2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships
- Wednesday, March 18 – Saturday, March 21, 2026
- McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, GA
- Defending Champions: Virginia (5x)
- Championship Central
- Preview Index
- Psych Sheet
- Live Stream
- Live Results
- Live Recaps
DAY 3 PRELIMS HEAT SHEET
Day 3 of NCAAs is here. Remember, we’re working with a new schedule this year, so it’s not the usual Friday slate of events. Today, we’ll be treated to the 100 back, 200 breast, 500 free, 50 free, and the 400 medley relay. The diving event today will be 3-meter.
This session will kick off with the 100 back, where we’ll be setting the stage for a repeat showdown between Claire Curzan and Bella Sims. Last year, Curzan beat Sims by 0.01 seconds, touching in 49.11 to Sims’ 49.12. The juniors come in as the top 2 seeds this year as well, though Sims is on a new team, as she transferred to Michigan after spending her freshman and sophomore seasons at Florida. Curzan comes in as the top seed with a season best 48.38, while Sims comes in with a 49.12, which is the same time she went at NCAAs last year. While that gives Curzan a decided edge coming in, Sims has built some great momentum, having won the 400 IM last night.
The 200 breast sees defending champion Lucy Bell (Stanford) return as well. Bell has been 2:02.67 already this season, which is well under the 2:04.28 she swam to win the event last season.
In the 500 free, Texas sophomore Jillian Cox is yet another swimmer looking to defend her title. Cox won the event in 4:31.58 as a freshman last year, and has already been 4:30.53 this season. Cox already won the mile on Wednesday night, and she didn’t race on Thursday, so she should be fresh. Georgia freshman Kennedi Dobson has been 4:30.70 this season, so this could turn into a really great race today.
The 50 free is the only event guaranteed to have a new champion this year, as Gretchen Walsh won it last year. Tennessee’s Camille Spink enters as the top seed, holding a season best of 20.87.
WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 48.10 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- American Record: 48.10 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- U.S. Open Record: 48.10 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- Championship Record: 48.26 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- 2025 NCAA Champion: Claire Curzan, Virginia – 49.11
- 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 50.29/51.20
TOP 8:
- Claire Curzan (Virginia) – 48.81
- Mary-Ambre Moluh (Cal) – 50.02
- Bella Sims (Michigan) – 50.08
- Maggie Wanezek (Wisconsin) – 50.10
- Erika Pelaez (NC State) – 50.15
- Leah Shackley (NC State) – 50.37
- Emily Jones (Alabama) – 50.47
- Claire Jansen (Pitt) – 50.79
Claire Curzan was dominant this morning in prelims of the 100 back, putting up a 48.81. While that time is off her season best of 48.38, her swim this morning stands as the #9 performance all-time in the event. Tonight, we’ll see if anyone else rises to the challenge and gives her a race.
Cal’s Mary-Ambre Moluh had a terrific swim, taking 2nd overall with a 50.02. She’s been 49.64 already this season, but her swim secured a middle lane for tonight, setting the sophomore up well.
Bella Sims, the runner-up to Curzan in this race last year, took 3rd this morning with a 50.08. Sims has been 49.12 already this season, and she dropped big from prelims to finals in the 400 IM last night, so we can safely expect a faster swim from her tonight.
Nevada’s Scarlett Ferris was the 1st swimmer out, taking 9th this morning with a 50.98.
Also of note, Indiana junior Miranda Grana, who finished 3rd in this event last year, came in 14th this morning with a 51.27, failing to advance to finals.
WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
- American Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
- U.S. Open Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
- Championship Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
- 2025 NCAA Champion: Lucy Bell, Stanford – 2:04.28
- 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 2:07.60/2:08.56
TOP 8:
- Anastasia Gorbenko (Louisville) – 2:05.16
- Aimee Canny (Virginia) – 2:05.25
- Lucy Bell (Stanford) – 2:05.51
- Kaelyn Gridley (Duke) – 2:05.86
- Anita Bottazzo (Florida) – 2:06.98
- Grace Raab (Florida) – 2:07.32 (Tie)
- Letitia Sim (Michigan) – 2:07.32 (Tie)
- Emma Weber (Virginia) – 2:07.58
The women’s 200 breast was quick this morning, seeing 4 swimmers go 2:05-something. Louisville’s Anastasia Gorbenko led the way, clocking a 2:05.16 in the 1st of the circle seeded heats. She was just a touch off her season best of 2:05.02 with the swim.
Virginia’s Aimee Canny was 2nd this morning in 2:05.25, while Stanford’s Lucy Bell was 3rd in 2:05.51. Based on season bests, this race could come down to the pair of them tonight, as both Canny and Bell have been 2:02 this season.
Duke’s Kaelyn Gridley was the other swimmer to go 2:05 this morning, posting the 4th fastest time with a 2:05.86.
