Big Ten Women’s Championship Day 3 Prelims: Michigan’s Bella Sims Breaks Another Meet Record

The 2026 Big Ten Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships continued with the Day 3 prelims session on Friday, Feb. 19, from Minneapolis.

The events on the docket are the 100 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 500 freestyle and 50 free before 3-meter diving prelims later in the afternoon.

Here is a look at what happened Friday morning:

Big Ten Women’s 100 Backstroke

Michigan junior Bella Sims continued her strong week, breaking the meet record in the 100 backstroke to get the morning started.

Sims got to the wall in 49.67 to break the previous meet record set by Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson in 2020 (49.70).

Wisconsin sophomore Maggie Wanazek also broke 50 seconds, getting to the wall in 49.71 for the second seed.

Michigan junior Lexi Greenhawt took the third spot in 50.81, just ahead of Indiana freshman Alex Shackell (51.03).

UCLA sophomore Claudia Yovanovich took the fifth spot in 51.36, followed by Indiana’s Miranda Grana (51.44) and Mya DeWitt (51.56) and UCLA senior Fay Lustria (51.78).

 Event 9  Women 100 Yard Backstroke
==================================================================
     B1G Meet: ! 49.70  2/20/2020 Elizabeth Nelson, Wisconsin
         POOL: $ 49.16  3/14/2021 Regan Smith, Riptide
                 52.65  A NCAA Qualifying
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Sims, Bella      JR MICH                49.17      49.67!qA     
    r:+0.49  11.67        23.93 (12.26)
          36.96 (13.03)       49.67 (12.71)
  2 Wanezek, Maggie  SO WISC                49.95      49.71 qA     
    r:+0.56  11.86        23.97 (12.11)
          36.82 (12.85)       49.71 (12.89)
  3 Greenhawt, Lexi  JR MICH                51.39      50.81 qA     
    r:+0.49  11.86        24.35 (12.49)
          37.62 (13.27)       50.81 (13.19)
  4 Shackell, Alex   FR IU                     NT      51.03 qA     
    r:+0.50  11.93        24.38 (12.45)
          37.57 (13.19)       51.03 (13.46)
  5 Yovanovich, Cla  SO UCLA                51.67      51.36 qA     
    r:+0.61  12.12        24.76 (12.64)
          38.18 (13.42)       51.36 (13.18)
  6 Grana, Miranda   JR IU                  49.89      51.44 qA     
    r:+0.51  12.20        24.85 (12.65)
          38.31 (13.46)       51.44 (13.13)
  7 Dewitt, Mya      SR IU                  51.07      51.56 qA     
    r:+0.86  12.18        24.75 (12.57)
          38.21 (13.46)       51.56 (13.35)
  8 Lustria, Fay     SR UCLA                52.12      51.78 qA     
    r:+0.52  12.27        24.73 (12.46)
          38.23 (13.50)       51.78 (13.55)
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  9 Drakopoulos, Mi  FR MICH                52.53      51.93 qA     
    r:+0.60  12.18        25.09 (12.91)
          38.66 (13.57)       51.93 (13.27)
 10 Yablonski, Ava   SR MINN                52.76      52.21 qA     
    r:+0.58  12.34        25.31 (12.97)
          38.81 (13.50)       52.21 (13.40)
 11 LeBlanc, Kk      FR OSU                 52.70      52.25 qA     
    r:+0.57  12.48        25.46 (12.98)
          39.09 (13.63)       52.25 (13.16)
 12 Van Heel, Lily   FR WISC                52.64      52.59 qA     
    r:+0.57  12.34        25.46 (13.12)
          39.11 (13.65)       52.59 (13.48)
 13 Periat, Kamdyn   SO MINN                52.75      52.68 q      
    r:+0.56  11.84        24.66 (12.82)
          38.09 (13.43)       52.68 (14.59)
 14 Marcukaitis, Ab  SR PUR                 52.73      52.78 q      
    r:+0.53  12.40        25.37 (12.97)
          38.99 (13.62)       52.78 (13.79)
 15 Lloyd, Delia     SO OSU                 52.91      53.10 q      
    r:+0.56  12.57        25.63 (13.06)
          39.37 (13.74)       53.10 (13.73)
 16 Markvardt, Marg  5Y PSU                 53.27      53.16 q      
    r:+0.56  12.43        25.74 (13.31)
          39.46 (13.72)       53.16 (13.70)

Big Ten Women’s 200 Breaststroke

Wisconsin freshman Brooke Corrigan was almost exactly on her seed time to take the top seed in the 200 breaststroke (2:07.98), just a hundredth of a second off.

Meanwhile, Michigan senior Letitia Sim took the second sed in 2:09.03, more than 2 seconds off her best time. She will likely have some more left in the tank for finals, which could be extremely fast.

