2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships
DAY 3 PRELIMS HEAT SHEET
Day 3 of NCAAs is here. Remember, we’re working with a new schedule this year, so it’s not the usual Friday slate of events. Today, we’ll be treated to the 100 back, 200 breast, 500 free, 50 free, and the 400 medley relay. The diving event today will be 3-meter.
This session will kick off with the 100 back, where we’ll be setting the stage for a repeat showdown between Claire Curzan and Bella Sims. Last year, Curzan beat Sims by 0.01 seconds, touching in 49.11 to Sims’ 49.12. The juniors come in as the top 2 seeds this year as well, though Sims is on a new team, as she transferred to Michigan after spending her freshman and sophomore seasons at Florida. Curzan comes in as the top seed with a season best 48.38, while Sims comes in with a 49.12, which is the same time she went at NCAAs last year. While that gives Curzan a decided edge coming in, Sims has built some great momentum, having won the 400 IM last night.
The 200 breast sees defending champion Lucy Bell (Stanford) return as well. Bell has been 2:02.67 already this season, which is well under the 2:04.28 she swam to win the event last season.
In the 500 free, Texas sophomore Jillian Cox is yet another swimmer looking to defend her title. Cox won the event in 4:31.58 as a freshman last year, and has already been 4:30.53 this season. Cox already won the mile on Wednesday night, and she didn’t race on Thursday, so she should be fresh. Georgia freshman Kennedi Dobson has been 4:30.70 this season, so this could turn into a really great race today.
The 50 free is the only event guaranteed to have a new champion this year, as Gretchen Walsh won it last year. Tennessee’s Camille Spink enters as the top seed, holding a season best of 20.87.
WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 48.10 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- American Record: 48.10 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- U.S. Open Record: 48.10 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- Championship Record: 48.26 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- 2025 NCAA Champion: Claire Curzan, Virginia – 49.11
- 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 50.29/51.20
TOP 8:
- Claire Curzan (Virginia) – 48.81
- Mary-Ambre Moluh (Cal) – 50.02
- Bella Sims (Michigan) – 50.08
- Maggie Wanezek (Wisconsin) – 50.10
- Erika Pelaez (NC State) – 50.15
- Leah Shackley (NC State) – 50.37
- Emily Jones (Alabama) – 50.47
- Claire Jansen (Pitt) – 50.79
Claire Curzan was dominant this morning in prelims of the 100 back, putting up a 48.81. While that time is off her season best of 48.38, her swim this morning stands as the #9 performance all-time in the event. Tonight, we’ll see if anyone else rises to the challenge and gives her a race.
Cal’s Mary-Ambre Moluh had a terrific swim, taking 2nd overall with a 50.02. She’s been 49.64 already this season, but her swim secured a middle lane for tonight, setting the sophomore up well.
Bella Sims, the runner-up to Curzan in this race last year, took 3rd this morning with a 50.08. Sims has been 49.12 already this season, and she dropped big from prelims to finals in the 400 IM last night, so we can safely expect a faster swim from her tonight.
Nevada’s Scarlett Ferris was the 1st swimmer out, taking 9th this morning with a 50.98.
Also of note, Indiana junior Miranda Grana, who finished 3rd in this event last year, came in 14th this morning with a 51.27, failing to advance to finals.
WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
- American Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
- U.S. Open Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
- Championship Record: 2:01.29 – Kate Douglass, Virginia (2023)
- 2025 NCAA Champion: Lucy Bell, Stanford – 2:04.28
- 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 2:07.60/2:08.56
TOP 8:
- Anastasia Gorbenko (Louisville) – 2:05.16
- Aimee Canny (Virginia) – 2:05.25
- Lucy Bell (Stanford) – 2:05.51
- Kaelyn Gridley (Duke) – 2:05.86
- Anita Bottazzo (Florida) – 2:06.98
- Grace Raab (Florida) – 2:07.32 (Tie)
- Letitia Sim (Michigan) – 2:07.32 (Tie)
- Emma Weber (Virginia) – 2:07.58
The women’s 200 breast was quick this morning, seeing 4 swimmers go 2:05-something. Louisville’s Anastasia Gorbenko led the way, clocking a 2:05.16 in the 1st of the circle seeded heats. She was just a touch off her season best of 2:05.02 with the swim.
Virginia’s Aimee Canny was 2nd this morning in 2:05.25, while Stanford’s Lucy Bell was 3rd in 2:05.51. Based on season bests, this race could come down to the pair of them tonight, as both Canny and Bell have been 2:02 this season.
