NCAA Division III Championships: Kaley McIntyre Sets NCAA Record in 50 Free Three-Peat
Kaley McIntyre was the 2024 Division III Swimmer of the Year. Her defense of that title started in fine fashion Wednesday night.
The NYU junior won the women’s 50 freestyle at the NCAA Division III Championships at Greensboro Aquatic Center, twice lowering the Division III mark. It’s the third title for the junior.
Action from Night 1:
Women’s 500 freestyle
Bowdoin freshman Natalie Garre played spoiler for Kenyon sophomore Bengisu Caymaz’s repeat bid. Garre went 4:44.90 after having been the fastest qualifier in 4:48.26. Garre had enough to outlast Caymaz, who went 4:46.67 to finish second.
Third was Penelope Helm of Emory. She had been sixth last year. Quinn Brown of Denison was fourth up a spot from last year. Kenyon had two A finalists, with freshman Nora Lee Brown in the top eight. NYU nearly cashed in big time, with Aanya Wala fifth. They also placed 10th, 11th and 12th, though last year’s silver medalist Caitlin Marshall might’ve wanted to be higher than 10th.
Event 1 Women 500 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Garre, Natalie FR Bowdoin 4:48.26 4:44.90
25.81 54.00 (28.19)
1:22.59 (28.59) 1:51.39 (28.80)
2:20.22 (28.83) 2:49.22 (29.00)
3:18.11 (28.89) 3:47.28 (29.17)
4:16.42 (29.14) 4:44.90 (28.48)
2 Caymaz, Bengisu SO Kenyon 4:50.56 4:46.67
26.31 54.41 (28.10)
1:22.89 (28.48) 1:51.82 (28.93)
2:20.87 (29.05) 2:50.16 (29.29)
3:19.38 (29.22) 3:48.56 (29.18)
4:17.82 (29.26) 4:46.67 (28.85)
3 Helm, Penelope 5Y Emory 4:53.05 4:51.02
26.50 55.20 (28.70)
1:24.48 (29.28) 1:54.13 (29.65)
2:23.72 (29.59) 2:53.50 (29.78)
3:23.64 (30.14) 3:54.19 (30.55)
4:23.00 (28.81) 4:51.02 (28.02)
4 Brown, Quinn JR Denison 4:51.78 4:51.20
26.61 55.21 (28.60)
1:24.15 (28.94) 1:52.83 (28.68)
2:21.90 (29.07) 2:51.05 (29.15)
3:20.38 (29.33) 3:50.61 (30.23)
4:21.19 (30.58) 4:51.20 (30.01)
5 Wala, Aanya SO NYU 4:53.80 4:52.74
26.21 54.92 (28.71)
1:24.24 (29.32) 1:53.80 (29.56)
2:23.53 (29.73) 2:53.33 (29.80)
3:23.37 (30.04) 3:53.62 (30.25)
4:23.54 (29.92) 4:52.74 (29.20)
6 Dunn, Madeleine JR Tufts 4:52.09 4:53.35
27.41 56.52 (29.11)
1:25.85 (29.33) 1:55.55 (29.70)
2:24.97 (29.42) 2:54.45 (29.48)
3:24.10 (29.65) 3:53.76 (29.66)
4:23.89 (30.13) 4:53.35 (29.46)
7 Brown, Nora Lee FR Kenyon 4:52.78 4:53.40
27.10 56.39 (29.29)
1:25.90 (29.51) 1:55.53 (29.63)
2:24.97 (29.44) 2:54.65 (29.68)
3:24.47 (29.82) 3:54.37 (29.90)
4:24.36 (29.99) 4:53.40 (29.04)
8 Robins, Clementine SO Williams 4:52.72 4:56.18
26.74 55.69 (28.95)
1:25.03 (29.34) 1:54.96 (29.93)
2:25.20 (30.24) 2:55.55 (30.35)
3:25.75 (30.20) 3:56.09 (30.34)
4:26.50 (30.41) 4:56.18 (29.68)
Men’s 500 freestyle
For the second straight year, Justin Finkel of Connecticut College is the 500 free champion, this time in 4:22.43. He wasn’t the top seed out of prelims but he surged in the final 100 yards, with six swimmers separated by just over a second at the 400-yard mark. Finkel came home in 25.36-24.59 to get in first, two seconds ahead of Williams’ Ryan Nunez.
