2026 NCAA Division III Championships: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2026 NCAA DIII Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships

• March 18-21, 2026
• Location: IU Natatorium, Indianapolis, IN
• Defending Champs: MIT women (1x) & Denison men (1x)
• Psych Sheet
• Live Video
• Live Results
• Live Recaps:
  • Prelims: Day 1

NCAA Division III Championships Day 1 Finals Heat Sheet

Welcome to the first finals session of the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships from the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.

Tonight, we will crown our first event champions of the meet, with national championship titles to be awarded in the 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 free, men’s 3-meter diving, and the 400 medley relays.

Denison’s George Goins swam a career best in the prelims to claim the top seed in the men’s 500 free, swimming faster than the winning time from this event at this meet last season (4:22.43) in 4:22.17. The field that follows is separated by less than a second from #2 through #8. On the women’s side, Emily Harris of Denison swam a best time of her own to claim the top seed this morning as the only swimmer in 4:51 to finish in 4:49.19. Kenyon’s Molly Haag is the next-closest at 4:51.63, the only other performer faster than 4:52.

The top five men in the 200 IM this morning were separated by just over six tenths of a second, as Washington U’s Marco Minai secured the top time in 1:46.33, as Carnegie Mellon’s Brayden Morford and Denison’s Jack Hill finished 2nd and 3rd in 1:46.47 and 1:46.55, respectively. Hope’s Greta Gidley claimed middle lane honors this morning with her 2:01.07 in the women’s 200 IM. She will be pushed hard this evening, as Williams’ Sophie Phelps and Kenyon’s Kelsey Van Eldik each showed plenty of speed this morning, posting 2:01.39 and 2:01.42.

The 50 free was controlled by Kenyon’s Djordje Dragojlovic, who was just five hundredths quicker than Denison’s John Butler (19.64) in 19.59, as seven of the eight championship finalists were sub 20-seconds. Swarthmore’s Genine Collins swam a career-best 22.53 to secure the top seed in the women’s 50 free finals. She finished just six hundredths faster than NYU’s Kaley McIntyre, the reigning champion in this event, in 22.59.

Denison’s Nick Fogle and Kenyon’s Chase Smith will lead the field in the men’s 3-meter diving this evening after finishing just .20 points different in 511.50 for Fogle and 511.30 for Smith, respectively.

Bates’ men’s 400 medley relay nearly downed the NCAA Division III record this morning in 3:09.93, coming just .15 seconds from topping Kenyon’s 2024 standard of 3:09.78. Kenyon was the fastest women’s relay this morning by more than two seconds over the field, and will look to close out the night with a major relay win here.

Men’s 500 Freestyle

• NCAA Division III Record: 4:18.35 – Arthur Conover, Kenyon (2017)

Top 8:

1. George Goins (DEN)- 4:22.30
2. Parker Chan (WSTL)- 4:23.33
3. Teodor Jaworski (KEN)- 4:23.75
4. Alex Schwartz (CHIC)- 4:24.71
5. Grant Hu (MIT)- 4:24.95
6. Ben Pritchard (EMOR)- 4:26.86
7. Luke Fender (TRIN)- 4:27.77
8. Steven Bendoraitis (TCNJ) – 4:28.35.

Goins was pushed in the early stages of this race by Kenyon’s Teodor Jaworski and Chicago’s Alex Schwartz. At the 200, Goins held a slight lead in 1:41.48. Schwartz, swimming out of lane 1, was taking it to Goins, not backing down in the slightest, flipping ahead of Goins at the 300 mark in 2:35.25.

Washington University’s (STL) Parker Chan popped out of the 400 turn with the intention to steal the win. As the bell began to ring for the final 50, it was an all-out race, as Goins turned on the afterburners to secure the event in 4:22.30, slightly slower than his morning swim, but a national championship-worthy race nonetheless. Chan would finish just behind in 4:23.33, and Jaworski rounded out the top three in 4:23.73

The consolation final saw Gray Spencer of Chicago get out to an early lead over the field, turning a half-body length ahead of the field at the halfway point. The last 150 saw Spencer kick his race into another gear, distancing himself with each stroke, touching first in 4:25.55 to claim the first heat of the final, a more than two-second best time over his recent 3rd place swim at the UAA Championships in February (4:27.72).

