Ohio State v. Michigan
- January 17, 2026
- McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, Columbus, OH
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
- Final Scores
- Women: Michigan 162, Ohio State 136
- Men: Ohio State 167, Michigan 133
In an early 2026 dual meet between bitter Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Michigan, Buckeye sophomore Mila Nikanorov stole the show, winning the women’s 1000 freestyle in 9:22.37, lowering her own program record that she set in 2024, and becoming the 9th fastest performer in the history of the event.
Despite the Buckeye women’s team loss to the Wolverines, Nikanorov made easy work of the 1000 free, touching first by nearly 15 seconds over the field, leading the 1-2-3 sweep for the Buckeyes. Her previous best time, and former program record in the event, came in November of 2024, when she touched in 9:30.49.
Nikanorov’s Collegiate 1000 Free Progression
This swim not only marked a more than eight-second improvement on her time, but also marked her first time under 9:25, a territory that only 14 swimmers in history have ever reached.
All Time Top 10 Women’s 1000 Free Performers
- Katie Ledecky (2015) – 8:59.65
- Katie Hoff (2007) – 9:10.77
- Katie Grimes (2024) – 9:16.69
- Erica Sullivan (2018) – 9:17.32
- Claire Weinstein (2023) – 9:17.85
- Leah Smith (2016) – 9:20.15
- Ashley Twitchell (2019) – 9:21.41
- Bella Sims (2022) – 9:22.30
- Mila Nikanorov (2026) – 9:22.37
- Stephanie Peacock (2015) – 9:23.50
Though now cracking the top ten all-time, she is still nearly 23 seconds away from topping the list of the event all-time top performers, where Katie Ledecky resides with her 2015 time of 8:59.65 from the Nation’s Capital Swim Club Invite, an invite that has since been renamed to the “Katie Ledecky Invitational”. That swim is more than 11 seconds better than the rest of the performers in the history of the event.
Nikanorov’s New PB v. Former PB v. Ledecky’s Top Time Comparison
|
Nikanorov’s New Best Time
|
Nikanorov’s Former Best Time | Ledecky’s Fastest Ever 1000 | |
| 100 | 54.51 | 55.23 | 52.42 |
| 200 | 56.54 (1:51.05) | 57.53 (1:52.76) | 54.94 (1:47.36) |
| 300 | 56.47 (2:47.52) | 57.60 (2:50.36) | 54.43 (2:41.79) |
| 400 | 56.71 (3:44.23) | 56.95 (3:47.31) | 54.74 (3:36.53) |
| 500 | 56.64 (4:40.87) | 57.32 (4:44.63) | 54.37 (4:30.90) |
| 600 | 56.77 (5:37.64) | 57.15 (5:41.78) | 54.28 (5:25.18) |
| 700 | 56.68 (6:34.32) | 57.39 (6:39.17) | 53.81 (6:18.99) |
| 800 | 56.48 (7:30.80) | 57.34 (7:36.51) | 54.19 (7:13.18) |
| 900 | 56.59 (8:27.39) | 57.19 (8:33.70) | 54.29 (8:07.47) |
| 1000 | 54.98 (9:22.37) | 56.79 (9:30.49) | 52.18 (8:59.65) |
Nikanorov, the Castle Rock, Colo. native, was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season and took home Second Team All-Big Ten honors.
She finished 6th in the 500 free at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships as a freshman last season in 4:36.38, setting a new all-time best. In addition to that 6th place finish, she also finished 7th in the 1650 free in 15:51.95.
What did Ledecky split in her mile last month?
9:04.01
Norm must be a phenomenal coach
Congrats to Mila!! Ohio State has her training well figured out.