2026 WOMEN’S BIG TEN SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Dates: Wednesday, February 18–Saturday, February 21
- Location: Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center, Minneapolis, MN
- Defending champions: Ohio State women (1x)
- Live Results (also available on Meet Mobile: “2026 B1G Women’s Swim & Dive Championships”)
- Live Video ($): B1G+
- Championship Central
- Psych Sheets
- SwimSwam’s Meet Preview
- Live Recaps
- Prelims
- Finals: Day 1
- Teams: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, Wisconsin
WOMEN’S 800-YARD FREESTYLE RELAY — TIMED FINALS
- NCAA Record: 6:44.13, Virginia – 2025 ACC Championships
Big Ten Championship Record: 6:52.04, Michigan – 2025- 2026 NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 7:00.86
- 2026 NCAA ‘B’ Standard: 7:05.18
Top 8:
- Michigan – 6:48.02 *Big Ten Record*
- Indiana – 6:51.11
- Ohio State – 6:54.93
- USC – 6:57.59
- Wisconsin – 6:58.78
- Northwestern – 7:01.42
- Nebraska-Lincoln – 7:02.71
- Minnesota – 7:04.94
The Michigan women swam to a new Big Ten, meet, and and school record as the team of Bella Sims, Hannah Bellard, Stephanie Balduccini, and Christey Liang touched in a 6:48.02. That broke the previous Big Ten and Michigan school record of a 6:50.03 set back in 2018.
Split Comparison
|
Michigan – 2026 Big Tens
|
Old B1G Meet Record |
Michigan – 2025 Big Tens
|
Old School/Overall B1G Record |
Michigan – 2018 NCAAs
|
|
| Bella Sims | 1:41.15 | Stephanie Balduccini | 1:42.10 | Catie DeLoof | 1:43.75 |
| Hannah Bellard | 1:41.54 | Hannah Bellard | 1:43.42 | Siobhan Haughey | 1:40.49 |
| Stephanie Balduccini | 1:42.14 | Malia Amuan | 1:43.54 | Rose Bi | 1:43.88 |
| Christey Liang | 1:43.19 | Christey Liang | 1:42.98 | Gabby DeLoof | 1:42.31 |
| 6:48.02 | 6:52.04 | 6:50.03 |
The biggest difference tonight was having two swimmers under the 1:42 second mark. Michigan’s relay from the 2018 NCAA Championships notably included Siobhan Haughey who blasted a 1:40.49. That relay finished 2nd at 2018 NCAAs.
Amongst the two sub-1:42 splits tonight was Hannah Bellard. The junior was almost two seconds faster tonight on the 2nd leg compared to a year ago. Bellard has had a huge season for the Wolverines that has already included a Big Ten record in the 200 butterfly at the team’s dual meet against Indiana back in January. Bellard is the top seed in the 200 butterfly by over two seconds.
Michigan has been dominant in the 800 free relay as tonight’s win marked their 16th Big Ten title in the event. No other school has won the event more than seven times as Indiana has won it seven, Northwestern and Wisconsin have won the relay six times, and Ohio State and Minnesota have each won it five times.
The Wolverines will look to be in the NCAA title hunt next month as it is also important to note that Balduccini has a flat start best time of a 1:40.89. They now sit at #2 in the NCAA this season, behind Virginia who swam a 6:45.34 last night at the ACC Championships.
