2026 Big 12 Championships: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2026 Big 12 Championship

• Dates: Tuesday, February 24–Saturday, February 28
• Location: Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, NC
• Defending champions: Arizona State women (1x); Arizona State men (1x)
• Live Results
• Live Video: ESPN +
• Championship Central
• Men’s Championship Preview
• Women’s Championship Preview
• Teams: Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Texas Christian, Utah, West Virginia
• Psych Sheets
• Live Recaps
  • Finals: Day 1

Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheet

Day 2 Prelims Scratches

After some thrilling relays last night, we turn our attention to the individual events as the second day of the Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships kicks off this morning in Greensboro, NC. On tap this morning are the 500 Freestyle, 200 IM, and 50 Freestyle.

The ASU women will look to kick off their title defense in earnest as they occupy the top two seeds in the first event, the 500 free, with Deniz Ertan and Alexa Reyna leading the way. Last year, it was Reyna who was crowned championed over Ertan, but the senior enters this year as the top seed and will be looking to earn another shot at the conference title. Looking to play spoiler is Avery Dillion of TCU, who as a first-year was not present last year, but could throw a wrench in ASU’s plan of going 1-2. ASU similarly leads the field in the 200 IM as Jordan Greber and Sonia Vaishnani top the pack for the Sun Devils. Don’t discount Houston’s Evelyn Entrekin and Alexia Duncan, as the pair, seeded 3rd and 4th will be looking to put as many Cougars into the A-final as possible.

While their in-state rivals appear to have the heavy advantage in the first two events, the 50 free appears to be advantage Arizona, as the Wildcats occupy three of the top six seeds, with senior Riley Botton leading the way. The lone entrant under, 22.00, Botton will hope for teammates Julia Wozniak (#3) and Patricija Kondraskaite (#5) to help her fend off the charge from Utah’s Erin Palmer and ASU first-years Albane Cachot and Shane Golland.

The ASU men, like the women, are favorites to repeat as Big 12 Champions. The Sun Devils are loaded in the 50 free, where led by Ilya Kharun, Tommy Palmer, Remi Fabiani and Jonny Kulow, they occupy the top six seeds and all of the sub-19.00 times.

In the 200 IM, the preceding event, ASU, led by Tiffany Jordan, a graduate student transfer from fellow Big-12 school BYU, occupies lane 4 of all three circle seeded heats, and will look to shut out all other schools from the top of the podium tonight. Despite having the top seed, the 500 free is ASU’s weakest event on the morning, as Mattia Mauri, a first-year for the Sun Devils, will look to start the morning off right for his team. It won’t be an easy task however as the Utah trio of Nick Chirafisi, Jones Lambert and Nolan Arnholt will look to prove a point, as too will BYU’s Tanner Nelson, who enters as the #3 seed.

WOMEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• NCAA: 4:24.06 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
• Big 12: 4:35.02 – Evie Pfeifer, Texas (2021)
• Big 12 Championship Record: 4:36.35 – Evie Pfeifer, Texas (2021)
• 2026 NCCA Qualifying Time: 4:43.70
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 4:39.47

Top 8

1. Gabi Dyer (KANS) – 4:45.52
2. Deniz Ertan (ASU) – 4:45.64
3. Alexa Reyna (ASU) – 4:45.88
4. Avery Dillon (TCU) – 4:46.91
5. Grace Lindberg (ASU) – 4:48.40
6. Elise Clift (ARIZ) – 4:48.68
7. Emma Overall (UH) – 4:49.30
8. Ivy Solt (KANS) – 4:49.72

Amelia Snyder of TCU set the time to beat before the circle-seeded heats out of the 3rd heat as the sophomore from TCU went 4:53.24, a drop of nearly three seconds from her seed.

Her teammate Avery Dillon, the overall #3 seed dove in as the favorite in the next heat, the first of the circle seeded heats, but it was Kansas’s Gabi Dyer who led out the 4th heat, flipping at the 200 in 1:51.10. Dillon was just .19 back at 1:51.29, but the first-year started slipping into the 29 highs, while, Dyer, a sophomore, continue with sub-29 splits up through the 400, by which point she had ballooned the lead to two seconds, a margin which was only closed slightly as Dyer overtook the top time as she hit the wall in 4:45.52, over a second ahead of Dillon’s 4:46.91. Houston’s Emma Overall joined the pair under 4:50 as the freshman hit the wall in 4:49.30.

