Virginia's quest for a fourth-consecutive NCAA Women's Swim & Dive Championship began on Wednesday night in Athens. The Cavaliers claimed the title in the 200-yard medley relay and finished fourth in the 800-yard freestyle relay, earning 70 total points on the first night of the 2024 NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships at Jack Bauerle Pool at the Gabrielsen Natatorium on the campus of the University of Georgia.
Gretchen Walsh broke yet another record as she swam the leadoff leg of the 200-yard medley, turning in the fastest split ever recorded in the 50-yard backstroke, touching in 22.10 seconds. Walsh, Jasmine Nocentini, Carly Novelline, and Maxine Parker finished in 1:31.58, more than a second and a half ahead of the rest of the field and missing UVA's own NCAA record in the event by just seven-hundredths of a second.
That relay win marked Virginia's ninth-consecutive NCAA relay title dating back to the 2022 NCAA Championships, but that streak was broken in the 800 freestyle relay, as UVA's team of Aimee Canny, Alex Walsh, Ella Nelson, and Reilly Tiltmann finished fourth in 6:51.41, behind Stanford, Tennessee, and Florida, who won the title with a time of 6:48.59. Former Cavalier Emma Weyant swam the third leg of the relay for the Gators.
After the first night of competition, Florida holds a slim two-point advantage over Virginia in the team standings thanks to the Gators placing third in the 200 medley relay.
2024 NCAA Women's Swim & Dive Championships - Team Standings (through Day 1)
1. Florida - 72
2. Virginia - 70
3. Tennessee - 62
4. Stanford - 54
5. Texas - 50
6. California - 48
7. Indiana - 36
7. USC - 36
7. Ohio State - 36
10. Michigan - 32
Virginia will look to regain the lead on the second night of competition at the 2024 NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships on Thursday, with the featured events including the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 1-meter diving, and the 200 free relay. The finals are set to begin at 6pm.
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