2026 CAVALIER INVITE
- February 5th-7th, 2026
- Aquatic and Fitness Center, Charlottesville, VA
- Invite Format
- Results on Meet Mobile as “2026 Cavalier Invite”
- Day 1 Prelims Results
- Day 1 Finals Results
- Day 2 Prelims Results
- Day 2 Finals Results
- Day 3 Prelims Results
- Day 3 Final Results
It’s not totally unheard of for international athletes to deliver nationally-ranked swims in their first time racing a particular event in short-course yards, instead of meters. It’s a bit more unusual for even some of the more talented athletes to deliver a nationally relevant swim in their first time swimming a particular event in any format.
And yet, Virginia senior Aimee Canny, who hails from South Africa, did just that this morning in a 400 IM time trial. Sure, it wasn’t entirely out of left field — Canny has times strong enough to score at NCAAs in both the 500 free (4:34.26) and the 200 IM (1:54.05), so she’s demonstrated both the endurance and the skillful stroke versatility needed to do likewise in the 400 IM.
But still, the 400 IM is usually a race that feels like it should take a few attempts to nail. During this morning’s prelims time trials, however, Canny split 55.55/1:02.61/1:09.85/55.35 to post a time of 4:03.35 in her first-ever 400 IM and move to #6 nationally this season.
Canny also hit lifetime bests in the 100 free (47.79) and the 100 breast (58.30). With the new NCAA format, it looks like we could see Canny opt for a 400 IM/200 breast/200 IM lineup come March. She won the 200 free B-final at NCAAs last year, but her 400 IM time from today would’ve made the A-final last year. Both the 200 free and the 400 IM will now be part of the Day 2 lineup under the new-look championship format. Not that the details are likely to matter all that much, as the Cavaliers seem destined to run away with yet another NCAA title next month.
Tonight Canny’s 100 free time was enough to win the event against teammates Melissa Nwakalor (47.85) and Nina Jazy (47.90), as all three swimmers set new PRs in a tight finish.
Virginia continued to rack up wins in the backstroke, as Katie Grimes took the women’s 200 back in 1:51.21, moving her up to 10th nationally this season. That’s Grimes’ best time in the event since starting college competition, and the 3rd-fastest time of her career. Her personal best is a 1:50.56 from late 2023. In the 200 breaststroke, Emma Weber continued Virginia’s roll, touching first in 2:07.96, just a tenth off her season best, after pulling away on the final 50. Virginia closed out the individual events with Tess Howley winning the 200 butterfly in 1:52.53.
Leah Hayes swam the 400 IM twice today, going 4:05.21 alongside Canny in a prelims time trial and 4:05.68 in a solo evening time trial (although that appears as a 500 free in the PDF results). Heading into today, Hayes ranked 6th in the nation this season with a 4:04.01, and she’s slipped back one spot after Canny’s swim this morning. With Grimes having gone 4:03.34 at midseason, the Cavaliers have the 5th-7th ranked women in the event this season.
The William & Mary Tribe women bookended the session with victories. Lauren Tucker got the evening started with a 16:41.62 win in the 1650, winning by over six seconds. That’s a lifetime best by over 15 seconds for Tucker, whose previous best of 16:56.86 earned her a 5th-place finish at last year’s CAA Championships. Tonight’s time would’ve put her 3rd last year, and it appears to be the fastest time in the conference so far this season.
The meet concluded with William & Mary taking the women’s 400 freestyle relay in 3:29.02.
William & Mary set the tone early on the men’s side, as freshman Tyler Barritt claimed the 1650 freestyle title in 15:40.67 to come within a second of his lifetime best. Tonight’s time would’ve ranked him 6th at last year’s CAA Championships and currently stands as the 7th-fastest time in the conference this season.
After that, Virginia swimmers took the next two events, with Jack Aikins winning the 200 back in 1:41.02, about two-tenths off his season best from the CSCAA Dual Meet Challenge. Maximus Williamson won the 100 free in 42.60, 0.72s away from his midseason time.
St. Bonaventure’s Corey Su picked up a win in the 200 breaststroke, touching first in 2:11.44 to edge William & Mary’s Jackson Mueller. Virginia closed the meet with another win in the 200 butterfly, where Dillon Wright posted a 1:47.22 to secure the title ahead of Towson’s Jackson Cummins.
“Aerobic graveyard” but there are 3 swimmers under 4:05 in the 4IM before conference champs and 5 swimmers under 4:40 in the 500. Excited to see what they can do during championship season. Hoping for big things from Canny, Grimes, and Hayes.
Canny, A. – 4 x 200 FR-R, 200 FR, 200 BR, 200 IM
The remaining spot on the 4 x 100 FR-R is still up for grabs.
2/3 of those 400 IMers were recruited as sub 4:05 IMers….
true of many 400 IMers
Sims, O’Dell, Weyant, Derivaux
A. Canny making a case to get on the 4 x 100 FR-R.
Lauren Tucker’s time is actually the fastest time in the CAA this season.
