400 Free Relay Claims School Record

MINNEAPOLIS – University of Iowa’s 400 free relay team set the school record on the final day of the 2026 Big Ten Championships inside the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on Saturday night.  

The quartet of freshman Payton Flowers, sophomores Audrey Olen and Rachel Dildine, and junior Jenna Kerr placed 10th overall after touching the wall in 3:17.94. 

In total, the Hawkeyes collected 14 top-10 program record book adjustments, 16 lifetime bests and nine season bests updates throughout the competition. 

The morning session saw three top-10 record book adjustments during the 100 free and four Hawkeyes advance to the finals overall. 

Payton Flowers, Jenna Kerr, and Rachel Dildine all updated their 100 freestyle top-10 records at Iowa. Flowers updated her mark as second in school history at 48.80, Kerr climbed to third at Iowa with a 49.27 and Dildine placed fifth at Iowa with 49.75. Audrey Olen tallied a personal-best 50.34 during the 100 free prelims as well. 

Flowers advanced to the C final of the 100 free with her 48.80 time. During the evening session, Flowers placed 24th overall after touching the wall in 49.46. 

During the 200 back event, sophomore Elizabeth Beam notched a personal-best 1:58.48 to advance to the C final. Beam finished in 1:58.71 to secure 23rd place overall. 

In the morning session of the 200 IM, junior Olivia Swalley touched the wall in 2:00.02 to secure a spot in the C final. Later in the evening session, Swalley took 19th overall (1:59.64). Freshman Willa Hage tabbed a personal-best 2:06.06 in the morning session of the 200 IM. 

The final Hawkeye to advance to the night session was senior diver Geneva Pauly off the platform. Pauly collected 235.35 points to advance to the B final, where she placed 11th overall and tallied 235.25 points. 

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH NATHAN MUNDT
“On the final day of the championships, we had six individual scorers. This surpasses our one day total in years. To top it off, the 400 freestyle relay team set another new school record to finish the meet. We’ve performed really well overall, and definitely created momentum for the future of this program. We are eager to get back to work and give ourselves an opportunity to qualify for NCAA Championships.”

In the 1,650 freestyle, junior Olivia Frantum added points for the Hawkeyes. Touching the wall in 16:50.16, Frantum finished in 21st place. 

The Hawkeyes collected four season bests throughout the morning sessions. Junior Hope Schimming in the 200 back (1:59.49), junior Josie Hood (2:02.53) and senior Leslie Wendel (2:06.84) in the 200 butterfly and senior Meredith O’Malley in the 1,650 free (16:50.16) finished their seasons strong.

The Hawkeyes finished in 12th place with 284 points. 

Freshman diver Zita Bernatsky was announced to the Big Ten Women’s Swimming and Diving All-Freshman Team, the league announced at the conclusion of the meet. 

UP NEXT: The Hawkeye divers will travel to College Station, Texas, to compete in the NCAA Zone Diving Championships from March 9-11. 

HAWKEYE RESULTS
100 Freestyle Trials
18. Payton Flowers - 48.80, PR + 2nd at Iowa
25. Jenna Kerr - 49.27, PR + 3rd at Iowa
35. Rachel Dildine - 49.75, PR + 5th at Iowa
46. Audrey Olen - 50.34, PR
54. Ella Jean Kelly - 51.10

100 Freestyle Finals
24. Payton Flowers - 49.46

200 Backstroke Trials
23. Elizabeth Beam - 1:58.48, PR
32. Hope Schimming - 1:59.49, SB
35. Hannah Cousins - 2:00.80
39. Addie Crain - 2:08.90

200 Backstroke Finals
23. Elizabeth Beam - 1:58.71

200 Butterfly Trials
30. Josie Hood - 2:02.53, SB
35. Leslie Wendel - 2:06.84, SB

200 IM Trials
19. Olivia Swalley - 2:00.02
42. Willa Hage - 2:06.06, PR
51. Emilie Mosner - 2:10.61

200 IM Finals
19. Olivia Swalley - 1:59.64

1650 Freestyle
21. Olivia Frantum - 16:50.16

400 Freestyle Relay
10. Flowers, Olen, Dildine, Kerr - 3:17.94, 1st at Iowa

Platform Diving Trials
13. Geneva Pauly - 235.35
20. Stephanie Avram - 217.20
45. Zita Bernatsky - 176.70
54. Kamila Swanson - 149.85

Platform Diving Finals
11. Geneva Pauly - 235.25