Anna Keating will be returning to Virginia for her COVID-19 fifth year, she announced via Instagram. Keating has helped the Virginia women to four straight NCAA titles.
Keating was the #10 ranked recruit coming out of high school. She made an instant impact upon her arrival in Charlottesville, finishing 4th in the 200 breast and 6th in the 100 breast at the 2021 ACC Championships. She also was 14th in the 200 IM. She qualified for NCAAs as a freshman, finishing 18th in the 100 breast and 21st in the 200 breast.
She finished 6th in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes at 2022 ACCs, once again punching her ticket to NCAAs. She made her first finals at NCAAs, finishing 8th in the 200 breast in a personal best time of a 2:07.10. She also was 13th in the 100 breast in a 59.05. She scored 14.5 individual points, helping the team to another NCAA title.
As a junior, she was 8th in the 200 breast, 12th in the 100 breast, and 43rd in the 200 IM at ACCs. She swam a best time at NCAAs in the 200 breast, clocking a 2:06.73 for 6th. She also was 20th in the 100 breast. She scored 12 individual points to help the team to the 2023 NCAA title.
She switched her event lineup for ACCs this past season, swimming the 100 breast, 200 breast, and 400 IM. She finished 3rd in the 200 breast, 5th in the 400 IM, and 11th in the 100 breast.
She kept that lineup for NCAAs, finishing 8th in the 200 breast to score 11 individual points. She also was 35th in the 400 IM and 42nd in the 100 breast. Her ‘A’ final swim in the 200 breast was alongside Alex Walsh who captured the NCAA title.
This summer, Keating made the final of the women’s 200 breaststroke, finishing 6th in a 2:29.54 at the US Olympic Trials. Her lifetime best stands at a 2:24.62 in the event.
She also represented the US at the Pan American Games in the fall, placing 15th in the 100 breast and 7th in the 200 breast.
The return of Keating allows Virginia to stay even more of a favorite to make a run at a 5th straight NCAA title. The team also returns Alex Walsh and Maxine Parker for their 5th years. The incoming class for this fall is also the #1 ranked recruiting class featuring names such as Claire Curzan and Leah Hayes.
The Virginia women qualified 19 swimmers make the cutline for 2024 NCAAs and had to cut one to get down to the maximum 18. They then cut another swimmer to make room for a diver. With Keating’s return, they now return 15 out of the 17 swimmers that competed at 2024 NCAAs.
“This summer, Keating made the final of the women’s 200 breaststroke, finishing 6th in a 2:29.54. Her lifetime best stands at a 2:24.62 in the event.”
You may want to mention that this was at Olympic Trials.
Also, she competed at Pan Ams for Team USA which is noteworthy.
Abby Harter needs to return for a fifth year.
I think they’ll be fine without her, courtesy of Tess Howley and potentially Alex Walsh in the 2 fly.
She doesn’t want to
Pretty much book it for the Hoos to get The Cinco in March 2025.
It now seems more likely than not Jasmine Nocentini has moved on to become a Marvel movies superhero. She will use her superpowers to fight for good over evil.
Crazy to think someone who could make the A final at NCAA’s might not make the roster for Virginia at NCAA’s
I guess these “Covid 5th year ” swimmers will continue until 2040?
this is pretty much the last year for them
So the team will have numerous 23 year olds… AW will be almost 24. Is this really collegiate athletics?
Are you saying you don’t want to see Alex Walsh take another crack at Kate’s records? Virginia’s winning with or without their 5th years, and it’s the last year of them anyway
Didn’t she turn 23 like last week? “Almost 24” is a bit of a stretch
If you look at overall trends for female swimmers — competing at “almost 24” would typically be considered a *disadvantage* as opposed to the unfair advantage you seem to be implying.
let’s gooooo