2026 Women’s Big Ten Championships: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2026 WOMEN’S BIG TEN SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Dates: Wednesday, February 18–Saturday, February 21
• Location: Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Defending champions: Ohio State women (1x)
• Live Results (also available on Meet Mobile: “2026 B1G Women’s Swim & Dive Championships”)
• Live Video ($): B1G+
• Championship Central
• SwimSwam’s Meet Preview
• Teams: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, Wisconsin
• SwimSwam Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
  • Finals: Day 1 Relays | Day 2 | Day 3

SATURDAY FINALS HEAT SHEET

Here we are – the final session of the 2026 Women’s Big Ten Championships. It’s been a phenomenal week of racing at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center, and we’re excited to finish this meet out with a bang.

The session will kick off with the 200 IM, where UCLA’s Rosie Murphy led the field this morning with a 1:54.25, and will be trying to become the Bruins’ first Big Ten champion. She has her work cut out for her in tonight’s final, however, as she will be facing down Michigan’s Bella Sims, the 400 IM champion from a few days ago.

In the 100 free, IU freshman standout Liberty Clark will be going up against Michigan senior Brady Kendall. Clark had the fastest time of the morning, a 46.57, but Kendall won the 50 free last night in a new Big Ten conference record of 21.07.

The middle of the pool in the fastest heat of the 1650 free will feature a pair of Ohio State Buckeyes. Emma Finlin leads the way with a season best of 15:55.09, while teammate Mila Nikanorov is close behind with a 15:57.83.

The 200 fly should be another terrific race, as Indiana freshman Alex Shackell will be going up against Michigan junior Hannah Bellard. Shackell, the 100 fly champion, had the fastest time of the morning, a 1:52.48. Bellard, the 500 free champion from last night and the runner-up in the 200 IM, was 2nd this morning in 1:52.73. Both swimmers have been dropping considerably from prelims to finals this week, so we should be in for a show tonight in this race.

The final individual race of the meet will be the 200 back, where Wisconsin sophomore Maggie Wanezek dominated in prelims this morning with a 1:48.94.

WOMEN’S 200-YARD IM – FINALS

• NCAA Record – 1:48.37, Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
• Big Ten Record – 1:50.79, Beata Nelson, Wisconsin (2019)
• Big Ten Meet Record – 1:51.66, Beata Nelson, Wisconsin (2020)
• 2025 NCAA Invited Time – 1:56.69

TOP 8:

1. Bella Sims (Michigan) – 1:52.81
2. Rosie Murphy (UCLA) – 1:54.04
3. Letitia Sim (Michigan) – 1:54.39
4. Devon Kitchel (Michigan) – 1:56.44
5. Ashley McMillan (USC) – 1:56.52
6. Macky Hodges (IU) – 1:56.96
7. Justina Kozan (USC) – 1:57.18
8. Reese Tiltmann (IU) – 1:57.94

Bella Sims earned her 2nd individual Big Ten title of the week, clocking a 1:52.81 to win the 200 IM. That swim marks a season best for the junior by nearly 2 seconds, though she was a little less than a second off her career best of 1:51.86, which she swam at the 2024 SEC Championships.

Sims swam a great race, getting out to a 24.06 on fly, then splitting 26.95 on back, for a very quick 51.01 on the opening 100. She then posted a 34.80 breast split before coming home in 27.00 on the final 50. On top of the title, Sims becomes the first Michigan swimmer to sweep the IM’s at the Women’s Big Ten Championships since 2005.

UCLA’s Rosie Murphy had a huge swim for 2nd, clocking a new career best of 1:54.04 for 2nd. That performance marks a new career best for Murphy, taking a bit off the 1:54.25 she swam in prelims. Her swim tonight marks a new UCLA program record.

Outside of Sims, this was a great event for Michigan. Letitia Sim took 3rd with a 1:54.39, marking a career best for her. Sim was the champion in both the 100 and 200 breast, where she also posted career bests. Behind her, Devon Kitchel came in 4th with a 1:56.44.