The 5th heat was a much more one-sided affair as Alexa Reyna jumped out to a lead and never looked back. A junior from ASU and the defending champion, Reyna opened up the 500 in 1:50.07, nearly 2 seconds ahead of her teammate Grace Lindberg who flipped at the 200 in 1:52.90. Reyna, kept under 29.00 for the next 100, but started to slow over last 200 as she hit the wall in 4:45.88. Last year she was 4:42.66 in prelims, but her time this morning is certainly fast enough to advance, as there remains just one heat, and she currently ranks 2nd.

Only one swimmer swam faster than her in the last heat as her teammate Deniz Ertan went 4:45.64. Last year Ertan, a native of Turkey, was 4:41.58 in prelims, but like her teammate, Ertan maybe have done just enough this morning to earn a middle lane. Out in 1:51.24, Ertan, who finished runner-up in this event last year, will be occupying lane 5 tonight as she secured the 2nd seed.

MEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• NCAA: 4:02.31 – Léon Marchand, ASU (2024)
• Big 12: 4:06.93 – Luke Hobson, Texas (2024)
• Big 12 Championship Record: 4:11.11 – Clark Smith, Texas (2017)
• 2026 NCCA Qualifying Time: 4:18.07
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 4:14.13

Top 8

1. Noah Mudadu (ASU) – 4:15.41
2. Joel Nace (ARIZ) – 4:17.61
3. Nick Chirafisi (UTAH) – 4:17.74
4. Tanner Nelson (BYU) – 4:18.31
5. Reece Grady (ASU) – 4:19.63
6. Jones Lambert (UTAH) – 4:20.04
7. Nolan Arnholt (UTAH) – 4:20.31
8. Beck Parnham (ARIZ) – 4:20.87

Chasing the 4:23.39 set by Oskar Farkas in the 2nd heat, the 3rd heat and first of the circle seeded heats saw Arizona’s Joel Nace attack the race from the get-go. A sophomore who finished 7th overall last year (4:20.23), Nace flipped in 1:39.86 at the 200 and had an advantage of nearly two seconds on Tanner Nelson, the #3 seed overall. Nelson of BYU did his best over the back half to run down Nace, but he came up short as he touched in 4:18.31, .70 back of Nace’s new PB and NCAA qualifying time of 4:17.61.

Much like the previous heat, heat 4 saw a slight upset as ASU’s Noah Mudadu, a first year, out-dueled the #2 seed Nick Chirafisi. Last year’s 4th place finisher, Chirafisi, a junior from Utah, led Mudadu at the 200, 1:40.70 to 1:40.76, but Mudadu then dropped back under 26.00 for his 50 splits and pulled himself away from Chirafisi to win the heat. He touched in 4:15.41, which was not only a drop of over five seconds and an NCAA qualifying time, but now sit as the top time of the morning. Chirafisi’s time of 4:17.74 kept him in 2nd in the heat, ahead of his teammate and last year’s runner-up, Jones Lambert, who currently ranks 5th thanks to his 4:20.04.

The men’s 500 did not stick to its script as for the third heat in a row, the top seeded swimmer did not win their heat. Entered with a seed time of 4:16.54, ASU’s first-year Mattia Mauri, saw himself finish just 3rd in his heat with a time of 4:21.93. Sitting in 3rd at the 200, Mauri, who flipped in 1:42.19 was not able to match the speed of those surrounding him as his teammate Reece Grady and Arizona’s Ben Butler opened up their leads, and would touch ahead of him at 4:19.63 and 4:21.24 respectively. The last heat was a much slower affair then the previous two, as only Grady will advance into the A-final, where he will be the 5th seed.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – PRELIMS

• NCAA: 1:48.37 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2022)
• Big 12: 1:52.58 – Madisyn Cox, Texas (2017)
• Big 12 Championship Record: 1:52.82 – Madisyn Cox, Texas (2017)
• 2026 NCCA Qualifying Time: 1:57.88
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 1:56.69

