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2026 Automatic Qualifier Updates: Men Nearly Catch Women With 13 AQs on Thursday

Comments: 12
by Madeline Folsom 12

February 26th, 2026 College, News

The men were on fire in college swimming on Thursday night, picking up 13 automatic qualifiers via conference title. They more than tripled the women’s four qualifiers from Thursday, and they increased their overall total to 62 swimmers. They now sit just one athlete behind the women’s total of 63.

These numbers were always going to become more equal, since last weekend saw the women’s Big Ten and Ivy League meets, while this weekend is balancing things out with the men’s Big Ten and Ivy League meets.

The men also had more mid-major qualifiers on Thursday with UNC-Wilmington’s William Carrico earning an AQ spot for his event win in the 200 IM at the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) meet. He swam 1:42.09 to drop more than two seconds from his previous best 1:44.69 and come in more than two seconds under the cut of 1:44.13.

The MPSF Championships saw qualifiers in all three men’s events on night one of racing. Wyoming earned two spots with Alex Metzler winning the 500 free in 4:16.20, almost two seconds under the cut of 4:18.07, and Jackson Kogler winning the 200 IM in 1:43.70.

Bryson Huey was the final individual event qualifier from the MPSF on Thursday, swimming 19.20 in the 50 freestyle to come in more than two tenths under the 19.43 qualifying standard.

Finally, the men’s Ivy League Championships also saw individual qualifiers in all three of their individual events. Noah Millard won the 500 free in 4:10.19. Mitchell Schott swam 1:40.93 in the 200 IM, and Nicholas Finch swam 18.82 in the 50 free.

On the women’s side, the Mid-American Conference (MAC) saw two Auto Qualifiers. First they had Felicia Klintemar in the women’s 200 IM. She touched in 1:57.52 to just squeak under the qualifying standard of 1:57.88.

The MAC also lived up to the hype in the women’s 50 freestyle with the top four finishers all swimming under the qualifying standard. Ultimately, Ball State’s Payton Kelly came out on top with her new MAC record time of 21.88.

**As a reminder. Athletes are added under the first event they earn an NCAA qualification in. Once in the meet, they only count as one athlete regardless of how many AQs they pick up. Some swimmers might have faster times in other events that come in under the invite time, but every swimmer will be listed under their first event. 

This list is compiled by hand, so there might be mistakes. Let us know in the comments if you think we missed anyone

New Women’s Qualifiers

Swimmer Name School Conference Event Time 2025 Invite Time
1 Felicia Klintemar Akron MAC MM 200 IM 1:57.52 1:56.69
2 Payton Kelly Ball State MAC MM 50 Free 21.88 22.01
3 Julia Ullmann ASU Big 12 100 Fly 51.97 51.87
4 Alexa Reyna ASU Big 12 400 IM 4:09.22 4:09.53

New Men’s Qualifiers

Swimmer Name School Conference Event Time 2025 Invite Time
1 William Carrico UNC Wilmington CAA MM 200 IM 1:42.09 1:42.65
2 Nicholas Finch Yale Ivy MM 50 Free 18.82 19.02
3 Noah Millard Yale Ivy MM 500 Free 4:10.19 4:14.13
4 Mitchell Schott Princeton Ivy MM 200 IM 1:40.93 1:42.65
5 Bryson Huey UNLV MPSF MM 50 Free 19.20 19.02
6 Alex Metzler Wyoming MPSF MM 500 Free 4:16.20 4:14.13
7 Jackson Kogler Wyoming MPSF MM 200 IM 1:43.70 1:42.65
8 Remi Fabiani ASU Big 12 200 Free 1:31.24 1:32.27
9 Tanner Nelson BYU Big 12 400 IM 3:44.46 3:41.61
10 Tomas Navikonis Ohio State Big Ten 200 Free 1:31.32 1:32.27
11 Luka Mladenovic Michigan Big Ten 100 Breast 50.69 51.58
12 Tyler Ray Michigan Big Ten 100 Fly 43.83 45.12
13 Josh Bey Indiana Big Ten 400 IM 3:34.90 3:41.61

