member of UNC Asheville’s women’s team in the fall. She will be the team’s fastest 100 butterflier and their second-fastest 200 butterflier behind Anna Nabors. She will also be the third-fastest in the 200 IM behind Christina Marshall and Ellis Nelson. Her top times would have placed her in the in the A-final in the 100 fly and in the B-final in the 200 fly and IM and the 100 breast at the 2020 Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Championships. Walker will be joining distance-freestyler Emilie Flynn as a member of the class of 2024.
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Congrats Alexis!!