Hold onto your swim caps, because the Virginia women just made waves in the 200-yard freestyle relay! With a jaw-dropping time of 1:23.75, they secured the second-fastest performance in history, just a hair’s breadth behind the NCAA and ACC records of 1:23.63. But here’s where it gets controversial—could this new squad dethrone the legendary 2024 team that set the bar? Let’s dive in.
The 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, held at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, GA, showcased some of the most electrifying swimming and diving talent from February 15 to February 21. Defending champions UVA women (six-time winners) and Cal men (one-time winners) were back to defend their titles, but all eyes were on the women’s 200 free relay. And this is the part most people miss—the Virginia team that dominated this year wasn’t even part of the program back in 2024. Claire Curzan (fresh off a gap year from Stanford), Bryn Greenwaldt (a Division II standout from Augustana), Anna Moesch, and Sara Curtis (both high schoolers at the time) formed a completely new lineup that nearly broke the record.
Sara Curtis anchored the relay with a blistering 20.46 split, just shy of cracking the top 10 all-time performances, which requires a 20.37. Meanwhile, the biggest difference between this year’s relay and the 2024 record-setting team was Gretchen Walsh’s mind-boggling 19.95 split—still the only sub-20-second relay split in history. Walsh holds the top six relay splits of all time, a record that may never be touched. Is it fair to compare these teams when the circumstances are so different? Let us know in the comments!
The Virginia women have now claimed this relay title for seven consecutive years, solidifying their dynasty in the sport. Here’s how the top 8 teams stacked up:
- Virginia – 1:23.75 (Pool Record)
- Stanford – 1:25.14
- Louisville – 1:25.34
- NC State – 1:26.33
- California – 1:26.69
- Duke – 1:28.14
- Georgia Tech – 1:28.38
- Pittsburgh – 1:28.40
For context, the NCAA and ACC records were set in 2017 by Virginia’s Nocentini, G Walsh, A Walsh, and Parker, clocking the same 1:23.63. The pool record, previously held by California at 1:26.80, was shattered by this year’s Virginia squad. The 2025 NCAA invite time of 1:28.26 shows just how far ahead these teams are.
Here’s a split comparison to fuel the debate:
Virginia – 2026 ACCs:
- Bryn Greenwaldt – 21.72
- Claire Curzan – 20.63
- Anna Moesch – 20.94
- Sara Curtis – 20.46
Total: 1:23.75
Virginia – 2024 ACCs:
- Jasmine Nocentini – 21.55
- Gretchen Walsh – 19.95
- Alex Walsh – 20.82
- Maxine Parker – 21.31
Total: 1:23.63
Controversial question: Does the absence of Gretchen Walsh’s record-breaking split make this year’s team’s achievement less impressive, or does it highlight their potential for future dominance? Share your thoughts below!
For more details, check out the live results, recaps, and schedules via the links provided. And don’t forget to catch the action on ESPN+ (subscription required). The Virginia women’s relay dynasty continues, but the debate over which team reigns supreme is far from over.
