Cyclones End Ninth with 520 Factors at Big 12 Championships

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Cyclones concluded the 2026 Big 12 Championships with a ninth-place end, totaling 520 factors over 5 days of competitors.

“When I look at where we started and where we are now, I couldn’t be prouder,” mentioned head coach Matt Leach. “Last year we scored 397 points, and this year we scored 520. The last time we had an A finalist was 2023, so we went and from no A finalists to four. That growth is a credit to our seniors, our staff and the way this team stuck together all season. I’m proud of what we accomplished and excited about where we’re headed.”

Time Trials

Kendall Mallers swam a 24.65 within the 50 butterfly to mechanically qualify for the National Invitational Championships, clearing the qualifying commonplace of 24.89.

200 Back

Three Cyclones represented Iowa State within the 200 again. Emma Kuhn led the group with a 2:00.63, adopted by Lili Neisser in 2:03.48 and Madi Dohrn in 2:05.28.

100 Free

The Cyclones had a number of entries within the 100 freestyle, led by Piper Hagen’s 52.06. Evelyn Mulvihill adopted intently behind in 52.30, whereas Megan Marquardt (52.48), Keirlyn Mullica (52.52), Liv Moore (53.26), and Kendall Schindler (53.42) additionally competed in prelims.

200 Breast

Iowa State noticed sturdy performances within the 200 breaststroke, advancing three swimmers to finals competitors.

Grace Swoboda posted a 2:11.92 in prelims to position sixth and qualify for the A last. The swim moved her into second place on Iowa State’s all-time prime performers and prime instances lists and mechanically certified her for the National Invitational Championships after clearing the two:13.28 commonplace.

Anja Peck clocked a 2:13.72 to complete thirteenth and advance to the B last, whereas Abbi Crum swam a 2:15.33 to position twentieth and qualify for the C last. Matilde Geromin added a 2:18.48 in prelim competitors.

In finals, Swoboda led the Cyclones with a seventh-place end within the A last, clocking a 2:11.89 to decrease her time from the morning session whereas retaining her No. 2 rating in program historical past. Peck recorded a 2:14.23 to complete fifteenth total within the B last, and Crum added a 2:16.44 within the C last to position twenty second.

1650 Free

Corinne Guist and Carlotta Gazzola represented the Cyclones within the 1650 freestyle. Gazzola posted a 16:47.64 to position thirteenth total and transfer into sixth on Iowa State’s all-time prime performers and prime instances lists, in addition to third on this system’s freshman information record.

Guist added a time of 17:10.98 within the occasion.

Platform Diving

The Cyclones had three divers advance to the B last, together with Kate Mitchell who led the group with a 215.70 in prelims to position twelfth and qualify for finals. She adopted with a 213.50 to complete fourth within the B last.

Ally Blumenfeld scored a 207.90 in prelims (14th) and positioned eighth within the B last with a 183.30.

Maggie Bendell recorded a 205.65 in prelims (fifteenth) earlier than posting a 211.05 to complete fifth within the B last.

400 Free Relay

The staff of Corinne Guist, Grace Swoboda, Emma Kuhn and Piper Hagen closed out the championships within the 400 free relay, ending tenth with a time of three:25.12.

On Deck

Iowa State will proceed their postseason competitors as divers who earned zone qualifying scores will compete on the NCAA Zone Diving Championships on March Sep 11 in College Station, Texas. Swimmers who certified for the National Invitational Championships will journey to Ocala, Florida, to compete March 12-14.