Knoxville, Tenn. — Two-time defending champion Virginia won both relay titles at the NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships on Wednesday night.
After the first night of competition, Virginia leads the standings with 80 points, followed by Texas with 64 points and California with 56 points.
Virginia set an NCAA record in the 200-yard relay, becoming the first repeat champion since California in 2012. Gretchen Walsh, Alex Walsh, Lexi Cuomo and Kate Douglass finished in 1:31:51. Douglas clocked 20.34 for the second-fastest 50 relay split.
Aimee Canney, Alex Walsh, Reilly Tiltmann and Ella Nelson won the 800-yard freestyle relay in 6:49.82, setting a Virginia and pool record. It was the second time in three years that Virginia had won the event.
The four-day championships will be held at the University of Tennessee’s Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center. Thursday’s events will be the 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard IM, 50-yard freestyle, 1-meter diving and 200-yard freestyle relay.
Last season, Virginia finished third with 11 teams at the NCAA Championships. The Cavaliers return all three individual champions from last season at Douglas and sisters Alex and Gretchen Walsh.