Lucas Lang, the leader at 400 yards, finished third in 4:24.52. NYU’s Connor Vincent was fourth, a spot lower than last year. Coast Guard Academy’s Sean Lyman, tops in prelims, was fifth in 4:25.15, a half-second slower than the morning.
Event 2 Men 500 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Finkel, Justin SR Conn College 4:25.59 4:22.43
24.05 50.68 (26.63)
1:17.39 (26.71) 1:44.51 (27.12)
2:11.80 (27.29) 2:39.02 (27.22)
3:06.06 (27.04) 3:32.48 (26.42)
3:57.84 (25.36) 4:22.43 (24.59)
2 Nunez, Ryan SO Williams 4:26.37 4:24.40
23.92 50.33 (26.41)
1:17.66 (27.33) 1:44.95 (27.29)
2:12.01 (27.06) 2:39.17 (27.16)
3:06.13 (26.96) 3:32.94 (26.81)
3:59.32 (26.38) 4:24.40 (25.08)
3 Lang, Lucas SR C-M-S 4:26.02 4:24.54
23.58 49.82 (26.24)
1:16.60 (26.78) 1:44.06 (27.46)
2:11.22 (27.16) 2:38.22 (27.00)
3:05.06 (26.84) 3:32.00 (26.94)
3:58.66 (26.66) 4:24.54 (25.88)
4 Vincent, Connor SR NYU 4:26.26 4:24.77
24.00 50.21 (26.21)
1:17.21 (27.00) 1:44.47 (27.26)
2:11.88 (27.41) 2:39.45 (27.57)
3:06.71 (27.26) 3:33.67 (26.96)
3:59.94 (26.27) 4:24.77 (24.83)
5 Lyman, Sean SR Coast Guard 4:24.62 4:25.15
23.70 50.20 (26.50)
1:17.11 (26.91) 1:44.33 (27.22)
2:11.61 (27.28) 2:38.75 (27.14)
3:05.77 (27.02) 3:32.63 (26.86)
3:59.30 (26.67) 4:25.15 (25.85)
6 Distenfeld, Tyler SR Denison 4:27.85 4:25.51
23.75 50.02 (26.27)
1:16.98 (26.96) 1:44.37 (27.39)
2:11.62 (27.25) 2:38.62 (27.00)
3:05.69 (27.07) 3:32.82 (27.13)
3:59.62 (26.80) 4:25.51 (25.89)
7 Hu, Grant FR MIT 4:27.30 4:25.76
24.35 50.63 (26.28)
1:17.38 (26.75) 1:44.53 (27.15)
2:11.64 (27.11) 2:38.47 (26.83)
3:05.33 (26.86) 3:32.45 (27.12)
3:59.51 (27.06) 4:25.76 (26.25)
8 Schwartz, Alexander FR Chicago 4:25.51 4:26.19
24.24 50.68 (26.44)
1:17.58 (26.90) 1:44.91 (27.33)
2:12.22 (27.31) 2:39.51 (27.29)
3:06.55 (27.04) 3:33.42 (26.87)
4:00.08 (26.66) 4:26.19 (26.11)
Women’s 200 individual medley
Kaley McIntyre wasn’t the first 3-peat of the night, thanks to Sophia Verkleeren of Williams, who went 1:59.93 to get the win. She just about held off Kenyon’s Jennah Fadely, despite not being at her quickest. Verkleeren went 1:58.73 in prelims, then 1.2 seconds slower at night. That let Fadely clip within .16 seconds in 2:00.09.
The top four all made the A final last year. Fadely was third in 2024. Third in 2025 is Kate Augustyn of MIT in 2:01.35, up from fifth last year. Hope’s Greta Gidley, last year’s runner-up, dipped to fourth in 2:01.40. Gabriella Wei added a second A finalist for Kenyon in fifth.
