McKendree’s Vova Gavrysh Downs Decade Old NCAA DII 200 Free Record with 1:32.40 Leadoff Leg

2026 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships

• March 10-14, 2026
• Deaconess Aquatic Center — Evansville, Indiana
• SCY (25 Yards)
• Defending Champions
  • Women: Nova Southeastern (3x)
  • Men: vacant
• Psych Sheets
  • Men
  • Women
• Live Video: NCAA.com
• Live Results
• Live Recaps:
  • Prelims:
  • Finals: Day 1

Men’s 800 Freestyle Relay:

• NCAA Division II Record: 6:17.93, Tampa (2025)
• Championship Record: 6:17.93, Tampa (2025)

Top 8:

1. Tampa- 6:16.64 *NEW NCAA DII/CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD
2. Drury- 6:16.80
3. Colorado Mesa- 6:19.80
4. Indianapolis- 6:21.74
5. McKendree- 6:23.54
6. Wingate- 6:23.57
7. Grand Valley- 6:26.42
8. Rollins- 6:26.44

McKendree sophomore Vova Gavrysh, leading off the 800 free relay, clocked a 1:32.40 leadoff leg, breaking the 10-year-old NCAA Division II record in the 200 free, previously held by Dion Dreesens of Queens University of Charlotte from the 2016 NCAA Division II Championships. That mark was the oldest standing men’s record in Division II.

Despite his relay’s 5th-place finish in 6:23.54, he still made history. From the start, it was Gavrysh who stormed out ahead, touching over a second ahead of the field at the first exchange. Prior to this swim, Gavrysh held the 3rd-fastest time in history, which he swam at the Mizzou Invite earlier this season when he went 1:32.73, winning that event by over a full second.

NCAA Division II All-Time Top Performers:

1. Vova Gavrysh, McKendree- 1:32.40 (2026 NCAA DII Champs)
2. Dion Dreesens, Queens- 1:32.46 (2016 NCAA DII Champs)
3. Marius Kusch, Queens- 1:32.74 (2018 NCAA DII Champs)
4. (Tie) Alex Kunert, Queens- 1:33.29 (2021 NCAA DII Champs)/Karol Ostrowski, Drury- 1:33.38 (2025 NCAA DII Champs)

Gavrysh will swim the 200 free individually later in the week, where he is the top seed, more than a second faster than #2 seed Guillaume Guth of Colorado Mesa (1:33.87).

Splits Comparison:

Later in the meet, Gavrysh will swim the 200 fly, where he sits as the top seed in 1:42.33, and the 100 free as the #4 seed with his 42.90 entry time.