The Iowa State swim and dive team concluded competition at the Big 12 Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, finishing ninth after five days of competition with 520 team points.
Despite the placement, the Cyclones delivered multiple record-breaking performances, personal bests and National Invitational Championships qualifications throughout the meet.
Day one highlights
Iowa State opened the championships with a record-setting swim in the 200-yard medley relay. The A relay team of freshmen Piper Hagen and Kendall Mallers, sophomore Grace Swoboda and junior Emma Kuhn posted a time of 1:40.68 to finish eighth. The mark ranks ninth all-time in program history.
The diving squad contributed 44 of Iowa State’s 122 points Tuesday, totaling 239.90. Sophomore Maggie Bendell, senior Ally Blumenfeld and senior Kate Mitchell led the effort.
Day Two Highlights
Freshman Carlotta Gazzola highlighted Wednesday’s events in the 500-yard freestyle. She won her preliminary heat in 4:54.65 before improving to 4:53.18 in the C final to place 20th overall. The time ranks ninth in school history.
Kuhn qualified for the B final in the 200-yard individual medley after swimming 2:00.33 in prelims. She finished 10th overall with a 2:00.43, moving to fourth on Iowa State’s all-time list in the event.
In the 1-meter dive, Bendell, Mitchell and freshman Jade Hazes qualified for the B final, while freshman Iona Moffat advanced to the C final. Bendell and Mitchell improved their scores in the finals competition.
Day three highlights
Mallers posted a personal-best 55.07 in the 100-yard butterfly, while Hagen recorded a personal-best 1:49.98 in the 200-yard freestyle.
Bendell became Iowa State’s first A finalist of the meet in diving, placing eighth in the 3-meter dive with a score of 257.05.
The 400-yard medley relay team of Hagen, Swoboda, Kuhn and Mallers broke the school record with a time of 3:39.15, finishing sixth.
Day four highlights
Mallers qualified for the A final in the 200-yard butterfly with a 2:00.11 in prelims, becoming the fastest freshman in program history in the event.
In the 100-yard breaststroke, sophomore Anja Peck swam 1:02.22 and Kuhn clocked 1:02.42 in prelims, with both advancing to the C final.
Swoboda broke her own school record in the 100-yard breaststroke, swimming 1:00.18 in prelims and matching that time in the A final to place fifth.
Day five highlights
Swoboda recorded a personal-best 2:11.92 in the 200-yard breaststroke, moving to second on Iowa State’s all-time list and qualifying for the A final and the National Invitational Championships.
Peck advanced to the B final in the event, while junior Abbi Crum qualified for the C final with a 2:15.33.
Mallers swam 24.65 in the 50-yard butterfly to qualify for the National Invitational Championships alongside Swoboda.
Gazzola posted a 16:47.64 in the 1,650-yard freestyle, ranking sixth all-time in program history.
In platform diving, Mitchell placed 12th with a score of 215.70, Blumenfeld placed 14th at 207.90 and Bendell finished 15th with 205.65.
