The first half of this year’s NCAA season has seen unprecedented speed across the board. With midseason invitationals kicking off tomorrow at the SIU Performance Invite, it is time to take a look at the top three swimmers in each NCAA event heading into the next few weeks.
| EVENT | Fastest | 2nd Fastest | 3rd Fastest |
| 50 free | Sara Curtis (UVA), 21.18 | Julia Dennis (LOU), 21.21 |
Camille Spink (TENN), 21.30
|
| 100 free | Anna Moesch (UVA), 46.53 | Camille Spink (TENN), 46.54 |
Eva Okaro (TEX), 47.06
|
| 200 free | Anna Moesch (UVA), 1:41.42 | Bella Sims (MICH), 1:41.43 |
Aimee Canny (UVA), 1:41.85
|
| 500 free | Kennedi Dobson (UGA), 4:33.61 | Jillian Cox (TEX), 4:33.91 |
Aimee Canny (UVA), 4:34.26
|
| 1650 free | Gena Jorgenson (NEB), 16:10.04 | Camille Henveaux (CAL), 16:30.20 |
Claire Tuggle (USC), 16:34.79
|
| 100 back | Bella Sims (MICH), 49.87 | Claire Curzan (UVA), 50.08 |
Maggie Wanezek (WISC), 50.30
|
| 200 back | Claire Curzan (UVA), 1:47.89 | Miranda Grana (IU), 1:49.85 |
Erika Pelaez (NCST), 1:50.83
|
| 100 breast | Anita Bottazzo (FLOR), 56.87 | Eneli Jefimova (NCST), 57.67 |
McKenzie Siroky (TENN), 57.78
|
| 200 breast | Lucy Bell (STAN), 2:04.76 | Eneli Jefimova (NCST), 2:07.38 |
Aimee Canny (UVA), 2:07.45
|
| 100 fly | Claire Curzan (UVA), 50.06 | Torri Huske (STAN), 51.05 |
Leah Shackley (NCST), 51.19
|
| 200 fly | Campbell Stoll (TEX), 1:52.25 | Caroline Bricker (STAN), 1:52.85 |
Lilou Ressencourt (CAL), 1:53.24
|
| 200 IM | Aimee Canny (UVA), 1:55.03 | Leah Hayes (UVA), 1:55.10 |
Torri Huske (STAN), 1:55.13
|
| 400 IM | Torri Huske (STAN), 4:04.21 |
Caroline Bricker (STAN), 4:04.30
|
Campbell Stoll (TEX), 4:04.49 |
| 200 free relay | Virginia, 1:25.77 | Louisville, 1:26.28 | Texas, 1:27.13 |
| 400 free relay | Louisville, 3:10.27 | NC State, 3:10.70 |
Tennessee, 3:11.01
|
| 800 free relay | Cal, 6:55.18 | Stanford, 6:57.69 |
Louisville, 7:04.74
|
| 200 medley relay | Virginia, 1:33.62 | Louisville, 1:34.21 |
Alabama, 1:34.59
|
| 400 medley relay | Virginia, 3:25.91 | Michigan, 3:26.82 | Florida, 3:28.67 |
The top times are faster than they were this time last year in every event except the 50 free (Gretchen Walsh — 20.84), 100 fly (Gretchen Walsh — 48.43), 200 fly (Emma Sticklen — 1:49.77), and 200 IM (Angie Coe — 1:54.33). There is also more depth on top of the increased speed, with the 3rd fastest times this season outperforming the times from last season in most of the events.
One of the top takeaways from this list is that even with the loss of a few of their top swimmers, the UVA women are not giving up the title easily. Of the 42 available spots in individual events on this list, Virginia took 11 of them to make up more than 25% of the swimmers.
For comparison, Stanford has six of the individual spots (three of which are Torri Huske), and Texas has four.
In terms of individual athletes, Virginia’s Aimee Canny made the list four times in the 200 free, 500 free, 200 breast, and 200 IM. The only event she leads the country in is the 200 IM, where her time of 1:55.03 brings her in just seven hundredths ahead of teammate Leah Hayes. She sits 3rd in the 200 free, 500 free, and 200 breast.
Stanford’s Torri Huske is tied for 2nd with three events on the list with her only top time coming in the 400 IM with the 4:04.21 she swam last weekend at the Stanford and Cal Triple Distance meet. She also sits 2nd in the 100 fly and 3rd in the 200 IM.
Claire Curzan picked up three more top swims for Virginia with her nation leading times in the 200 back (1:47.89) and 100 fly (50.06), and her 2nd place time in the 100 back (50.08).
Curzan and Virgina’s Anna Moesch are the only women to have more than one top-three time this season. Moesch leads the country in the 100 free (46.53) and the 200 free (1:41.42).
There are also a number of freshmen on the list. UVA’s Sara Curtis leads the nation in the 50 freestyle with her 21.18 while Texas’ Eva Okaro sits 3rd in the 100 free at 47.06.
Georgia freshman Kennedi Dobson has the top time in the country in the 500 freestyle with her 4:33.61 coming in three tenths faster than reigning NCAA Champion Jillian Cox in the event.
NC State’s Eneli Jefimova has also been making a huge impact on her team with her top two times in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes. This was one of NC State’s only weaknesses last year, and she is filling that gap nicely for the team.
The Wolfpack also has sophomores Erika Pelaez and Leah Shackley making appearances in the 3rd place positions in the 200 back and 100 fly respectively.
Virginia also leads three of the relays, the 200 free, 200 medley and 400 medleys with Louisville taking the top spot in the 400 free relay and Cal leading the 800 free relay.
Aimee Canny has some crazy versatility
The 50/100/200 frees are impressive.
Curzan has already been 1:47? Wow
claire tuggle mention
Claire Curran is so on in the 200 back… my prediction is that she will break her own NCAA record this year and take down Regan Smiths 200 Back American Record of 2:03.35
Katie Grimes is nowhere to be found. Todd DeSorbo better get on the horn with Ron Aitken to figure out which buttons to push.
The University of Virginia has yet to place Claire Curzan on the 4 x 100 yard freestyle relay during the 2025-2026 NCAA Season.
As usual, the University of Virginia has yet to post a time in the 4 x 200 yard freestyle relay during the 2025-2026 NCAA Season. One may have to wait until the 2026 ACC Swimming & Diving Championships.
So odd seeing so little of Stanford on this list especially relays, but then I remember it’s just now mid season 😭
NEBRASKA MENTIONED
WHAT THE HELL IS A CORNHUSKER
I mean. It’s not a complex portmanteau. Someone who husks corn.