Kate Douglass, former Virginia Cavaliers star, smashed the world record in women's 50-meter freestyle at Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, Irvine,California. She clocked 23.49 seconds in Saturday's prelims,August 15,2026,beating Gretchen Walsh's June record of 23.55 seconds.
The 24-year-old from Pelham,New York,has twice set world records in recent months . Her first was at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis on June 19,with 23.59 seconds. Walsh then reclaimed it nine days later,only for Douglass to break it again at Pan Pacifics.
Douglass's feat adds to her five Olympic medals. Though she won silver in 50-meter freestyle at 2024 World Championships,she skipped that event at 2024 Paris Games.
Elsewhere,Norfolk State Spartans women's volleyball team scored a thrilling 3-2 win over North Carolina A&T in exhibition at Gill Gymnasium. A promising start after last season's 5-24 record.
Gabrielle Gilbert led with 19 kills, 12 digs . Kyleigh Moore and Ava Berry added eight and nine kills each, while Nehir Erimez contributed 15 assists. Jazeli Vandenburgh's 25 digs were crucial in the tight match.
Norfolk State faces Elizabeth City State in another exhibition at 6 p.m . Friday, before regular season starts.
In soccer,Temple University edged Hampton University 1-0 in a tight home opener at Powhatan Field. Danica Barham's late goal sealed it,under new head coach Sam Cain.
Despite being outshot 7-1 in the first half,Hampton's freshman goalie Jackie Jenkins made three key saves . Temple's Ana Zivkovic also denied scoring chances. Barham's winning goal came from a Linnea Linden corner, deflected by Maddie Ward.
In horse racing,WhenIgettoheaven won the $100,000 Meadow Stable Handicap at Colonial Downs . Trained by Nolan Ramsey,ridden by Paco Lopez, the 7-year-old gelding won by a length,finishing 5 1/2 furlongs on grass in 1:01.70.
Open to Virginia-bred,sired,or certified horses aged three and older,the event also featured Wiener dog racing . Live thoroughbred racing continues every Thursday-Sunday until Old Dominion Derby,Labor Day,September 7.
In golf,last Virginian Logan Reilly exited U.S . Amateur semis at Merion Golf Club,Ardmore,Pennsylvania. Auburn sophomore lost to Jay Leng Jr.,Stanford junior, 2 and 1. Reilly,seeded 11th among 64,missed Masters, U.S. Open spots.
Leng, seeded 15th, will face Florida State's Jack Whaley in championship, after Whaley's 1-up win over No. 8 seed Carter Loflin.