Women’s 500 Freestyle

• NCAA Division III Record: 4:43.37 – Kendra Stern, Amherst (2011)

Top 8:

1. Molly Haag (KEN)- 4:46.81
2. Emily Harris (DEN)- 4:48,82
3. Llew Ladomirak (NYU)- 4:49.53
4. Quinn Brown (DEN)- 4:51.36
5. Madeline Dunn (TUFT)- 4:51.97
6. Nora Lee Brown (KEN)- 4:52.11
7. Aanya Wala (NYU)- 4:54.24
8. Emery Mueller (NYU)- 4:56.26

Unlike this morning, tonight it was Haag who showed early speed, turning at the 200 free in 1:52.59, putting her just over half a body length ahead of Emily Harris. At the 300 turn, Haag looked controlled, increasing her lead to just about a second over Harris.

The final 150 yards were all about how much gas was left in the tank, as Haag had held a firm grasp over this entire race from start to finish, and would be the one to climb the win at the final touch in 4:46.81. This time marks her fastest ever by over two seconds, having been as fast as 4:49.11 coming into this meet from last season’s championships. Haag immediately began showing her emotion after finishing 9th in this event each of the last two seasons, and 11th as a freshman in 2023.

Harris was just unable to keep up with Haag’s speed throughout the race, swimming a new career best in her runner-up efforts in 4:48.82. NYU’s Llew Ladomirak rounded out the top three in 4:49.53.

The women’s 500 free consolation saw NYU’s Bethany Spangler swim four and a half seconds better than her prelims swim to claim the win here in 4:52.38.

Men’s 200 IM

• NCAA Division III Record: 1:42.97 – Derek Maas, NYU (2024)

Top 8:

1. Cooper Costello (CHIC)- 1:45.13
2. Jack Hill (DEN)- 1:45.52
3. Conner Dean (NYU)- 1:45.98
4. Marco Minai (WSTL)- 1:46.18
5. Brayden Morford (CMU)- 1:46.20
6. Devin Testin (DEN)- 1:47.66
7. Carson Kalish (EMOR)- 1:47.78
8. McKee Thorsen (EMOR)- 1:49.36

Chicago’s butterfly ace Cooper Costello got out to an expected quick start in 22.38, and continued to swim a very strong backstroke leg (26.99) to keep him in front at the halfway mark in 49.37. He would still stay in front through the breast (30.47), but was heavily tested by Denison’s Jack Hill on the closing stages of this race, as he would fight to hold his spot into the final 50.

The two were trading blows on the final 50 of this race, as Costello (25.29) was able to hit the turn first, but Hill (25.11) came up faster, and it was a battle of reach to the wall. Costello would take the win in 1:45.13, as Hill would finish just behind in 1:45.52. NYU’s Conner Dean was the only other sub-1:46 swimmer of the event to take 3rd in 1;45.98.

The top two finishers in the men’s 200 IM consolation final came out of the outside lanes, as Connecticut College’s Carrick Shea claimed the heat win in 1:47,09 out of lane 8, while NYU’s Maksym Nechydyuk in lane 1 was just behind him in 1:47.16; each finished nearly seven tenths ahead of the field.