All Women’s Qualifiers As of 2/26

Swimmer Name School Conference Event Time 2025 Invite Time
1 Sara Curtis Virginia ACC 50 Free 21.09 22.01
2 Brady Kendall Michigan Big Ten 50 Free 21.09 22.01
3 Albane Cachot ASU Big 12 50 Free 21.80 22.01
4 Darcy Revitt Washington State Mountain West 50 Free 21.84 22.01
5 Payton Kelly Ball State MAC 50 Free 21.88 22.01
6 Sabrina Johnston Princeton Ivy 50 Free 22.07 22.01
7 Ashley Gutshall UMBC America East 50 Free 22.25 22.01
8 Aly Bozzuto Liberty American 50 Free 22.26 22.01
9 Holly Nelson Hawaii Big West 50 Free 22.28 22.01
10 Anna Moesch Virginia ACC 200 Free 1:39.72 1:44.74
11 Liberty Clark Indiana Big Ten 200 Free 1:40.84 1:44.74
12 Camille Spink Tennessee SEC 200 Free 1:41.71 1:44.74
13 Morgan Lukinac Brown Ivy 200 Free 1:44.20 1:44.74
14 Tara Joyce Wyoming Mountain West 200 Free 1:44.43 1:44.74
15 Asia Kozan UC San Diego Big West 200 Free 1:45.52 1:44.74
16 Katie Grimes Virginia ACC 500 Free 4:33.78 4:39.47
17 Hannah Bellard Michigan Big Ten 500 Free 4:34.60 4:39.47
18 Alexandra Bastone Harvard Ivy 500 Free 4:40.94 4:39.47
19 Deniz Ertan ASU Big 12 500 Free 4:41.34 4:39.47
20 Molly Webber Army Patriot League 500 Free 4:42.07 4:39.47
21 Ava Portello Rice American 500 Free 4:42.67 4:39.47
22 Ava Olson UNLV Mountain West 500 Free 4:43.08 4:39.47
23 Jillian Cox Texas SEC 1650 Free 15:32.75 16:09.37
24 Gena Jorgenson Nebraska Big Ten 1650 Free 15:45.36 16:09.37
25 Sydney Bergstrom Penn Ivy 1650 Free 16:02.63 16:09.37
26 Macey Hansen Wyoming Mountain West 1650 Free 16:16.41 16:09.37
27 Ava Topolewski George Washington A-10 1650 Free 16:23.28 16:09.37
28 Claire Curzan UVA ACC 100 Back 48.38 51.68
29 Maggie Wanezek Wisconsin Big Ten 100 Back 49.72 51.68
30 Jillian Crooks Tennessee SEC 100 Back 50.50 51.68
31 Anya Mostek Harvard Ivy 100 Back 51.31 51.68
32 Catie Choate Florida SEC 200 Back 1:49.94 1:53.31
33 Tess Whineray Colorado State Mountain West 200 Back 1:52.82 1:53.31
34 Eneli Jefimova NC State ACC 100 Breast 56.77 59.51
35 Anita Bottazzo Florida SEC 100 Breast 57.11 59.51
36 Letitia Sim Michigan Big Ten 100 Breast 57.90 59.51
37 Mackenzie Lung Fresno State Mountain West 100 Breast 58.17 59.51
38 Chloe Braun UC San Diego Big West 100 Breast 58.95 59.51
39 Lauren Walsh Navy Patriot League 100 Breast 59.78 59.51
40 Catriona Gilmore Army Patriot League 200 Breast 2:10.28 2:09.58
41 Alex Shackell Indiana Big Ten 100 Fly 49.95 51.87
42 Scarlet Ferris Nevada Mountain West 100 Fly 51.34 51.87
43 Angie McKane Army Patriot League 100 Fly 51.34 51.87
44 Kamry Cannings Liberty American 100 Fly 51.77 51.87
45 Victoria Novinskiy Delaware ASUN 100 Fly 51.92 51.87
46 Sydney Lu Harvard Ivy 100 Fly 51.97 51.87
47 Julia Ullmann ASU Big 12 100 Fly 51.97 51.87
48 Campbell Stoll Texas SEC 200 Fly 1:50.60 1:55.82
49 Mia West Cal ACC 200 Fly 1:51.52 1:55.82
50 Samantha Banos UCSB Big West 200 Fly 1:56.44 1:55.82
51 Rach Winnington UNLV Mountain West 200 Fly 1:57.08 1:55.82
52 Torri Huske Stanford ACC 200 IM 1:51.27 1:56.69
53 Angie Coe Texas SEC 200 IM 1:53.90 1:56.69
54 Eleanor Sun Princeton Ivy 200 IM 1:55.62 1:56.69
55 Sonia Vaishnani ASU Big 12 200 IM 1:57.16 1:56.69
56 Eva Boehlke UC San Diego Big West 200 IM 1:57.43 1:56.69
57 Felicia Klintemar Akron MAC 200 IM 1:57.52 1:56.69
58 Lucy Bell Stanford ACC 400 IM 3:59.11 4:09.53
59 Bella Sims Michigan Big Ten 400 IM 4:00.57 4:09.53
60 Ella Jansen Tennessee SEC 400 IM 4:01.97 4:09.53
61 Alexa Reyna ASU Big 12 400 IM 4:09.22 4:09.53
62 Moji Pholjamjumrus Nevada Mountain West 400 IM 4:11.07 4:09.53
63 Reese Cole Rice American 400 IM 4:12.61 4:09.53

