2026 8A NCHSAA State Championships
- February 13-14, 2026
- Cary, N.C.
- Triangle Aquatic Center
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results on Meet Mobile: “2026 8A State NCHSAA Championships”
Green Hope High School freshman and TAC Titans product Finola Whelehan had a historic performance in the 200 freestyle at the NCHSAA 8A State Championships on Saturday, breaking a 16-year-old National Age Group Record held by Missy Franklin.
Whelehan, 14, put up a time of 1:44.25 in the 200 free, breaking Franklin’s NAG Record of 1:44.55 set at the 2010 Speedo Champions Series – Western Region meet in Federal Way.
Whelehan’s swim chopped 1.62 seconds off her personal best of 1:45.87, set this past November at the TAC Titans Big Southern Classic.
Split Comparison
| Franklin, Old NAG Record | Whelehan, Old PB | Whelehan, New NAG Record |
| 24.36 | 25.11 | 24.63 |
| 50.71 (26.35) | 52.03 (26.92) | 50.83 (26.20) |
| 1:17.87 (27.16) | 1:18.94 (26.91) | 1:17.45 (26.62) |
| 1:44.55 (26.68) | 1:45.87 (26.93) | 1:44.25 (26.80) |
Whelehan is just the third 14-and-under female swimmer to break 1:45 in the 200 free, joining Franklin and Claire Tuggle (1:44.96).
All-Time Performers, 13-14 Girls’ 200 Freestyle (SCY)
- Finola Whelehan (Greenhope High School/TAC Titans), 1:44.25 – 2026
- Missy Franklin (Colorado Stars), 1:44.55 – 2010
- Claire Tuggle (Clovis Swim Club), 1:44.96 – 2018
- Rylee Erisman (Laker Swim), 1:45.28 – 2023
- Justina Kozan (Brea Aquatics), 1:45.77 – 2018
Whelehan also set new personal bests in the 50 free (23.27) and 100 free (49.70) leading off Green Hope’s 200 and 400 free relays at the meet, with her performance in the 100 free slotting her into 41st all-time in the 13-14 age group.
She added a runner-up finish in the 100 back (54.07) individually to help Green Hope to a runner-up finish at the meet, with Myers Park winning its fifth straight title.
Whelehan’s older sister, Tennessee commit Sloane Whelehan, won the MVP and High Point Award after claiming wins in the 50 free (22.85) and 100 free (49.42) while contributing to the team’s victorious 400 free and runner-up 200 free relays. The junior’s swim in the 100 free tied her personal best time, while in the 50 free, she was just four one-hundredths off.
A 14 year-old girl popping 49 in the 100 free and that not being considered their best race of the meet is absolutely crazy. 1:44 blows my mind, looking forward to seeing what this prodigy has in store for the future.
She’s now the 3rd Whelehan sister to win the 200 free at NCHSAA States – Mere Whelehan won in 2023 and 2024 and Sloane in 2025. Extends the title staying in the family another year. Hard to see it going anywhere else for the foreseeable future.
Oh yes- swam in the TAC pool with a moveable bulkhead lol
I’ve been thinking her name was Fiona for months
thats fast
very rare to see somebody come home faster than Missy Franklin (especially back then!) great swim
That’s .5 faster than what D3’s Kaley McIntyre just did at UAAs
1:44 for a 14 year old is insane. She’ll definitely be one to watch in the next few years
swimflation cannot be more real.