Top 8

1. Jordan Greber (ASU) – 1:58.28
2. Alexia Duncan (UH) – 1:58.88
3. Julia Ullmann (ASU) – 1:58.91
4. Sonia Vaishnani (ASU) – 1:58.98
5. Paige Armstrong (ARIZ) – 1:59.66
6. Zoe Summar (ASU) – 1:59.80
7. Evelyn Entrekin (UH) – 1:59.86
8. Ella Guilfoil (ASU) – 2:00.15

It took until the 8th and last heat of the event to dethrone the time Julia Ullmann set in the very first heat. Entered with no time, the sophomore from ASU hit the wall in 1:58.91 with splits of 25.85/29.34/35.28/28.44. The time stands as a personal best for the Swiss native, as Ullmann, has never raced the event in yards. Last year Ullmann swam the 50 free, on the first day, where she placed 3rd.

Her time enters her as the 3rd seed tonight behind her teammate Jordan Greber, the top seed, and Alexia Duncan, the 4th seed. Greber and Duncan duked in out in heat 8 with Greber using a strong backstroke split of 28.85, as compared to Duncan’s 29.48 to pull herself into the lead and then followed that up with a 34.76 breaststroke split to help secure the win as she cruised into the finish with a 29.04 last 50 to to stop the clock at 1:58.28, exactly .60 ahead of Duncan’s 1:58.88.

ASU dominated the event as they advanced three others into the final with last year’s 3rd place finisher Sonia Vaishnani, last year’s runner-up Zoe Summer and last year’s 7th place finisher Ella Guilfoil all making a return trip to the A-Final.

MEN’S 200 IM – PRELIMS

• NCAA: 1:36.34 – Léon Marchand, ASU (2022)
• Big 12: 1:39.63 – John Shebat, Texas (2019)
• Big 12 Championship Record: 1:40.42 – Carson Foster, Texas (1:40.42)
• 2026 NCCA Qualifying Time: 1:44.13
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 1:42.65

Top 8

1. Jordan Tiffany (ASU) – 1:43.99
2. Lucien Vergnes (ASU) – 1:44.85
3. Evan VanBrocklin (UTAH) – 1:44.92
4. Finn Winkler (UTAH) – 1:44.97
5. Owen Chiles (CINC) – 1:45.16
6. Strahinja Maslo (UTAH) – 1:45.32
7. JT Ewing (ASU) – 1:45.49
8. Michael Hochwalt (ASU)/Tyler Edlefsen (BYU)/Durgan McKean (UTAH) – 1:45.70

Both ASU and Utah had a strong showing in the men’s 200 IM as they each advanced at least three swimmers into the A-Final. Leading the way is ASU’s Jordan Tiffany and Lucien Vergnes. Tiffany, who transferred as a Grad student from BYU, did not contest this event last year, but was the 3rd place finisher in this event in 2024. Tiffany the top seed, won the final heat in 1:43.99, in part to a strong first 50 fly split of 21.85, overtaking the time of Vergnes (1:44.85).

Utah’s Evan Van Brocklin and Finn Winkler occupy the next two spots, with their teammate Stahinja Maslo posting the 6th fastest time. As noted above, both ASU and Utah could add more to the A-final as there was a three way time for 8th place between Michael Hochwalt of ASU, Tyler Edlefsen of BYU and Durgan McKean of Utah, with each hitting the wall in 1:45.70.

Hochwalt and McKean are no strangers to the A-final, as they finished 2nd and 3rd in the event last year, while Edlefsen finished 11th overall. ASU’s Hochwalt splits were 23.12/26.41/30.36/25.81 while BYU’s Edlefsen splits were 22.99/26.45/30.22/26.04.  McKean took his race out faster going 22.76/27.23/29.43/26.28, and will hope to have enough of a lead after the breaststroke to hold on and win the swim-off.

UPDATE: Results seem to be slow in being published, but based on the commentator on the live stream Durgan McKean appears to have ceded a spot in the swim-off leaving Hochwalt and Edlefsen to swim against one another. No results were read or shown on screen to see who prevailed and earned a spot in the A-final.