All Men’s Qualifiers As of 2/26

Swimmer Name School Conference Event Time 2025 Invite Time
1 Ilya Kharun ASU Big 12 50 Free 18.46 19.02
2 Quintin McCarty NC State ACC 50 Free 18.63 19.02
3 Nicholas Finch Yale Ivy 50 Free 18.82 19.02
4 Yassin Abdelghany IU Indy Horizon League 50 Free 18.91 19.02
5 Karol Ostrowski Hawaii Big West 50 Free 19.13 19.02
6 Nicholas Rounds USD Summit League 50 Free 19.15 19.02
7 Felix Jedbratt La Salle A-10 50 Free 19.18 19.02
8 Bryson Huey UNLV MPSF 50 Free 19.20 19.02
9 Owen Watkins Georgetown Big East 50 Free 19.21 19.02
10 Ben Denman-Grimm Navy Patriot League 50 Free 19.28 19.02
11 Daniel Laureyssens FAU ASUN 50 Free 19.43 19.02
12 Jere Hribar LSU SEC 100 Free 40.42 41.95
13 Brendan Whitfield Virginia Tech ACC 100 Free 40.93 41.95
14 Carter Perkins La Salle A-10 100 Free 42.37 41.95
15 Henry McFadden Stanford ACC 200 Free 1:31.05 1:32.27
16 Remi Fabiani ASU Big 12 200 Free 1:31.24 1:32.27
17 Tomas Navikonis Ohio State Big Ten 200 Free 1:31.32 1:32.27
18 Camden Taylor Texas SEC 200 Free 1:31.53 1:32.27
19 Dylan Felt Davidson A-10 200 Free 1:33.46 1:32.27
20 Rex Maurer Texas SEC 500 Free 4:08.46 4:14.13
21 Max Carlsen NC State ACC 500 Free 4:09.44 4:14.13
22 Noah Millard Yale Ivy 500 Free 4:10.19 4:14.13
23 Nick Chirafisi Utah Big 12 500 Free 4:13.48 4:14.13
24 Alexander Metzler Wyoming MPSF 500 Free 4:16.20 4:14.13
25 Dean Jones Navy Patriot League 500 Free 4:16.73 4:14.13
26 Ahmed Jaouadi Florida SEC 1650 Free 14:25.14 14:48.80
27 Chase Maier Navy Patriot League 1650 Free 14:54.68 14:48.80
28 Alexander Parkinson USD Summit League 1650 Free 15:04.40 14:48.80
29 Hubert Kos Texas SEC 100 Back 43.86 45.26
30 Evan Petty Cal ACC 100 Back 44.21 45.26
31 Johnny Crush Army Patriot League 100 Back 44.80 45.26
32 Sam Lorenz Wisconsin- Milwaukee Horizon League 100 Back 45.81 45.26
33 Kade Snyder Delaware ASUN 100 Back 46.00 45.26
34 Holden Thomas George Washington A-10 100 Back 46.24 45.26
35 Jonny Marshall Florida SEC 200 Back 1:36.38 1:40.13
36 David King Virginia ACC 200 Back 1:38.14 1:40.13
37 Nate Germonprez Texas SEC 100 Breast 49.92 51.58
38 Yamato Okadome Cal ACC 100 Breast 50.32 51.58
39 Luka Mladenovic Michigan Big Ten 100 Breast 50.69 51.58