Wisconsin sophomore Stella Chapman won the ‘B’ final in 1:56.90, marking a new career best by over a second. Chapman also won the ‘B’ final of the 200 breast last night.

WOMEN’S 1650 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS

• NCAA Record – 15:03.31 — Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
• Big Ten Record – 15:36.27 – Ally McHugh, Penn State (2018)
• Big Ten Meet Record – 15:43.17, Molly Kowal, Ohio State (2020)
• 2025 NCAA Invited Time – 16:09.37

TOP 8:

1. Gena Jorgenson (Nebraska) – 15:45.36
2. Mila Nikanorov (Ohio State) – 15:46.19
3. Emma Finlin (Ohio State) – 15:49.51
4. Adair Shaw (Ohio State) – 16:04.64
5. Katie McCarthy (Minnesota) – 16:05.46
6. Zoe Nordmann (Northwestern) – 16:06.23
7. Marian Ploeger (Michigan) – 16:10.68
8. Maddie Waggoner (Wisconsin) – 16:12.46

In a thrilling race, Nebraska’s Gena Jorgenson won the 1650 free tonight in 15:45.36. That performance marks a new career best by nearly 5 seconds, as well as a new Nebraska program record.

Jorgenson was locked in a race with Ohio State’s Mila Nikanorov, who came in 2nd with a 15:46.19. Nikanorov was leading Jorgenson at the 500, 4:47.31 to Jorgenson’s 4:48.30. Jorgenson overtook the lead on the 2nd 500 of the race, flipping at the 1000 in 9:37.02, compared to Nikanorov’s 9:37.89. They stayed within a second of each other the rest of the way. Nikanorov’s performance marks a new career best for her.

This was an exceptional event for Ohio State, with Emma Finlin taking 3rd in 15:49.51. That swim is a new personal best for Finlin as well. The Buckeyes also saw Adair Shaw come in 4th with a 16:04.64, yet another personal best.

WOMEN’S 100-YARD FREESTYLE – FINALS

• NCAA Record – 44.71, Gretchen Walsh, UVA (2025)
• Big Ten Record – 46.02, Maggie MacNeil, Michigan (2021)
• Big Ten Meet Record – 46.57, Maggie MacNeil, Michigan (2020)*TIED
• 2025 NCAA Invited Time – 48.11

TOP 8:

1. Liberty Clark (IU) – 46.22 (CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD)
2. Rachel Bockrath (Ohio State) – 47.01
3. Stephanie Balduccini (Michigan) – 47.20
4. Nicole Maier (USC) – 47.83
5. Grace Hoeper (IU) – 47.90
6. Brady Kendall (Michigan) – 47.99
7. Kristina Paegle (IU) – 48.05
8. Lindsay Ervin (Northwestern) – 48.28

Indiana’s Liberty Clark won the 100 free in a new Big Ten Championship record of 46.22. On top of the meet record, the performance also marks a new Indiana program record. It was a terrific race for Clark, who was out in 22.17 on the opening 50, then came home in 24.05. The swim marks Clark’s 2nd Big Ten title in her young career.

Indiana’s Grace Hoeper, also a freshman, had a huge swim for 5th. Hoeper clocked a 47.90, marking her first time under 48 seconds in the event. IU also saw Kristina Paegle take 7th with a 48.05.

Ohio State’s Rachel Bockrath had a big performance tonight, coming in 2nd with a 47.01. That swim marks a new career best for Bockrath.

Michigan’s Stephanie Balduccini came in 3rd with a 47.20, marking a big improvement on her prelims swim of 48.04. Balduccini has a career best of 46.98, which is also her season best, as it was swum back in November. Fellow Wolverine Brady Kendall came in 6th with a 47.99. Kendall was the 50 free champion from last night, where she set a new Big Ten record.

WOMEN’S 200-YARD BUTTERFLY – FINALS

• NCAA Record – 1:49.11, Emma Sticklen, Texas (2025)
• Big Ten Record – 1:50.72, Hannah Bellard, Michigan (2026)
• Big Ten Meet Record – 1:51.83, Olivia Carter, Michigan (2022)
• 2025 NCAA Invited Time – 1:55.82

TOP 8:

1. Hannah Bellard (Michigan) – 1:50.34 (BIG TEN RECORD)
2. Alex Shackell (IU) – 1:50.71
3. Lucie Delmas (Wisconsin) – 1:54.07
4. Rachel Conley (Minnesota) – 1:55.98
5. Montse Spielmann (Michigan) – 1:56.34
6. Sage Miller (USC) – 1:56.58
7. Katie Forrester (IU) – 1:57.87
8. Keira Kask (Purdue) – 1:59.27

Michigan has downed yet another conference record this week, this time at the hands of junior Hannah Bellard. In a tight race with Indiana freshman Alex Shackell, Bellard clocked a 1:50.34, breaking her own conference record of 1:50.72.

It was a great race between Bellard and Shackell. The latter took the race out a tick faster, splitting 24.69 on the opening 50, compared to Bellard’s 24.79. Shackell expanded that lead slightly on the 2nd 50, hitting the 100 turn in 52.70, just ahead of Bellard’s 52.92. Bellard then chipped into Shackell’s lead on the 3rd 50, splitting 28.57 to Shackell’s 28.70. With a slight lead at the 150, Shackell just wasn’t quite able to hold on for the win, splitting 29.31 on the final 50, while Bellard clocked a 28.85.

Wisconsin’ Lucie Delmas had a great swim, taking 3rd in 1:54.07. That performance marks a new career best for the freshman.

In addition to Bellard’s win, Michigan also saw freshman Montse Speilmann came in 5th with a 1:56.34. Spielmann’s swim marks a new career best.

WOMEN’S 200-YARD BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• NCAA Record – 1:46.82, Claire Curzan, UVA (2025)
• Big Ten Record – 1:47.24, Beata Nelson, Wisconsin (2019)
• Big Ten Meet Record – 1:48.47, Beata Nelson, Wisconsin (2019)
• 2025 NCAA Invited Time – 1:53.31

TOP 8:

1. Maggie Wanezek (Wisconsin) – 1:48.31 (CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD)
2. Rosie Murphy (UCLA) – 1:51.52
3. Macky Hodges (IU) – 1:52.74
4. Lindsay Barnes (USC) – 1:52.95
5. Dora Molnar (USC) – 1:53.21
6. Mya DeWitt (IU) – 1:53.90
7. Milla Drakopoulos (Michigan) – 1:53.98
8. Miranda Grana (IU) – 1:55.18

Wisconsin sophomore Maggie Wanezek cracked the Big Ten Championship record in the 200 back tonight, swimming a 1:48.31. Her performance also marks a new career best, clipping her previous mark of 1:48.39, which was set back at the Texas Hall of Fame Invite in November.

Wanezek was in the lead from the jump, getting out to a 52.58 on the opening 100, which led the field by over 1.5 seconds.

Following her 2nd place finish in the 200 IM at the start of the session, UCLA’s Rosie Murphy notched another runner-up finish, swimming a 1:51.52. That swim marks a new career best for Murphy.

Indiana had 3 swimmers in this ‘A’ final, led by Macky Hodges, who came in 3rd with a 1:52.74. Mya DeWitt was 6th in 1:53.90, while Miranda Grana came in 8th with a 1:55.18. Of note, Grana’s career best in the 200 back is 1:48.73.

