Claire Curzan Wins 100 Back on Third Day of NCAA SwimmingClaire Curzan Wins 100 Back on Third Day of NCAA Swimming

Claire Curzan Wins 100 Back on Third Day of NCAA Swimming

Claire Curzan defended her 100 Back title in meet-record time. Virginia remains in first place heading into the final day of the competition

ATLANTA  – Virginia won two events on the third night of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, being held March 18-21 at the McCauley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Ga.

The Cavaliers earned gold in the 400 Medley Relay and the 100 Backstroke.

The Cavaliers remain in first place in the team standings with 437.5 points. Texas is in second place with 272 points, and Stanford is third with 242.5.

Junior Claire Curzan defended her 100 Back title, winning the race with the second-fastest time ever of 48.24, trailing only Gretchen Walsh (48.10). She was 1.38 seconds faster than the Michigan and Wisconsin swimmers (Bella Sims and Maggie Wanezek), who tied for second place.

Curzan then helped the Cavaliers to close the session with a dominant victory in the 400 Medley Relay. Curzan, freshman Sara Curtis, senior Aimee Canny and sophomore Anna Moesch went 3:20.66, winning the race by 3.13 seconds over Tennessee.

In addition to the two golds, the Cavaliers picked up a pair of silvers.

Canny earned silver in the 200 Breast, posting a 2:03.09 to finish just behind Stanford’s Lucy Bell. Senior Emma Weber placed eighth (2:07.55).

Curtis took silver in the 50 Free with a time of 20.74. Moesch was eighth with a time of 21.37.

Other A-finalists included junior Cavan Gormsen, who finished sixth (4:35.11) in the 500 Free. Freshman Madi Mintenko placed eighth (4:36.68) in the same event.

Fifteen of Virginia’s 18 swimmers competing at the championship scored points for the team on Friday.

Both grad student Bryn Greenwaldt (50 Free) and freshman Sophia Umstead (200 Breast) just missed making the A Finals of their respective events with a pair of ninth-place finishes. Junior Tess Howley placed 10th in the 100 Back. Five other Cavaliers logged 11th through 14th place finishes in their events.

The meet wraps up on Saturday with the 200 IM, 100 Free, 200 Fly, 200 Back and 400 Free Relay.

Prelims start at 10 a.m. with finals at 6 p.m.

MEET NOTES

  • Sara Curtis’s 50 Free time (20.74) is the fastest time ever for a freshman. It was also the 11th fastest time in history and ranks her as No. 3 on the all-time performer list behind Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske
  • Claire Curzan’s 100 Back time was an NCAA Championship Meet Record
  • Aimee Canny's time in the 200 Breast ranks her No. 5 on the all-time top performer list. With Kate Douglass at No. 1 and Alex Walsh at No. 2, Virginia has three of the top five all-time in 200 Breast
  • Melissa Nwakalor (14th Place, 50 Free), Katie Grimes (11th Place, 500 Free), Bailey Hartman (13th Place, 500 Free), Zoe Skirboll (11th Place, 200 Breast), and Leah Hayes (12th Place, 200 Breast) were the other Cavaliers to contribute points
  • Virginia scored 188.5 points today, twice as many points as the next best team (Michigan, 91)
  • This was the fifth straight year the Cavaliers won the 400 Medley Relay

HOW TO FOLLOW

  • All sessions will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required)
  • Live scoring will be available on the Meet Mobile app and through a link posted on VirginiaSports

 

NCAA Champions By Event (6)
200 Free, 100 Back, 200 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay

NCAA Champions (by Swimmer)
Aimee Canny – 800 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay
Sara Curtis – 200 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay
Claire Curzan – 100 Back, 200 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay
Bryn Greenwaldt – 200 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay
Bailey Hartman – 800 Free Relay
Madi Mintenko -  800 Free Relay
Anna Moesch – 200 Free, 200 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay
Emma Weber – 200 Medley Relay

First Team All-Americans
Aimee Canny – 200 Breast, 400 IM, 800 Free Relay
Sara Curtis – 50 Free, 200 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay
Claire Curzan – 100 Fly, 100 Back, 200 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay
Cavan Gormsen – 500 Free
Bryn Greenwaldt – 200 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay
Katie Grimes – 1650 Free, 400 IM
Bailey Hartman – 800 Free Relay
Madi Mintenko -  200 Free, 500 Free, 800 Free Relay
Anna Moesch – 50 Free, 200 Free, 200 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay
Emma Weber – 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 200 Medley Relay

Second Team All-Americans
Sara Curtis – 100 Fly
Cavan Gormsen – 1650 Free, 200 Free
Katie Grimes – 500 Free
Bryn Greenwaldt – 50 Free
Bailey Hartman – 50 Free
Leah Hayes – 200 Breast, 400 IM
Tess Howley – 100 Back
Carly Novelline – 100 Fly
Melissa Nwakalor – 50 Free
Zoe Skirboll – 100 Breast, 200 Breast
Sophia Umstead – 200 Breast

Team Scores (Through Day Two)

  1. Virginia 437.5
  2. Texas 272
  3. Stanford 242.5
  4. Tennessee 240.5
  5. Michigan 228
  6. California 199
  7. Indiana 176
  8. Louisville 144.5
  9. NC State 141.5
  10. Florida 113.5