40 Matevi Namakonov Delaware ASUN 100 Breast 51.51 51.58
41 Kohen Rankin Army Patriot League 100 Breast 51.69 51.58
42 Chris Palvadre Oakland Horizon League 100 Breast 52.20 51.58
43 Logan Kelly IU Iny Horizon League 200 Breast 1:52.21 1:52.89
44 Michael Phillips Navy Patriot League 200 Breast 1:52.82 1:52.89
45 Carter Dooling Grand Canyon Big West 200 Breast 1:54.56 1:52.89
46 Josh Liendo Florida SEC 100 Fly 43.06 45.12
47 Tyler Ray Michigan Big Ten 100 Fly 43.83 45.12
48 Aiden Hayes NC State ACC 100 Fly 44.07 45.12
49 Vili Sivec CSUB Big West 100 Fly 45.91 45.12
50 Ben Irwin Navy Patriot League 100 Fly 46.11 45.12
51 Luca Urlando Georgia SEC 200 Fly 1:38.46 1:41.45
52 Logan Robinson Florida State ACC 200 Fly 1:38.78 1:41.45
53 Arsenio Bustos NC State ACC 200 IM 1:40.39 1:42.65
54 Mitchel Schott Princeton Ivy 200 IM 1:40.93 1:42.65
55 William Carrico UNC Wilmington CAA 200 IM 1:42.09 1:42.65
56 Jackson Kogler Wyoming MPSF 200 IM 1:43.70 1:42.65
57 Evan VanBrocklin Utah Big 12 200 IM 1:43.80 1:42.65
58 Tom Thalau Hawaii Big West 200 IM 1:43.93 1:42.65
59 Josh Bey Indiana Big Ten 400 IM 3:34.90 3:41.61
60 Baylor Nelson Texas SEC 400 IM 3:35.75 3:41.61
61 Josh Zuchowski Stanford ACC 400 IM 3:38.58 3:41.61
62 Tanner Nelson BYU Big 12 400 IM 3:44.46 3:41.61

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Big Ten Fan
3 months ago

Here’s my question. When swimmers win multiple events, below whatever the cut is now, but don’t make the cut line in those two (or three) events, which event are they listed in? Like which event do they bump faster people out of? Like, are they bumplng swimmers in all of them, or just in one event? In the SwimSwam list, they are all listed under their first event. But that can’t mean there are going to be a bunch in 50 free and hardly any in 100 free because one is one day one of individuals and one is on day four of individuals.

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Lori
Reply to  Big Ten Fan
3 months ago

Agree, same question here. If those with multiple AQ are going to be listed above the cutline/invited in ALL their AQ swims, then it would be helpful to see a full list by event, with duplicates, to see the impact by event.