Florida had a great showing in this event, seeing sophomore Anita Bottazzo take 5th with a 2:06.98 and freshman Grace Raab tie for 6th with a 2:07.32. Virginia also put 2 swimmers into the final, with Emma Weber taking 8th in 2:07.58.
Also of note, Eneli Jefimova, the 100 breast champion from last night, wound up 27th in the 200 breast this morning with a 2:09.70. Jefimova was seeded 6th.
WOMEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 4:24.06 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
- American Record: 4:24.06 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
- U.S. Open Record: 4:24.06 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
- Championship Record: 4:24.06 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
- 2025 NCAA Champion: Jillian Cox, Texas – 4:31.58
- 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 4:37.01/4:38.76
TOP 8:
- Jillian Cox (Texas) – 4:33.89
- Ella Jansen (Tennessee) – 4:34.13
- Kennedi Dobson (Georgia) – 4:34.73
- Cavan Gormsen (Virginia) – 4:35.36
- Julie Brousseau (Florida) – 4:35.79
- Claire Weinstein (Cal) – 4:36.66
- Hannah Bellard (Michigan) – 4:37.00
- Madi Mintenko (Virginia) – 4:37.43
Jillian Cox was 8th at the 50 in the final heat of the 500 free this morning, but the distance ace steadily fought her way into the lead and wound up clocking the top time of the morning with a 4:33.89. Cox is the defending champion in this event, and she already won the mile on Wednesday.
Tennessee continues to swim well in prelims. Ella Jansen popped a 4:34.13 this morning to take 2nd overall. That time comes in just 0.03 seconds off her season mark.
Michigan’s Hannah Bellard came in 7th this morning with a 4:37.00. With the swim, Michigan is the only team other than Virginia to have qualified a swimmer to finals in each of the first 3 events this morning.
Of note, Katie Grimes finished 11th this morning, scoring points for Virginia but failing to qualify for the final. Grimes was seeded 3rd with her season best of 4:33.78.
WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 20.37 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- American Record: 20.37 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- U.S. Open Record: 20.37 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- Championship Record: 20.37 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- 2025 NCAA Champion: Gretchen Walsh, Virginia – 20.49
- 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 21.63/21.89
TOP 8:
- Sara Curtis (Virginia) – 20.93
- Camille Spink (Tennessee) – 21.04
- Julia Dennis (Louisville) – 21.13
- Torri Huske (Stanford) – 21.14
- Eva Okaro (Texas) – 21.27
- Anna Moesch (Virginia) – 21.35
- Liberty Clark (Indiana) – 21.39
- Brady Kendall (Michigan) – 21.44
Virginia’s Sara Curtis led the way in the 50 free this morning, officially breaking 21 seconds for the first time in her career best if 20.93. With the performance, Curtis becomes the #8 performer all-time in the event, and Virginia’s 4th swimmer to go under 21 seconds, joining Gretchen Walsh, Kate Douglass, and Claire Curzan.
The Cavaliers also saw Anna Moesch take 6th this morning with a 21.35. Bryn Greenwaldt was the 1st swimmer out of finals, taking 9th this morning with a 21.50.
Camille Spink, the top seed coming into the meet, came in 2nd this morning with a 21.04. That sets her up nicely for finals, and gives Tennessee another finals swim tonight.
Outside of Curtis, there were 2 other freshmen to make this final. Texas’ Eva Okaro was 5th in 21.27, while Indiana’s Liberty Clark was 7th with a 21.39.
Michigan’s Brady Kendall came in 8th this morning with a 21.44. Kendall has been as fast as 21.09 this year and is the Big Ten record holder in the event. With the swim, Michigan joins Virginia as the only team to have at least 1 finalist in each of the 4 individual events today.
WOMEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY – TIMED FINALS (EARLY HEATS)
- NCAA Record: 3:19.58 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) (2025)
- American Record: 3:19.58 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) (2025)
- U.S. Open Record: 3:19.58 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) (2025)
- Championship Record: 3:20.20 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) (2025)
- 2025 NCAA Champion: Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) – 3:20.20
- 2025 8th/16th Times: 3:27.76/3:30.93
Early Heats Results:
- Texas – 3:24.64
- Alabama – 3:27.22
- Florida – 3:28.28
- Wisconsin – 3:29.45
- Duke – 3:29.59
- UNC – 3:30.17
- USC – 3:31.00
- Arizona – 3:31.08
- Texas A&M – 3:31.21
- Pitt – 3:31.44
- UCLA – 3:32.15
- Ohio State – 3:32.25
- LSU – 3:32.32
- Arizona State – 3:32.93
- Auburn – 3:32.96
Texas threw down in the morning relays once again. This time, the Longhorns clocked a 3:24.64 in the 400 medley relay, which will assuredly be on the podium tonight and could probably wind up being a fairly high finish. That time would have been seeded 4th. Emma Kern (51.37), Piper Enge (57.24), Campbell Stoll (50.03), and Eva Okaro (46.00) teamed up to make it happen for the Longhorns.