Women’s 200 IM

• NCAA Division III Record: 1:57.76 – Crile Hart, Kenyon (2022)

Top 8:

1. Greta Gidley (HOPE)- 1:59.20
2. Kelsey Van Eldik (KEN)/ Samantha Thiele (EMOR)- 2:01.25
3. (tie)
4. Bennett Jones (PP)- 2:01.70
5. Sophie Phelps (WILL)- 2:02.27
6. Allison Greenway (EMOR)- 2:02.42
7. Olivia Chow (KEAN)- 2:03.97
8. Savannah Xu (CMU)- 2:05.13

Gidley was not even in contention at the 100 turn, trailing Samantha Thiele and Olivia Chow (Kean) at the 100, but used a massive breaststroke leg to propel her into the lead in just 50 yards, which then helped her secure the win in the event by a margin of more than two seconds.

Gidley trailed Thiele by over a second and a half at the 100 turn, but fired a 32.64 breaststroke split to take the lead, a split that was more than a second faster than she was in the prelims (33.94). That speed carried her through to the final 50, charging home in 28.82, a near second better than this morning to take the win in 1:59.20.

There was a tie for 2nd as Emory’s Samantha Thiele and Kenyon’s Kelsey Van Eldik each touched in 2:02.25 to each earn a share of the runner-up finish.

Men’s 50 Freestyle

• NCAA Division III Record: 19.37 – Oliver Smith, Emory (2018)

Top 8:

1. Djordje Dragojlovic (Ken)- 19.42
2. Max Cory (BATE)- 19.47
3. John Butler (CHIC)- 19.72
4. Jacob Dzurica (SVC)- 19.79
5. Nickolas Hensel (DEN)- 19.92
6. MJ Hoban (TCNJ)- 19.94
7. Hayden Tupper (EMOR)- 19.98
8. Kyle Reitan (UCSC)- 20.09

For the first 45 yards of this race, it appeared that Max Cory of Bates had locked up this win, getting to the turn first, and going stroke for stroke as the race’s leader until he was no more.

Djordje Dragojlovic of Kenyon, who came in as the top seed to these championship finals, dug deep in the closing seconds to get his on the wall first, just ahead of Cory (19.47) in 19.42, just off the NCAA DIII record of 19.37.

John Butler rounded out the top three in 19.72 m, just a tad slower than his morning swim of 19.64.

The consolation final saw Swarthmore’s Cami Wilson and NYU’s Teddy Cross both dip under the 20-second mark, as the two would tie at 19.90 for a share of 9th place overall. Sam Brozek of Williams also touched under 20  seconds, finishing 3rd (11th overall) in 19.96.

Women’s 50 Freestyle

• NCAA Division III Record: 22.15 – Kaley McIntyre, NYU (2025)

Top 8:

1. Kaley McIntyre (NYU)- 22.45
2. Genine Collins (SWAT)- 22.50
3. Ava Kennedy (EMOR)- 22.86
4. Anna McGrew (MIDD)- 22.98
5. Maeve O’Donnell (NYU)- 23.03
6. Braelyn Wilson (KEAN)- 23.23
7. Lisa Torrecillas- Jouault (KEN)- 23.41
8. Francesca Copo (PP)- 23.47

Kaley McIntyre secured her 4th straight 50 free NCAA DIII National title, largely in part to her final 25 yards. After initially falling behind Genine Collins off the start, McIntyre fought back hard to get herself even with Collins and overtake her for the win here in 22.45.

Collins was a tick faster than this morning, swimming only five hundredths behind the four-time champion McIntyre in 22.50, clocking another career best for her.

Emory’s Ava Kennedy was just the 3rd of four swimmers to break 23 in that championship final in 22.86, and Middlebury’s Anna McGrew also snuck under that 23-second barrier in 22.98.

Men’s 3-meter Diving

• NCAA Division III Record: 645.70 – Connor Dignan, Dension (2014)

Top 8:

1. Nick Fogle (DEN)- 530.35
2. Conor Compton (ALFST)- 523.15
3. Rowan Fitzsimmons (CEN)- 519.95
4. Chase Smith (KEN)- 513.85
5. Greg Meder (GEN)- 509.55
6. Garrett George (CEN)- 509.30
7. Daniel Barrientos (HOB)- 489.20
8. Solly Berkenwald (EMOR)- 486.85

Denison’s Nick Fogle showed why he is among the top divers in the nation, backing up a strong prelims showing with a major national championship win here, taking the men’s 3-meter win by just over seven points of Conor Compton (523.15). Kenyon’s Chase Smith fell two spots from his 2nd place position in prelims, despite scoring higher here with 513.85 points.