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NJ Cav
Reply to  Big Ten Fan
3 months ago

It’s complicated. Each event has separate rankings. All events must be filled evenly one swimmer at a time until the total participant cap is reached (each swimmer and diver counts only one time). For the last row, if each event cannot be filled, there is a tiebreaker used to determine the order of the final events. Then there will be an ordered list of alternates.

Using the women’s championship as an example (the men work the same way but have a different participant cap), the women will release the pre-selection psych sheets next week. Prior to this release, schools may enter no more than 18 total swimmers and swimmers are limited to seven total events, with no more than… Read more »

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NJ Cav
Reply to  NJ Cav
3 months ago

Just to simplify what I said, each event a swimmer qualifies in affects where we get in the ranking list for that event during selections, but ultimately one swimmer, regardless of how many events they qualify for, affects the invitation of just one swimmer. If there are ten swimmers who would not have been invited under the old rules, ten swimmers who would have been invited will miss out. The complication is that some events may be impacted more than others. Because swimmers always didn’t enter every event in which they would have been invited, this has always been the case. It just wasn’t obvious who benefited.

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Braden Keith
Admin
Reply to  Big Ten Fan
3 months ago

They go wherever they go in each event.

What’s interesting is that this is not actually a new theory. It’s basically unchanged. If Luca Urlando is the fastest swimmer in the 200 fly and 100 back and the 3rd fastest in the 100 fly, he goes in those events at those lines.

The process doesn’t add 1 unique swimmer to each event to fill them up evenly, it just adds the next fastest swimmer to each event to fill them up evenly.

So if you’re an AQ in the 50 free, ranked 17th nationally in the 100 free (non AQ), and 24th nationally in the 200 free (non AQ), that’s where you go in the rankings for each event. If… Read more »

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wethorn
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 months ago

Am I interpreting this correctly? I know this won’t be exactly right, but is this in the ballpark?

If last year’s cut line for men was 27, the “at-large” spots will be 27 – the # of AQs? In the 50 free, there are 11 AQs so far, and 7 of those would not have qualified under the 19.02 cut from last year. Meaning, there would be only 20 at-large qualifiers.

Based on SwimCloud rankings, Alex Painter’s 18.84 would be the cut line, and 15 guys who are sub-19 would not qualify.

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Reid
Reply to  wethorn
3 months ago

This is what it sounds like to me. Also it’s a disastrously stupid way to do it. Feel terrible for all the deserving swimmers that’ll be left home.

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Braden Keith
Admin
Reply to  wethorn
3 months ago

I meaaannnnnnnnnnnnn yes kind of. But some of those “at large” spots will go to swimmers who are also qualified in other events. So many of the “at large” spots in the 100 free will go to swimmers who are automatically qualified in the 50, for example.

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Wethorn
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 months ago

Having AQs from 30 conferences is ridiculously stupid.

If they keep some form of this, it needs to be capped. Something like conference winners from P4 leagues plus the 3-4 best qualifiers who have cuts from non P4 leagues. And perhaps lower qualifying standards so fewer slow AQ winners make it.

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Big Ten Fan
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 months ago

I understand the old way. I’m specifically talking about AQ who would not be under the qualifying time line (based on 36-38 per event or so) but make it in multiple events. So say a girl wins Conference Ice Cream in 50 and 100 free. She goes 22,28 and 48.60. Is she ranked #11 or whatever in both events if she is the slowest AQ? I think you are saying that it will be like old system as in they will be listed in both events if under cut line in both (even though they aren’t actually under actual speed cut line but just there because AQ under new rules).

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Braden Keith
Admin
Reply to  Big Ten Fan
3 months ago

Yes. If they’re AQ in both events, then they’re at the top of the rankings in both events.

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Skattpack
3 months ago

So roughly if it usually 30 men who make it what is the prediction for cut offs. 27?

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