Thanks, it looks like our Swimulator still has Delaware in the CAA. We’ll try to get that updated.
So what do we think their Conference and NCAA roster is going to not make the team because I believe they are only allowed 18 at both meets.
You’re correct. And…they might have a full 18 scorers at NCAAs. I’m not sure that’s ever happened before.
I think what you saw this weekend was probably swimmers fighting for the literal last spot at ACCs. As I understand, they choose straight by scoring. “How many points would your current ACC ranks score?”
also a battle for 4th legs on the 4×50 free relay and 4×100 free relay
Curtis- Moesch- Curzan plus Greenwaldt/ Jazy/ Canny/ Mintenko/ Nwakalor ???
will also be interesting who swims 4×200 free relay
Moesch, Canny, Mintenko and Gormen/Hayes/Hartman/Grimes.
C. Gormsen won’t swim the 4 x 200 FR-R if she swims the 1650 FR with the new event schedule at the NCAA DI Swimming & Diving Championships.
Day 1
1650 FR
4 x 50 M-R
4 x 200 FR-R
University of Virginia
NCAA DI Women’s Championships
Day 1
4 x 50 M-R
Curtis-Weber-Curzan-Greenwaldt
The aforementioned lineup has posted the fastest time in the NCAA this season.
4 x 200 FR-R
Canny-Mintenko-Moesch-?
The first three are a no-brainer. If C. Gormsen and K. Grimes swim the 1650 FR, forget about it.
I would hate to be the one to make the cuts.
https://www.swimcloud.com/results/351191/standards/team/73/?order=cnt_lb_1731
S. Roy definitely doesn’t make the cut.
When I look at the roster now, there are 12 Virginia swimmers currently ranked 16 or higher in at least one event nationally and 17 ranked at least 20 or higher in at least one event. I would think all those go to both ACCs and NCAAs. The next two swimmers based on national rankings are Bailey Hartman and Lana Pudar, each currently ranked 24 in one event, although Hartman has more events than Pudar and likely has the edge in the ACC where she would be the 9th seed in the 500 FR and 11th in the 200 FL while Pudar would be 10th in the 200 FL, but 18th in the 100 FL. Ficken and Christopherson are likely… Read more »
I wonder if we’re ever going to start to see transfers happen. Like, I get for some athletes, being #20 at UVa might be better than #12 at (insert other top 10 program). Maybe that’s the case for a Lana Pudar, who is really here to chase international goals. But…internationals also don’t feel the same pressure of ‘loyalty’ as Americans in the NCAA system might, so she might say “f that, I’m going to go somewhere and be a priority.”
The likes of S. Karp and M. Schalow are free to transfer out, especially since T. DeSorbo will need to comb the transfer portal for a couple of sprint breaststrokers for next season. In addition, L. Ficken hasn’t exactly panned out this season, thus no great loss if she was to leave.
I agree that transfers could be a risk and maybe DeSorbo takes some lower seeds to ACCs while others go to NCAAs. In the previous few seasons, the swimmers left home were upperclassmen with lower seeds who were unlikely to score. This year you will need to leave home a younger swimmer with a seed that may be just outside of scoring, especially after NCAA lineups are chosen and higher seeds aren’t participating in an event.
Amongst the female swimmers with two qualifying events, I would personally take Jazy, Weber, Wilson.
https://www.swimcloud.com/results/351191/standards/team/73/?order=cnt_lb_1731
That leaves one female swimmer left with two qualifying events to choose from.
I seriously doubt it. The likes of Christopherson, Ficken, Hartman, Jazy, Nwakalor, Pudar, Redman, Umstead, Wilson are currently “out of the money”. In addition, Z. Skirboll is currently sitting on the fence (100 BR). It’s more likely 12 to 14 out of the 18.
7 women under 48 this season
UVA could feasibly field a B relay that all go sub 48 (greenwaldt 8th with a flat start 48.4), which comes out to breaking 3:12
Which would’ve easily placed in the top 16 last year, are there any other teams that have been able to claim a B relay that can score at NCAAs?
Actually no. An elite foreign swimmer spends 1/2 the year training and swimming SCM short course meters. Just because they don’t swim yards it doesn’t mean they don’t swim short course. It’s not a big adjustment either, ask most major Masters club who rotate distances day to day every week
Revision (2/7/2026):
2026 NCAA DI Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships
University of Virginia (conservative estimations)
Day 1 (79 points)
5 + 40 + 34
Day 2 (146 points)
17 + 14 + 4 + 14 + 13 + 17 + 12 + 11 + 4 + 40
Day 3 (136 points)
20 + 15 + 4 + 9 + 7 + 6 + 17 + 13 + 5 + 40
Day 4 (134 points)
14 + 13 + 17 + 13 + 17 + 20 + 6 + 34
Total: 495 points
Notes:
K. Grimes opts out of the 1650 FR on Day 1 for the 200 BK on Day 4.
Katie Grimes may need to match her personal best time in the 200 BK just to qualify for the Championship Final at the 2026 NCAA DI Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships.