Flowers Sets School Record in 50 Free

MINNEAPOLIS – University of Iowa freshman Payton Flowers finished 8th in the 50 freestyle on Friday evening at the Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center.  

In the finals, Flowers swam 22.15 to place eighth against a loaded field. In the morning session, the freshman became the first Hawkeye to swim sub-22, clocking a school record 21.94 and finishing eighth in the trials.

Junior Olivia Swalley collected a season-best 2:14.04 in the preliminary round of the 200 breaststroke to advance to the C finals. During the evening session, Swalley finished in 2:14.19 to place 23rd overall. 

In the 3-meter dive preliminary round, senior Geneva Pauly tallied 279.95 points to head to the B final. In the evening session, Pauly placed 15th overall with 264.55 points.

The 400 medley relay team of Flowers, Swalley, sophomore Rachel Dildine and junior Jenna Kerr tied the program’s seventh-fastest mark at Iowa. Touching the wall in 3:38.28, the quartet placed 12th overall. Flowers posted the seventh-fastest time at Iowa in the 100 back with her lead leg time of 54.22. 

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH NATHAN MUNDT
“Today was an excellent day for us. Once again, we had numerous lifetime best performances in the prelims that led to three individual performances at finals. Olivia Swalley, Geneva Pauly, and Payton Flowers were incredible today. Hopefully, Payton put herself in position to qualify for NCAA Championships in the 50 free, which would be monumental as we continue to build this program. We’re excited to compete again tomorrow and finish strong.”

The third day of competition saw three top-10 record book updates, four season-best adjustments and five personal-bests tallied. 

During the 50 freestyle preliminary race, sophomore Audrey Olen climbed to ninth at Iowa with a time of 23.03. Sophomore Elizabeth Beam tallied a season-best 24.05 and senior Olivia Asay recorded a personal-best 24.91.

In the 100 backstroke trials, Asay and Beam recorded more personal record updates. Beam finished in 55.04 to collect a personal best, while Asay touched the wall in 58.29 to update her lifetime best. Junior Hope Schimming tabbed a season best of 55.41 as well. 

Juniors Jenna Kerr and Josie Hood and senior Leslie Wendel tallied personal record adjustments during the 500 free morning session. Kerr recorded a season-best time of 4:50.79, while Hood (4:57.41) and Wendel (5:13.73) tallied personal bests. 

Through 14 events, Iowa is in 12th place with a total of 215 points. 

UP NEXT: Iowa swimming and diving will close out the final day of the 2026 Big Ten Championships on Saturday. Prelims will begin at 10 a.m. and finals will take place at 5:30 p.m.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
50 Freestyle Trials
8. Payton Flowers - 21.94, 1st at Iowa 
39. Rachel Dildine - 22.86
46. Audrey Olen - 23.03, 9th at Iowa
49. Ella Jean Kelly - 23.12
59. Elizabeth Beam - 24.05, SB
61. Olivia Asay - 24.91, PR

50 Freestyle Finals
8. Payton Flowers 22.15

100 Backstroke Trials
36. Elizabeth Beam - 55.04, PR
38. Hope Schimming - 55.41, SB
41. Hannah Cousins - 56.08
46. Olivia Asay - 58.29, PR
47. Addie Crain - 1:00.93

200 Breaststroke Trials
23. Olivia Swalley - 2:14.04, SB 
38. Emilie Mosner - 2:18.85
48. Willa Hage - 2:22.67

200 Breaststroke Finals
23. Olivia Swalley - 2:14.19

500 Freestyle Trials
26. Jenna Kerr - 4:50.79, SB
36. Olivia Frantum - 4:54.11
42. Josie Hood - 4:57.41, PR
48. Leslie Wendel - 5:13.73, PR

400 Medley Relay
12. Flowers, Swalley, Dildine, Kerr - 3:38.28, 7th at Iowa

3-Meter Diving Trials
12. Geneva Pauly - 279.95
32. Lainey Woodward - 240.30
41. Zita Bernatsky - 227.90
60. Kamila Swanson - 170.70

3-Meter Diving Finals
15. Geneva Pauly - 264.55