The Stage is Set: 8 Swimmers Go Under :23 in Prelims of 50 FR at MAC Championships

2026 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships – Women

• Dates: Wednesday, February 25–Saturday, February 28
• Location: Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium, Akron, OH
• Defending Champions: Akron women (4x)
• Live Results – Meet Mobile
• Live Video: ESPN+
• Championship Central
• SwimSwam Fan Guide
• Teams: Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Miami-OH (women), Ohio, Toledo, UMass
• MAC Record Book
  
• Day 1 Results
• Day 1 Recap

Team Standings Thru Day 1

1. Akron – 80
2. Buffalo – 64
3. Ohio – 62
4. Ball State – 60
5. Eastern Michigan/Miami – 54
6. –
7. Massachusetts – 48
8. Toledo – 28
9. Bowling Green – 22

The Women’s MAC Championship is living up the hype so far. After some excellent relays last night, the 50 free lived up to the hype this morning in prelims. One of the most anticipated events for this meet, it took going under 23 seconds to make it back for the ‘A’ final tonight. Here are the results:

Women’s 50 Free – Prelims

1. Payton Kelly (Ball State) – 22.23
2. Adrianna Szwabinska (Akron) – 22.28
3. Callie Parkes (Akron) – 22.29
4. Zita Szoke (Ohio) – 22.43
5. Anna Keen (Ball State) – 22.64
6. Natalie Gibson (Miami) – 22.84
7. Julia Waechter (Miami) – 22.94
8. Tori Wittenberg (Ohio) – 22.98

Kelly, a senior at Ball State, tied her career best with her swim this morning. She was also, notably, under the NCAA qualifying time of 22.28. A reminder that swimmers who win their conference meet and go under the NCAA qualifying time automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships next month.

Of note, Adrianna Szwabinska tied the NCAA qualifying time this morning, and Akron teammate Callie Parkes was 3rd with a 22.29, just 0.01 seconds off the mark. The point being whoever wins this race will very likely be under the NCAA qualifying time, and therefore, punch their ticket to NCAAs.

Also of note, the conference record and championship records are both 22.04. The top swimmers from this morning are very much in striking distance of that record, so we could see it go down.