Men’s 400 Medley Relay

• NCAA Division III Record: 3:09.78 – Kenyon (2024)

Top 8:

1. Bates- 3:08.43 *NCAA DIII Record
2. Chicago- 3:09.94
3. Emory- 3:11.55
4. NYU- 3:11.75
5. Kenyon- 3:12.41
6. Denison- 3:13.31
7. TCNJ- 3:13.40
8. Rhodes- 3:17.12

Teddy Cross was out first in lane number 2 for NYU on the backstroke, turning half a body length ahead of the field at the 75-yard mark, giving NYU the lead at the first exchange in 46.73. Bates’ Timothy Johnson was slower this evening than he was in the prelims, opening in 48.32, three tenths slower than this morning.

However, Bates really got the momentum on their side in the breaststroke, as Marrich Somridhivej out-split NYU’s Sean Li (54.30) by two seconds on the first 50, opening up in 23.13. That momentum would then carry to a more than three body length lead over the field by the halfway point as Bates had a firm grasp on the title in 1:38.73 heading into the fly leg.

The butterfly was not as dominant as Bates would’ve hoped, especially as 200 IM champion Cooper Costello of Chicago really split a strong leg in 45.65 to get his relay into runner-up position, as Nathaniel Oppenheim would be nearly identical to his morning split of 47.44 tonight in 47.48.

Max Cory was given plenty of space to show his speed, with it now being a race against the clock and an opportunity for history. Cory split a blazing 42.22 to destroy the field and break the Division III record of 3:09.78 in a monstrous 3:08.42.

Chicago finished as runners-up in 3:09.94, as Emory would round out the top three in 3:11.55.

Women’s 400 Medley Relay

• NCAA Division III Record: 3:38.05 – Kenyon (2022)

Top 8:

1. Kenyon- 3:37.94 *NCAA DII Record
2. Emory- 3:41.42
3. NYU- 3:41.83
4. Williams- 3:42.44
5. Denison- 3:42.99
6. Swarthmore- 3:44.15
7. Colby- 3:44.19
8. Claremont- 3:44.32

Kenyon’s backstroke responsibilities fell on Gwen Eisenbeis, who would give her relay a solid opening leg lead in 54.70, before handing over to an amped up breaststroker in Kelsey Van Eldik, who grew the Owls’ lead to over a body length and a half with a 59.25 split, a second and a half faster than her split this morning in prelims.

Kenyon dominated the rest of the relay, as Nora Kortuem (54.84) surged the relay further ahead of a chasing field, as they held a more than three-second advantage over the next closest team with 100 to go. Lisa Torrecillas-Jouault held down the anchor and got Kenyon within arm’s reach of the NCAA DIII record. Thanks to a heroic split from Torrecillas-Jouault (49.15), the owls managed to get just under that 2022 record time by 11 hundredths of a second in 3:37.94.

Emory and NYU each ran under the 3:42 mark, finishing 2nd and 3rd in 3:41.42 and 2:41.42, respectively.

Women’s Team Standings After Day 1:

1. NYU- 121
2. Kenyon- 108.5
3. Emory- 92.5
4. Denison- 63.5
5. Swarthmore- 48
6. Williams- 45
7. Hope- 38
8. Claremont- 35
9. Tufts/Pomona-Pitzer – 28
10. (tie)

Men’s Team Standings After Day 2:

1. Denison- 118
2. Emory- 97
3. Chicago- 96
4. Kenyon- 83
5. NYU- 71
6. Bates- 57
7. TCNJ- 48
8. Williams- 37
9. Wash U. MO- 32
10. Centre College- 30