IOWA CITY, Iowa – Standard and record-breaking performances highlighted the third day of action at the 2026 Summit League Swimming and Diving Championships inside the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center. Denver enters the final day holding the team lead on both the men’s and women’s sides.
Women’s Current Standings
| Place |
School |
Score |
| 1. |
Denver |
653 |
| 2. |
South Dakota |
565 |
| 3. |
Omaha |
354 |
| 4. |
South Dakota State |
299 |
| 5. |
St. Thomas |
271.5 |
| 6. |
Southern Indiana |
180.5 |
| 7. |
Eastern Illinois |
118 |
Men’s Current Standings
| Place |
School |
Score |
| 1. |
Denver |
628 |
| 2. |
South Dakota |
569 |
| 3. |
Omaha |
467.5 |
| 4. |
South Dakota State |
292 |
| 5. |
St. Thomas |
239.5 |
| 6. |
Southern Indiana |
218 |
| 7. |
Eastern Illinois |
131 |
Top Performers
Day three opened with a gold-medal swim from Denver freshman Julia Saxman, who captured the women’s 100-yard butterfly in 52.86 for her second individual win of the meet. Jenna Currier of South Dakota State followed with silver in 54.83, earning the Jackrabbits their first medal of the championship.
DU’s Hamish McLellan followed with a win in the men’s 100-yard butterfly, touching first in 46.53 to secure his first gold medal of the meet. Dylan Alt of South Dakota placed second in 47.06, while Braxton McGrath of SDSU rounded out the podium with a time of 47.70.
The Pioneers swept the podium in the women’s 400-yard IM, with Sabrina Rachjaibun taking gold (4:14.97), followed by Mina Ada Solaker in silver (4:19.27) and Lilly Zippel earning bronze (4:21.38). Solaker’s runner-up finish came after she had claimed the event title in each of the previous three Summit League Championships.
In the men’s 400 IM, DU’s Nico Morton took first with a time of 3:49.45 to successfully defend his title. His winning time ranks third all-time in league history.
The 200-yard freestyle showcased a Denver freshman surge, as Samantha Synsvoll secured her second gold medal of the meet on the women’s side with a time of 1:48.33, while Pierce followed with a victory in the men’s race, touching in 1:37.69.
South Dakota claimed its first gold medal of the night in the women’s 100-yard breaststroke, as Taylor Buhr touched first in 1:01.30. Buhr was followed by fellow Coyote Madilyn Gehrke in second at 1:02.08, while DU’s Tenaya Winter rounded out the podium in 1:02.24.
On the men’s side of the 100-yard breaststroke, DU’s Kito Campbell touched first in 52.61, finishing ahead of runner-up Nikolas Keuser of SDSU, the defending champion in the event.
Ali Beay of Denver claimed gold in the women’s 100-yard backstroke, touching first in 54.42 to earn her first individual win of the meet. Jordyn Davis followed closely in second at 54.44, securing the first individual medal of the championship for St. Thomas, while DU’s Darian Koler rounded out the podium in 54.71.
After shattering the championship record in the men’s 100-yard backstroke prelims with a 45.59 and recording an NCAA Standard, South Dakota’s Nick Rounds delivered another standout performance in the finals. Rounds re-broke his own record, touching in 45.21 to capture gold while posting an NCAA automatic qualifying time. Coyote teammates Joaquin Contreras-Fallico and Alt finished in second and third, respectively, to complete the podium sweep.
In the final men’s diving event of the championship, Denver’s Colin Breuer earned his first gold medal of the weekend on the 3-meter board, scoring 335.0 points. Owen Kipp of Omaha followed in second with 323.8 points, while South Dakota’s Maddox Mork rounded out the podium in third at 318.8.
The DU women’s relay team capped day three with a victory in the 400-yard medley relay, while the USD men claimed gold in the men’s event. The Pioneer women’s quartet of Beay, Winter, Saxman, and Cardenas touched first in 3:40.34, while the Coyote men’s team of Contreras-Fallico, Brock Russell, Alt, and Rounds finished in 3:09.08.
Women’s Champions Crowned
100 Yard Butterfly: Julia Saxman, Denver | 52.86
400 Yard IM: Sabrina Rachjaibun, Denver | 4:14.97
200 Yard Freestyle: Samantha Synsvoll, Denver | 1:48.33.
100 Yard Breaststroke: Taylor Buhr, South Dakota | 1:01.30
100 Yard Backstroke: Ali Beay, Denver | 54.42
400 Yard Medley Relay: Denver | 3:40.34
Men’s Champions Crowned
100 Yard Butterfly: Hamish McLellan, Denver | 46.53
400 Yard IM: Nico Morton, Denver | 3:49.45
200 Yard Freestyle: Pierce Bickerton, Denver | 1:37.69
100 Yard Breaststroke: Kito Campbell, Denver | 52.61
100 Yard Backstroke: Nick Rounds, South Dakota | 45.21 (NCAA Standard)
3M dive: Colin Breuer, Denver | 335.00
400 Yard Medley Relay: South Dakota | 3:09.08
Up Next
The championship comes to a close Saturday inside Campus Recreation & Wellness Center with the swimming prelims at 10 a.m. CT, diving prelims at 12:30 p.m. CT and finals at 5:30 p.m. CT.
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