Alabama was also very good this morning taking 2nd overall with a 3:27.22. Emily Jones (50.94), Charlotte Rosendale (59.15), Tessa Giele (50.33), and Cadence Vincent (46.80) combined for the Bama relay.
Other notable splits from this morning include Florida’s Anita Bottazzo, who blasted a 56.10 on the breaststroke leg of the Gators’ relay.
You can contact the CSCAA (College Swimming Coaches Association) at [email protected]
They are the ones directly responsible for the decision to abandon B finals. I have written them and encourage all others to send a quick email to let them know of your disappointment in their decisions and leadership of our sport.
Anyone have any updates on Siroky’s DNF this morning? Is she okay? It shows her swimming the breast leg in the 4 medley tonight.
Are teams allowed to enter their relay teams with aggregate times at NCAAs?
Because Cal is entered with an aggregate time that seeds them 7th (3:25.76). However, their best time this season is a 3:27.15, which would have put them 10th and swimming in the morning. But… since they went with an aggregate, they get to swim tonight and Texas got bumped to 9th and had to swim in the morning. (Also, I did double-check all of Cal’s results from this year to confirm…). Also, their best possible relay that adds to 3:25.76 is Moluh-Scott-Jia-West, yet they do not have West swimming on the relay tonight.
I feel like Texas fans are not going to be happy about this…
Yes they can.
lol I never thought about that, can’t remember it coming up when all the relays were at night and timed finals
Definitely has a bigger impact now when seed time determines not just your heat but session!
Where are you seeing the relay lineups? They’re not showing up for me on meet mobile.
I’m surprised that’s not the lineup they are going with tonight. But Teagan is swimming great this meet so I’m guessing they are opting for her on the backstroke leg and Moluh on free?
The online live results
It’s Moluh-Scott-Jia-O’Dell
ohh that’s interesting. didn’t expect Teagan on free.
thank you both!
Yes, as long as an actual swim by that relay has met the A/B standard and is eligible to swim at the meet, they can be entered with an aggregate time and use whomever they choose.
It’s so interesting that someone like Zoe Skirboll doesn’t have much impact on NCAA scoring for UVA, even though she went 2:07 in the 200 breast. Just shows how deep their roster is, that would be the top time in many D1 programs.
It’s interesting with the departures of A. Walsh and G. Walsh, how everyone (mostly everyone) on the 18 for the University of Virginia Cavaliers stepped up.
It is a team meet. Just because she is an event loaded with uva swimmers, it is as important as being the lone swimmer from a team. Zoe has improved each year and first time scoring! Texas and Cal and Tenn wish they had a Zoe today
So great to see her go a PB and score for the first time in her senior year! She should be thrilled.
Is SwimSwam counting 9-16 as scoring ?
yes, I presume they are.
Another criticism is despite this being a 4 day format for individual events, the geniuses that be put the 1,650, 4IM & 500 free into the first three consecutive days. No recovery for distance specialists. Do the most grueling event on Wednesday (Wednesday night if seeded top 8), then hit 400 IM heats next morning, same at night (assuming you’re not used on any relays) & then show up punch drunk for the 500 free heats Friday morning.
They thought that scheduling for distance swimmers made the most sense?!? Pretty offensive how brain dead that design was for this meet.
Just add it to the list of problems.
I think most of us agree that most, if not, all of the changs aren’t good.
I’m curious what the decisions makers based their decisions off of. Anyone know?
The new event lineup was somehow based on what events “fans” found “exciting to watch.”
At least, that’s how I remember it being described at the CSCAA convention last year (where the sentiment was basically “we’re making changes, so you can either get on board or go somewhere else,” IMO.
This proves behind a reasonable doubt that morons, who don’t have a clue about swimming, run the NCAA.
Next season, Katie Grimes needs to dump the 1650 FR on Day 1 for the 200 BK on Day 4. In addition, with the departure of A. Canny, there is a hole to fill in the W 4 x 200 FR-R for the University of Virginia Cavaliers.
You could tighten that sentence up… This proves behind a reasonable doubt that morons run the NCAA.
To be balanced, the old format also had those events on 3 consecutive days
To think, the University of Virginia lost 135 individual points from last season with the departures of E. Kaye, M. Parker, A. Walsh, G. Walsh.
Just here to echo what’s already been said but this is by far the best commentary we’ve had for a swim meet in recent memory. Please please please bring Katie Hoff back to replace Rowdy.
To me,, Katie isn’t a good fit. Too much! Plus she never even experienced collegiate swimming and Inthink that is important. I think Kevin and or Beisel are better!