NEW COMMIT: The University of Virginia swimming program has picked up their first verbal commitment for the class of 2023 from sprinter Jack Walker. Walker announced the news via his Instagram handle:
Walker competes for SwimMAC-Carolina and resides in Charlotte. He also swims for Myers Park High School where he is a North Carolina 4A State Champion in the 200 free with a time of 1:38.68. The time, however, was far off his best swim as he has gone much faster in his best events in the USA seasons.
In 2016, Walker posted three top-five finishes at the USA Swimming East Junior Nationals. He placed fifth in the 50 free and earned runner-up honors in both the 100 and 200 freestyles. In the latter two, he fell only to NAG Record Holder and Texas verbal commit Drew Kibler. Last season, Walker earned NISCA All-American honors and placed among the top finishers at both Eastern and Southern Sectionals.
This past summer in East Meadow, he added three Junior National finals to his resume, coming in fifth in the 100 free, sixteenth in the 50 and nineteenth in the 200.
Walker’s Best Times:
Short Course Yards
50 free – 20.10
100 free – 43.52
200 free – 1:33.73
500 free – 4:22.95
Long Course Meters
50 free – 23.68
100 free – 50.92
200 free – 1:53.38
400 free – 4:02.81
Walker will make an immediate impact on the UVA men’s team, as well as the ACC Conference meet. At last year’s Championships, Walker would have qualified for the B final in the 100 and 500 freestyles, but would have made the A in his signature 200 free. His best time would have put him fourth in the finals. UVA’s top performance in this event last year came from John Whiteside who took the B final in 1:34.96. Walker will likely be on the team’s 400 and 800 freestyle relays as a freshman.