Duke’s Kaelyn Gridley was the other swimmer to go 2:05 this morning, posting the 4th fastest time with a 2:05.86.
Florida had a great showing in this event, seeing sophomore Anita Bottazzo take 5th with a 2:06.98 and freshman Grace Raab tie for 6th with a 2:07.32. Virginia also put 2 swimmers into the final, with Emma Weber taking 8th in 2:07.58.
Also of note, Eneli Jefimova, the 100 breast champion from last night, wound up 27th in the 200 breast this morning with a 2:09.70. Jefimova was seeded 6th.
WOMEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 4:24.06 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
- American Record: 4:24.06 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
- U.S. Open Record: 4:24.06 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
- Championship Record: 4:24.06 – Katie Ledecky, Stanford (2017)
- 2025 NCAA Champion: Jillian Cox, Texas – 4:31.58
- 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 4:37.01/4:38.76
TOP 8:
- Jillian Cox (Texas) – 4:33.89
- Ella Jansen (Tennessee) – 4:34.13
- Kennedi Dobson (Georgia) – 4:34.73
- Cavan Gormsen (Virginia) – 4:35.36
- Julie Brousseau (Florida) – 4:35.79
- Claire Weinstein (Cal) – 4:36.66
- Hannah Bellard (Michigan) – 4:37.00
- Madi Mintenko (Virginia) – 4:37.43
Jillian Cox was 8th at the 50 in the final heat of the 500 free this morning, but the distance ace steadily fought her way into the lead and wound up clocking the top time of the morning with a 4:33.89. Cox is the defending champion in this event, and she already won the mile on Wednesday.
Tennessee continues to swim well in prelims. Ella Jansen popped a 4:34.13 this morning to take 2nd overall. That time comes in just 0.03 seconds off her season mark.
Michigan’s Hannah Bellard came in 7th this morning with a 4:37.00. With the swim, Michigan is the only team other than Virginia to have qualified a swimmer to finals in each of the first 3 events this morning.
Of note, Katie Grimes finished 11th this morning, scoring points for Virginia but failing to qualify for the final. Grimes was seeded 3rd with her season best of 4:33.78.
WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 20.37 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- American Record: 20.37 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- U.S. Open Record: 20.37 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- Championship Record: 20.37 – Gretchen Walsh, Virginia (2024)
- 2025 NCAA Champion: Gretchen Walsh, Virginia – 20.49
- 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 21.63/21.89
TOP 8:
- Sara Curtis (Virginia) – 20.93
- Camille Spink (Tennessee) – 21.04
- Julia Dennis (Louisville) – 21.13
- Torri Huske (Stanford) – 21.14
- Eva Okaro (Texas) – 21.27
- Anna Moesch (Virginia) – 21.35
- Liberty Clark (Indiana) – 21.39
- Brady Kendall (Michigan) – 21.44
Virginia’s Sara Curtis led the way in the 50 free this morning, officially breaking 21 seconds for the first time in her career best if 20.93. With the performance, Curtis becomes the #8 performer all-time in the event, and Virginia’s 4th swimmer to go under 21 seconds, joining Gretchen Walsh, Kate Douglass, and Claire Curzan.
The Cavaliers also saw Anna Moesch take 6th this morning with a 21.35. Bryn Greenwaldt was the 1st swimmer out of finals, taking 9th this morning with a 21.50.
Camille Spink, the top seed coming into the meet, came in 2nd this morning with a 21.04. That sets her up nicely for finals, and gives Tennessee another finals swim tonight.
Outside of Curtis, there were 2 other freshmen to make this final. Texas’ Eva Okaro was 5th in 21.27, while Indiana’s Liberty Clark was 7th with a 21.39.
Michigan’s Brady Kendall came in 8th this morning with a 21.44. Kendall has been as fast as 21.09 this year and is the Big Ten record holder in the event. With the swim, Michigan joins Virginia as the only team to have at least 1 finalist in each of the 4 individual events today.
WOMEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY – TIMED FINALS (EARLY HEATS)
- NCAA Record: 3:19.58 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) (2025)
- American Record: 3:19.58 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) (2025)
- U.S. Open Record: 3:19.58 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) (2025)
- Championship Record: 3:20.20 – Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) (2025)
- 2025 NCAA Champion: Virginia (Curzan, A. Walsh, G Walsh, A Moesch) – 3:20.20
- 2025 8th/16th Times: 3:27.76/3:30.93
TOP 8:
