Generational Run Ends for Ladies’s Swimming & Diving; NYU Dethrones Eagles in Closest Championship Meet in UAA Historical past

For the primary time since 1998, the University Athletic Association topped a convention champion apart from the Emory University Eagles because the 2026 UAA Championships got here all the way down to the ultimate occasion on the Ratner Athletic Center in Chicago, Illinois.

New York University wanted a history-making efficiency to knock off the Eagles and the Violets delivered throughout the 4 days in Chicago. Led by UAA Swimmer of the Year Kaley McIntyre, NYU claimed 10 occasion titles together with three particular person efforts by McIntyre to narrowly edge out the Eagles by a rating of 1,900-1885, with the 15-point margin of victory representing the closest on the ladies’s facet in UAA historical past.

The Eagles had a stellar week in their very own regard with six occasion championships as a group whereas combining for 23 All-UAA finishes. Of the six occasion titles, 5 had been gained by people together with two extra Saturday evening.

After coming into the ultimate day of competitors with a 24-point deficit, the Eagles steadily elevated their lead with performances within the 3-meter dive, 1650 Freestyle and 200 Backstroke however the Violets started to mount their comeback with robust showings within the 100 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke, and 200 Fly to arrange a winner-take-all ultimate occasion within the 400 Freestyle Relay.

The Eagles had 5 All-UAA performers throughout the primary three occasions with senior Meredith Liu headlining the finishers together with her first-ever UAA title within the 1650 Freestyle, throwing down a sub-17:00 time as she gained at 16:59.77.

Additionally, senior Ren Watt led three Eagles within the finals of the 3-meter as she took third place with a rating of 473.35 and within the 1650 Free, senior Morgan Main gained bronze together with her mark of 17:05.83.

Emory’s lead elevated to its largest of the week at 126 factors following the 200 Backstroke the place the Eagles had six athletes end inside the highest 9 with freshman Holly Brundage (2^nd, 1:59.63) and junior Emma Lunn (3^rd, 1:59.75) main the rostrum finishes for the Gold caps.

The Eagles added three extra All-UAA finishes over the following three occasions with junior Katie Cohen profitable her third consecutive convention title within the 200 Breaststroke at 2:15.96 whereas the group noticed runner-up finishes by sophomore Maddy Lu (2:16.74) within the 200 Breaststroke and sophomore Elodie Mitchell within the 200 Fly (2:01.52). However, the Violets used their depth in these occasions to slash the Eagles’ result in the narrowest of margins because the groups went into the relay with Emory in entrance 1,797-1,796.

New York began the occasion with a win within the comfort ultimate as their B group outpaced the Eagles’ B group of Mitchell, senior Penny Celtnieks, sophomore Allison Greeneway, and senior Ava Kennedy which touched at 3:24.77. The win put NYU again forward by 5 factors, organising the dramatic finale.

The Violets, led by McIntyre, secured their first-ever convention championship with a profitable time of three:20.42 whereas the Emory group of graduate pupil Sammi Thiele, junior Natalie Boorjian, sophomore Caitlin Crysel and senior Avery Sammons took third at 3:25.10.

With UAAs concluded, the Eagles will flip their sights to the ultimate final probability meet subsequent week as Emory will host its February Invitational on the 20^th and 21^st earlier than gearing up for the NCAA Championships subsequent month in Indianapolis.