UPDATE (take 2): Results have been uploaded into meet mobile. The swim-off was contested only between Hochwalt and Edlefsen. The BYU senior had a lead of just .04 after the fly, 22.59 to 22.63, but after the back and breast had ballooned it out to nearly a full second as he led 1:18.64 to 1:19.61. However, the lead was not safe as he came home in 26.84, .80 slower than his earlier swim, while Hochwalt closed in 25.17, .64 faster than he closed in the morning and would touch first in 1:44.78, with Edlefsen going 1:44.78.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• NCAA: 20.37 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
• Big 12: 21.65 – Carolyn Bentz, ASU (2025)
• Big 12 Championship Record: 21.76 – Grace Cooper, Texas (2024)
• 2026 NCCA Qualifying Time: 22.28
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 22.02

Top 8

1. Riley Botton (ARIZ) – 21.90
2. Albane Cachot (ASU) – 21.91
3. Julia Wozniak (ARIZ) – 22.17
4. Erin Palmer (UTAH) – 22.18
5. Patricija Kondraskaite (ARIZ) – 22.28
6. Molly Kullen (TCU) – 22.47
7. Shane Golland (ASU) – 22.59
8. Miriam Sheehan (ASU) – 22.65

Riley Botton, the lone entrant under 22.00, continued to remain atop the field as the Arizona Wildcat posted the top time this morning of 20.90. Botton, a senior, who was 6th last year with a then PB of 22.28, has been on fire this season, going 22.29 at her season opener, then joining the sub-22 club at the NC State Invite in November, where she recorded a mark of 21.97. This morning, opening up in 10.61, Botton surged home in 11.29 to set a new PB of 21.90.

Out a .10 slower but closing .09 faster to sit behind Botton by the slimmest of margins is the ASU first year Albane Cachot. The Frenchwoman, who joined ASU mid-season has only swum the event three times, but joined the sub-22 club this morning going 21.91, bettering her 22.05 from the Arizona/ASU dual meet earlier this month.

The familiar in-state rivals will have a reinforcements in the final as Botton will be joined in the final by teammates Julia Wozniak (3rd – 22.17) and Patricija Kondraskaite (5th – 22.28), while the Sun Devils will be represented by Cachot, Shane Golland (7th – 22.59) and Miriam Sheehan (8th – 22.65). The only two non-Arizona based swimmers making the final are Utah senior Erin Palmer (4th-22.18) and Molly Cullen (6th – 22.47) of TCU, who dropped .28 off her seed to make the final.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• NCAA: 17.63 — Caeleb Dressel, Florida (2018)
• Big 12: 18.31 – Ilya Kharun, ASU (2025)
• Big 12 Championship Record: 18.64 – Johnny Kulow, ASU (2025)
• 2026 NCCA Qualifying Time: 19.43
• 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 19.02

Top 8

1. Ilya Kharun (ASU) – 18.47
2. Adam Chaney (ASU) – 18.84
3. Jonny Kulow (ASU)/Remi Fabiani – 18.87
5. Tolu Young (ASU) – 18.96
6. Tommy Palmer (ASU) – 19.01
7. Duncan Henderson (ARIZ) – 19.12
8. Quin Seider (ASU) – 19.22

The power of ASU sprint machine was in full effect this morning as the Sun Devil’s dominance in the men’s 50 free was on full display, as the team advanced seven swimmers into the eight lane A-final. Leading the way is Ilya Kharun, who touched the wall in 18.47, just .16 off his Big 12 record set last year of 18.31 and faster than his teammate, Johnny Kulow‘s, Meet Record of 18.64.

Kharun, out in 9.08 closed in 9.39 to post the top time by nearly half a second over his teammates, Adam Chaney, Kulow and Remi Fabiani. Chaney, a grad student, who spent much of his career at Florida, touched 2nd in 18.84, a drop of .08 from his seed while Kulow and Fabiani tied at 18.87.

Joining that quartet in the final are Tolu Young (5th – 18.96), Tommy Palmer (6th – 19.01) and Quin Seider (8th – 19.22). The 7th seed tonight and slated to occupy lane 1 tonight is Arizona’s Duncan Henderson, who incredulous dropped 1.35 off his PB and entry time of 20.47 to hit the wall in 19.12. Henderson, who entered as the 36th seed is better known as a backstroker/butterflier as he is the 2nd seed in the 100 back, 12th seed in 200 back and 10th seed in the 100 fly, but now must scratch one these events. His drop while massive, is not that surprising as he did post a flying split of 18.52 earlier this month in the dual meet against ASU.