WOMEN’S PLATFORM DIVING – FINALS

TOP 8:

1. Viviana Del Angel Peniche (Minnesota) – 334.50
2. Daryn Wright (Purdue) – 328.80
3. Eden Chen (UCLA) – 323.65
4. Kate Miller (USC) – 292.40
5. Ella Roselli (IU) – 278.60
6. Sephora Ford (Rutgers) – 256.90
7. Lena Hentschel (Ohio State) – 251.45
8. Mary Cavanaugh (IU) – 240.55

Minnesota earned their 2nd diving title of the meet, seeing Viviana Del Angel Peniche win platform tonight with a score of 334.50. She finished 5.70 points ahead of Purdue’s Daryn Wright (328.80).

UCLA’s Eden Cheng rounded out the top 3. All 3 of the top finishers are seniors, which is noteworthy.

Following diving, we are heading into the final event of the meet. Michigan has locked up the Big Ten title, while Indiana and Ohio State are in a battle for 2nd.

WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE RELAY – TIMED FINALS

• NCAA Record – 3:05.84 — Virginia (Douglass, A. Walsh, Parker, G. Walsh) (2023)
• Big Ten Record – 3:08.07 – Michigan (MacNeil, Haughey, DeLoof, Pyshnenko) (2019)
• Big Ten Meet Record – 3:08.89 – Michigan (Balduccini, Kendall, Newman, Flynn) (2025)

RESULTS:

1. Indiana (Shackell, Clark, Paegle, Hoeper) – 3:07.72 (BIG TEN RECORD)
2. Michigan (Greenhawt, Sims, Kendall, Balduccini) – 3:07.90
3. Ohio State (Bockrath, Angove, Little, LeBlanc) – 3:12.61
4. UCLA (Yovanovich, Duncan, Schaffer, Wetteland) – 3:13.02
5. Northwestern (Ervin, Nikonova, Smith, Pan) – 3:16.11
6. Minnesota (Wanner, Kaljevic, Thomas, Yablonski) – 3:16.38
7. Nebraska (Marchi, Miklos, Jorgenson, Tanko) – 3:17.16
8. Wisconsin (Wanezek, Tierney, Stoneburg, Zelen) – 3:17.55
9. Purdue (Phipps, Hurley, Rojas, Hill) – 3:17.65
10. Iowa (Flowers, Olen, Dildine, Kerr) – 3:17.94
11. USC (Molnar, Fox, Miller, Maier) – 3:18.18
12. Penn State (Markvardt, Ketter, Robinson, Cohen) – 3:18.36
13. Rutgers (Vlachou, Gonzalez, Hazlehurst, Alberti) – 3:20.94
14. Illinois (Cibulkova, Adler, Yousuf, Jass) – 3:22.01

The Big Ten Championships ended with maybe the best race of the night, as Indiana and Michigan went head-to-head in the 400 free relay. Indiana wound up winning the race in 3:07.72, establishing a new Big Ten Conference record in the process, while Michigan’s time of 3:07.90 was also under the previous Big Ten record.

Alex Shackell got Indiana out to a lead over Michigan with a 47.74, who put them just ahead, as Michigan’s Lexi Greenhawt was 47.97 on the lead-off leg. Liberty Clark then came up with a heroic 45.78 split on the 2nd leg, which blew the race open. Bella Sims went 2nd for Michigan, splitting a 46.41, which put the Wolverines into the halfway mark nearly a full second behind the Hoosiers. Michigan would then eat into Indiana’s lead on the back half, seeing Brady Kendall and Stephanie Balduccini go 46.71 and 46.81 respectively, while Kristina Paegle and Grace Hoeper completed the Indiana relay with splits of 47.03 and 47.17 respectively.

Michigan’s time also marks a new program record. With their times so close together, it seems highly likely that we’ll get to see Indiana and Michigan go head-to-head again at the NCAA Championships next month.

Ohio State came in 3rd with a 3:12.61. Rachel Bockrath (47.62), Sienna Angove (48.56), Erin Little (48.59), and Kk LeBlanc (47.84) combined to make that relay.