USC junior Ashley McMillan took the third spot in 2:09.43, while UCLA junior Sarah Bennetts was also under 2:10 at 2:09.86.

USC freshman Bella Brito took the fifth spot in 2:10.09, followed by Michigan senior Devon Kitchel (2:10.49), Wisconsin senior Hazal Ozkan (2:10.56) and Wisconsin sophomore Catherine Hughes (2:10.87).

Event 10  Women 200 Yard Breaststroke
==================================================================
     B1G Meet: ! 2:04.03  2/18/2017 Lillia King, Indiana
         POOL: $ 2:04.06  3/22/2014 Emma Reaney, Notre Dame
                 2:11.27  A NCAA Qualifying
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Corrigan, Brook  FR WISC              2:07.97    2:07.98 qA     
    r:+0.71  28.86      1:00.94 (32.08)
        1:34.11 (33.17)     2:07.98 (33.87)
  2 Sim, Letitia     SR MICH              2:06.52    2:09.03 qA     
    r:+0.67  28.64      1:01.32 (32.68)
        1:34.79 (33.47)     2:09.03 (34.24)
  3 McMillan, Ashle  JR USC               2:09.11    2:09.43 qA     
    r:+0.71  29.06      1:01.67 (32.61)
        1:34.88 (33.21)     2:09.43 (34.55)
  4 Bennetts, Sarah  JR UCLA              2:10.23    2:09.86 qA     
    r:+0.66  28.90      1:01.63 (32.73)
        1:35.12 (33.49)     2:09.86 (34.74)
  5 Brito, Bella     FR USC               2:10.22    2:10.09 qA     
    r:+0.66  29.12      1:01.59 (32.47)
        1:35.35 (33.76)     2:10.09 (34.74)
  6 Kitchel, Devon   SR MICH              2:11.38    2:10.49 qA     
    r:+0.71  29.04      1:01.96 (32.92)
        1:35.87 (33.91)     2:10.49 (34.62)
  7 Ozkan, Hazal     SR WISC              2:08.63    2:10.56 qA     
    r:+0.71  29.75      1:02.62 (32.87)
        1:36.17 (33.55)     2:10.56 (34.39)
  8 Hughes, Catheri  SO WISC              2:12.02    2:10.87 qA     
    r:+0.63  29.91      1:02.77 (32.86)
        1:36.27 (33.50)     2:10.87 (34.60)
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  9 Ramos Najji, Ma  SO OSU               2:07.82    2:11.00 qA     
    r:+0.69  28.31      1:00.51 (32.20)
        1:34.48 (33.97)     2:11.00 (36.52)
 10 Lagreid, Jonett  SO IU                2:10.88    2:11.13 qA     
    r:+0.69  29.60      1:02.71 (33.11)
        1:36.60 (33.89)     2:11.13 (34.53)
 11 Varda, Danika    SO OSU               2:11.11    2:11.14 qA     
    r:+0.69  30.40      1:03.54 (33.14)
        1:37.14 (33.60)     2:11.14 (34.00)
 12 Chapman, Stella  SO WISC              2:12.18    2:11.47 q      
    r:+0.71  30.15      1:03.63 (33.48)
        1:37.41 (33.78)     2:11.47 (34.06)
 13 Drabot, Grace    SR MINN              2:13.43    2:11.51 q      
    r:+0.65  30.57      1:03.75 (33.18)
        1:37.48 (33.73)     2:11.51 (34.03)
 14 Tiltmann, Reese  JR IU                2:13.61    2:12.40 q      
    r:+0.77  30.35      1:03.50 (33.15)
        1:37.13 (33.63)     2:12.40 (35.27)
 15 Flowers, Ella    SR USC               2:11.75    2:12.44 q      
    r:+0.69  30.36      1:03.87 (33.51)
        1:37.98 (34.11)     2:12.44 (34.46)
 16 Delmas, Justine  FR WISC              2:12.77    2:12.57 q      
    r:+0.75  30.26      1:03.60 (33.34)
        1:37.84 (34.24)     2:12.57 (34.73)

Big Ten Women’s 500 Freestyle

Ohio State took the top two seeds in the 500 freestyle as the Buckeyes will look to make up some ground with a big event.

Sophomores Sienna Angove (4:38.60) and Mila Nikaronov (4:40.31) claimed the top spots.

Michigan junior Hannah Bellard took the third seed in 4:40.59.

Nebraska senior Gena Jorgenson took the fourth spot in 4:41.06, followed by USC seniors Justina Kozan (4:41.16) and Claire Tuggle (4:41.65), Wisconsin senior Blair Stoneburg (4:41.68) and another Ohio State sophomore, Emma Finlin (4:42.35).

