2026 VA NOVA Commonwealth Games
- June 11-14, 2026
- NOVA Aquatic Center – Richmond, VA
- LCM (50 meters)
- Results:
- “NOVA 2026 Virginia Commonwealth Games” on MeetMobile
The 2026 NOVA Commonwealth Games in mid-June showcased the depth of age-group talent in the South Atlantic region, with several swimmers posting standout performances.
The weekend of fast swimming was headlined by Daniel Bunge, who swims for NOVA of Virginia Aquatics. The 13-year-old threw down a series of top performances, winning five of his individual events.
Bunge won the boys’ 13 & over 200 IM in a lifetime best time of 2:11.04, knocking over five seconds off of his previous time (2:16.10) over the course of the day. He first lowered his time during the preliminary heats, stopping the clock in 2:14.15, before dropping another three seconds from his personal best in finals.
Bunge’s performance in the 200 IM launched him up the national rankings in the event, marking the 4th-fastest time so far this season in the boys’ 13-14 age group.
Not to be stopped there, Bunge continued to post chart-topping results in his races throughout the meet. He won the boys’ 13 & over 100 fly with a best time of 57.83, marking only his second time ever breaking the 1:00 barrier and shaving two seconds off of his former lifetime best (59.92) from April. His winning performance also marked the 6th-fastest time this season in the boys’ 13-14 age group.
Bunge prevailed in the boys’ 13 & over 50 fly (26.57), 50 back (28.97) and 100 free (54.67), clocking new personal best times in each event. Thanks to those swims, he now ranks 12th in both the 50 fly and 100 free in the boys’ 13-14 age group so far this season.
Bunge also snagged the runner-up spot in the boys’ 13 & over 1500 free (17:22.40) and 200 breast (2:36.21) and took 4th in the 50 breast (33.32), logging three more lifetime best performances. He clocked yet another personal best time as the leadoff on the 200 free relay, setting a top time of 25.25 in the 50 free.
Other Notable Performances
- Fifteen-year-old Chance Lowry turned in a top performance in the boys’ 13 & over 100 back. The NOVA of Virginia Aquatics swimmer threw down a winning time of 58.10, shaving a full second off of his lifetime best and landing at #20 on the ranking of top times this season in the boys’ 15-16 age group. His performance in the event landed him his first summer Juniors cut.
- NOVA teammate Charlie Hilton climbed the season’s rankings in the boys’ 200 fly. He won the event in a lifetime best time of 2:04.28, hitting the Juniors qualifying standard and tying for the #15 spot on the list of top times this season in the boys’ 15-16 age group.
- Atlantic Coast Athletic Clubs’ Sofie Vanyo turned in a string of top performances. The 17-year-old prevailed in all eight of her individual events and broke into the top 20 on the season’s national ranking in two races. She won the girls’ 13 & over 1500 free (17:14.44 – PB) and 200 IM (2:18.89 – SB), landing at #18 on the ranking of top times this season in the girls’ 17-18 age group in both events.
- Elizabeth Goodwin-Birnie, who trains with NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, swept the 13 & over breaststroke events. Goodwin-Birnie, 20, prevailed in the 50 breast (32.28), 100 breast (1:11.02) and 200 breast (2:38.10), logging new lifetime bests in each event and bumping herself up the national rankings. Her performance in the 50 and 100 breast landed her in 8th and 11th, respectively, on the list of top times this season across all age groups for women.
- Another NOVA swimmer who made a splash was Yara Tsybulina; the 12-year-old prevailed in all nine of her individual events and set lifetime best times in six of them. Tsybulina stunned in the girls’ 12 & under 50 free (28.05) and 100 free (1:00.06), clocking personal best times and marking the 2nd-fastest time this season in the girls’ 11-12 age group in both events. Her performance in the 50 free also set a new team record in the event for the 11-12 girls.
