The 2026 Big 12 Championships have reached their thrilling climax, with Day 5 prelims setting the stage for an explosive finale. But who will emerge victorious? Let's dive into the action and find out!
The Final Stretch:
With the championship on the line, every second counts. The morning session on Day 5 featured a reduced schedule, with only three individual events before the distance session for the 1650 freestyle. The pressure was on to secure those crucial points for the team standings.
Women's 200 Backstroke:
Arizona's Kayman Neal shone in the backstroke, claiming the top seed with a time of 1:53.05. But the real excitement came in the finals, where Neal swam a smooth 1:54.13, just a second off her seed time. This strategic swim secured her the top qualifying spot, showcasing her consistency and race management.
Houston's Alexia Duncan, the individual 100 backstroke champion, impressed with a new personal best of 1:54.60, shaving off a second from her previous record. Duncan, along with teammates Elizabeth Jimenez and Rylle Simoneaux, will be a force to reckon with in the finals.
ASU's Gerda Szilagyi, after a strategic scratch from the 100 freestyle, focused her energy on the 200 backstroke, finishing third in prelims with a time of 1:55.50. Arizona's Paige Armstrong and Julia Smurzynska also qualified for the finals, ensuring a competitive showdown.
Men's 200 Backstroke:
Arizona's dominance continued with Alex Desangles taking the top seed in 1:40.00. Desangles' lightning-fast opening 50 split of 23.51 set the tone for his exceptional performance. But the real question is: Can he maintain this pace in the finals?
ASU's Adam Chaney and JT Ewing, both with impressive seed times, qualified for the finals. Chaney, with a time of 1:41.82, and Ewing, with a time of 1:42.79, will be looking to challenge Desangles for the top spot.
Cincinnati's Aiden Gerst, with a time of 1:42.36, and TCU's Filip Suchanski and Edgar Cicanci, both qualifying with times of 1:43.21 and 1:43.51 respectively, complete the lineup for an intense final.
Women's 100 Freestyle:
ASU's Albane Cachot is on the verge of a remarkable achievement, aiming to sweep all sprint events. She secured the top qualifying spot in the 100 freestyle with a time of 47.51, a significant drop from her seed time. Can she maintain this momentum and make history?
Arizona's Julia Wozniak, with a time of 48.46, will be a strong contender in the finals. Wozniak, along with teammates Riley Botton, Patricija Kondraskaite, Meric Demirtepe, and Maryam Sheikhalizadehkhanghah, will represent Arizona in the final showdown.
Men's 100 Freestyle:
ASU dominated the men's 100 freestyle, claiming six of the eight qualifying spots. Jonny Kulow led the charge with a time of 41.56, followed closely by Remi Fabiani (41.94) and Quin Seider (41.96). Arizona's Tomas Lukminas and Ralph Daleiden Ciuferri also qualified, ensuring a thrilling final.
Women's 200 Breaststroke:
Houston's Flo Peter and TCU's Nina Vadovicova engaged in a thrilling battle, with Peter touching the wall just two-tenths ahead of Vadovicova. Peter's time of 2:10.29, a new season best, sets the stage for a captivating final. Vadovicova, the lone swimmer under 2:10 in the morning session, will be looking to reclaim her top spot.
ASU's Sonia Vaishnani and Lucie Vasquez, along with Arizona's Eleni Gewalt, will also be in the mix, ensuring a competitive final.
Men's 200 Breaststroke:
ASU's senior swimmer Andy Dobrzanski showcased his experience with a dominant performance, securing the top spot in the prelims with a time of 1:53.09. Dobrzanski's consistent splits across all four 50s highlight his race strategy.
ASU's Brayden Taivassalo, with a time of 1:54.57, and Lucien Vergnes, with a time of 1:55.45, will join Dobrzanski in the finals. BYU's Peter Etzold, Cincinnati's Kyle Bumgardner and Benson Wong, West Virginia's Rafael Mimoso, and TCU's Felipe Goncalves complete the lineup for an exciting final.
And there you have it—the stage is set for an epic conclusion to the 2026 Big 12 Championships. Which team will rise to the occasion and claim the title? Will the Sun Devils maintain their lead, or will there be a surprise upset? Stay tuned for the thrilling finals, where every stroke and every second will matter!