 Event 11  Women 500 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
     B1G Meet: ! 4:33.86  2/20/2025 Anna Peplowski, Indiana
         POOL: $ 4:32.53  3/20/2014 Britta MacLean, Georgia
                 4:43.70  A NCAA Qualifying
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Angove, Sienna   SO OSU               4:45.40    4:38.60 qA     
    r:+0.69  25.19        52.96 (27.77)
        1:21.07 (28.11)     1:49.42 (28.35)
        2:18.06 (28.64)     2:46.88 (28.82)
        3:15.32 (28.44)     3:43.38 (28.06)
        4:11.37 (27.99)     4:38.60 (27.23)
  2 Nikanorov, Mila  SO OSU               4:36.97    4:40.31 qA     
    r:+0.73  26.05        53.88 (27.83)
        1:21.96 (28.08)     1:50.22 (28.26)
        2:18.73 (28.51)     2:46.89 (28.16)
        3:15.28 (28.39)     3:43.67 (28.39)
        4:12.26 (28.59)     4:40.31 (28.05)
  3 Bellard, Hannah  JR MICH              4:35.55    4:40.59 qA     
    r:+0.76  25.59        53.42 (27.83)
        1:21.66 (28.24)     1:50.16 (28.50)
        2:18.48 (28.32)     2:47.03 (28.55)
        3:15.60 (28.57)     3:44.20 (28.60)
        4:12.56 (28.36)     4:40.59 (28.03)
  4 Jorgenson, Gena  SR NEB               4:40.29    4:41.06 qA     
    r:+0.75  25.95        53.99 (28.04)
        1:22.49 (28.50)     1:50.91 (28.42)
        2:19.47 (28.56)     2:48.17 (28.70)
        3:16.61 (28.44)     3:44.85 (28.24)
        4:13.24 (28.39)     4:41.06 (27.82)
  5 Kozan, Justina   SR USC               4:38.00    4:41.16 qA     
    r:+0.70  25.48        53.16 (27.68)
        1:21.29 (28.13)     1:49.74 (28.45)
        2:18.31 (28.57)     2:46.95 (28.64)
        3:15.62 (28.67)     3:44.31 (28.69)
        4:13.00 (28.69)     4:41.16 (28.16)
  6 Tuggle, Claire   SR USC               4:35.42    4:41.65 qA     
    r:+0.66  25.47        53.11 (27.64)
        1:21.18 (28.07)     1:49.48 (28.30)
        2:17.98 (28.50)     2:46.54 (28.56)
        3:15.33 (28.79)     3:44.18 (28.85)
        4:13.24 (29.06)     4:41.65 (28.41)
  7 Stoneburg, Blai  SR WISC              4:39.60    4:41.68 qA     
    r:+0.69  26.04        54.25 (28.21)
        1:22.73 (28.48)     1:51.44 (28.71)
        2:20.26 (28.82)     2:48.89 (28.63)
        3:17.35 (28.46)     3:45.73 (28.38)
        4:14.03 (28.30)     4:41.68 (27.65)
  8 Finlin, Emma     SO OSU               4:42.70    4:42.35 qA     
    r:+0.69  25.96        54.04 (28.08)
        1:22.41 (28.37)     1:50.67 (28.26)
        2:19.09 (28.42)     2:47.43 (28.34)
        3:16.01 (28.58)     3:44.80 (28.79)
        4:13.69 (28.89)     4:42.35 (28.66)
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  9 Shaw, Adair      FR OSU               4:40.84    4:42.42 qA     
    r:+0.75  25.85        53.71 (27.86)
        1:21.82 (28.11)     1:50.25 (28.43)
        2:18.88 (28.63)     2:47.59 (28.71)
        3:16.27 (28.68)     3:45.04 (28.77)
        4:13.96 (28.92)     4:42.42 (28.46)
 10 Ploeger, Marian  SO MICH              4:43.59    4:42.73 qA     
    r:+0.77  26.06        54.14 (28.08)
        1:22.60 (28.46)     1:51.24 (28.64)
        2:19.95 (28.71)     2:48.71 (28.76)
        3:17.56 (28.85)     3:46.06 (28.50)
        4:14.72 (28.66)     4:42.73 (28.01)
 11 Nordmann, Zoe    SO NU                4:41.11    4:45.51 q      
    r:+0.69  26.26        54.73 (28.47)
        1:23.36 (28.63)     1:51.99 (28.63)
        2:20.85 (28.86)     2:49.84 (28.99)
        3:18.98 (29.14)     3:48.05 (29.07)
        4:17.10 (29.05)     4:45.51 (28.41)
 12 Waggoner, Maddi  JR WISC              4:44.20    4:45.79 q      
    r:+0.75  26.19        54.63 (28.44)
        1:23.39 (28.76)     1:52.31 (28.92)
        2:21.25 (28.94)     2:50.32 (29.07)
        3:19.36 (29.04)     3:48.47 (29.11)
        4:17.58 (29.11)     4:45.79 (28.21)
 13 Mattice, Reagan  SR PUR               4:47.35    4:46.27 q      
    r:+0.76  26.41        54.87 (28.46)
        1:23.60 (28.73)     1:52.61 (29.01)
        2:21.74 (29.13)     2:50.81 (29.07)
        3:19.87 (29.06)     3:48.95 (29.08)
        4:18.13 (29.18)     4:46.27 (28.14)
 14 Malys, Lucy      SR OSU               4:44.51    4:46.48 q      
    r:+0.71  26.47        54.66 (28.19)
        1:23.29 (28.63)     1:52.24 (28.95)
        2:21.24 (29.00)     2:50.24 (29.00)
        3:19.06 (28.82)     3:48.40 (29.34)
        4:17.87 (29.47)     4:46.48 (28.61)
 15 Roghair, Jade    JR MINN              4:48.06    4:46.58 q      
    r:+0.71  26.29        54.89 (28.60)
        1:23.46 (28.57)     1:52.16 (28.70)
        2:20.91 (28.75)     2:50.00 (29.09)
        3:19.14 (29.14)     3:48.20 (29.06)
        4:17.50 (29.30)     4:46.58 (29.08)
 16 Diaconescu, Reb  SO MICH              4:44.28    4:46.81 q      
    r:+0.75  26.05        54.17 (28.12)
        1:22.88 (28.71)     1:51.51 (28.63)
        2:20.30 (28.79)     2:49.55 (29.25)
        3:19.07 (29.52)     3:48.60 (29.53)
        4:18.10 (29.50)     4:46.81 (28.71)

Big Ten Women’s 50 Freestyle

Michigan senior Brady Kendall got to the wall fastest in the morning with a 21.43 in the 50 free. She was the only Wolverine to make the final.

Indiana took the next two spots with Liberty Clark (21.60) and Kristina Paegle (21.70).

Ohio State put two in the finals with sophomore Rachel Bockrath (21.84) with the fourth seed and freshman Carrie Furbee (21.92) the sixth, tied with USC’s Nicole Maier.

UCLA’s Jada Duncan was the fifth seed in 21.91. The eighth spot went to Iowa freshman Payton Flowers (21.94).

 Event 12  Women 50 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
     B1G Meet: ! 21.28  2/15/2018 Zhesi Li, Ohio State
         POOL: $ 20.90  12/5/2019 Abbey Weitzeil, California
                 22.28  A NCAA Qualifying
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Kendall, Brady   SR MICH                21.34      21.43 qA     
    r:+0.62  10.34        21.43 (11.09)
  2 Clark, Liberty   FR IU                  21.48      21.60 qA     
    r:+0.63  10.61        21.60 (10.99)
  3 Paegle, Kristin  SR IU                  21.56      21.70 qA     
    r:+0.70  10.59        21.70 (11.11)
  4 Bockrath, Rache  SO OSU                 22.19      21.84 qA     
    r:+0.72  10.65        21.84 (11.19)
  5 Duncan, Jada     FR UCLA                21.98      21.91 qA     
    r:+0.58  10.67        21.91 (11.24)
  6 Furbee, Carrie   FR OSU                 22.33      21.92 qA     
    r:+0.67  10.75        21.92 (11.17)
  6 Maier, Nicole    5Y USC                 22.09      21.92 qA     
    r:+0.64  10.75        21.92 (11.17)
  8 Flowers, Payton  FR IOWA                22.38      21.94 qA     
    r:+0.63  10.61        21.94 (11.33)
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  9 Greenhawt, Lexi  JR MICH                21.53      21.96 qA     
    r:+0.66  10.64        21.96 (11.32)
 10 Fack, Leila      SO MICH                22.66      22.00 qA     
    r:+0.65  10.58        22.00 (11.42)
 11 Wanner, Livi     SO MINN                22.10      22.10 qA     
    r:+0.65  10.79        22.10 (11.31)
 12 Hoeper, Grace    FR IU                  22.48      22.12 qA     
    r:+0.71  10.67        22.12 (11.45)
 13 Yovanovich, Cla  SO UCLA                22.35      22.17 qA     
    r:+0.71  10.81        22.17 (11.36)
 14 Ervin, Lindsay   SR NU                  22.20      22.25 qA     
    r:+0.64  10.83        22.25 (11.42)
 15 Tanko, Beatrix   JR NEB                 22.17      22.29 q      
    r:+0.65  10.86        22.29 (11.43)
 16 Liang, Christey  SR MICH                22.50      22.30 q      
    r:+0.67  11.00        22.30 (11.30)
 16 Tierney, Hailey  JR WISC                22.09      22.30 q      
    r:+0.60  10.68        22.30 (11.62)

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