Event 3 Women 200 Yard IM
==================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Verkleeren, Sophia SR Williams 1:58.73 1:59.93
25.88 56.35 (30.47)
1:30.76 (34.41) 1:59.93 (29.17)
2 Fadely, Jennah SR Kenyon 2:00.50 2:00.09
26.32 57.73 (31.41)
1:31.69 (33.96) 2:00.09 (28.40)
3 Augustyn, Kate SR MIT 2:01.74 2:01.35
25.85 54.88 (29.03)
1:32.10 (37.22) 2:01.35 (29.25)
4 Gidley, Greta SR Hope 2:02.45 2:01.40
26.76 57.70 (30.94)
1:32.18 (34.48) 2:01.40 (29.22)
5 Wei, Gabriella SR Kenyon 2:02.36 2:02.06
26.49 58.28 (31.79)
1:32.27 (33.99) 2:02.06 (29.79)
6 Ferguson, Phoebe JR Denison 2:02.53 2:02.22
25.28 56.89 (31.61)
1:32.82 (35.93) 2:02.22 (29.40)
7 Harris, Emily JR Denison 2:02.09 2:02.33
25.85 55.91 (30.06)
1:33.55 (37.64) 2:02.33 (28.78)
8 Mayfield, Mackenzie JR C-M-S 2:02.63 2:04.00
25.87 56.73 (30.86)
1:33.68 (36.95) 2:04.00 (30.32)
Men’s 200 individual medley
Carnegie Mellon sophomore Brayden Morford went 1:45.50 to win by three-quarters of a second, improving his bronze medal from last year to gold. Denison’s Patrick Daly was second in 1:46.26. He was first 150 yards, but Morford split 25.08 coming home, .94 seconds quicker.
Chicago’s Cooper Costello finished third in 1:46.53, .03 up on Kenyon’s Kirill Sidorko. Dension had a second A finalist in Devin Testin, who finished fifth.
Event 4 Men 200 Yard IM
==================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Morford, Brayden SO Carnegie Mellon 1:46.73 1:45.50
22.40 49.35 (26.95)
1:20.42 (31.07) 1:45.50 (25.08)
2 Daly, Patrick SR Denison 1:46.23 1:46.26
23.25 50.20 (26.95)
1:20.24 (30.04) 1:46.26 (26.02)
3 Costello, Cooper SO Chicago 1:47.34 1:46.53
22.25 49.68 (27.43)
1:20.64 (30.96) 1:46.53 (25.89)
4 Sidorko, Kirill JR Kenyon 1:46.99 1:46.56
22.72 50.07 (27.35)
1:20.80 (30.73) 1:46.56 (25.76)
5 Testin, Devin SO Denison 1:47.74 1:47.67
23.20 50.44 (27.24)
1:21.70 (31.26) 1:47.67 (25.97)
6 Nechydyuk, Max FR NYU 1:47.54 1:47.68
23.47 50.65 (27.18)
1:21.70 (31.05) 1:47.68 (25.98)
7 Yburan, Jaeden-hans SR NYU 1:47.28 1:47.75
23.51 51.14 (27.63)
1:22.27 (31.13) 1:47.75 (25.48)
8 Schalet, Oliver SR Williams 1:47.59 1:48.01
23.70 51.20 (27.50)
1:22.12 (30.92) 1:48.01 (25.89)
Women’s 50 freestyle
Kaley McIntyre served notice that she wasn’t playing around. After setting the NCAA record in 22.46 last year, she went 22.30 in prelims, then sped up to 22.15 in finals to get the win. There was no one matching that turn of speed.
Emory’s Ava Kennedy finished second in 22.55, followed by Swarthmore’s Genine Collins in 22.79. MIT had two in the A final, led by Annika Naveen in 22.89. The MIT finalists didn’t include last year’s silver medalist Alex Turvey, who went 22.89 to win the B final.
Event 5 Women 50 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 McIntyre, Kaley JR NYU 22.30 22.15
10.89 22.15 (11.26)
2 Kennedy, Ava SR Emory 22.79 22.66
11.00 22.66 (11.66)
3 Collins, Genine SO Swarthmore 22.90 22.79
11.08 22.79 (11.71)
4 Naveen, Annika JR MIT 23.02 22.89
11.16 22.89 (11.73)
5 Coppo, Francesca SO Pomona-Pitzer 22.88 22.91
11.21 22.91 (11.70)
6 Roberson, Ella SO MIT 22.97 22.97
11.16 22.97 (11.81)
7 Fathman, Hannah SR Albion 23.03 23.11
11.02 23.11 (12.09)
8 Kadlecik, Grace SR Denison 22.97 23.18
10.85 23.18 (12.33)
Men’s 50 freestyle
St. Mary’s James Schwenk won the title in 19.53, .06 quicker than he’d been in prelims. Schwenk was fifth last year. Maximilian Cory kept it close in 19.60, .01 over Kenyon’s Djordje Dragojlovic second in 19.61. (Dragojlovic had been third last year.) Calvin’s David Bajwa was also an A final holdover, going from seventh in 2024 to fourth.
The top 12 finishers represented 12 different schools.
Event 6 Men 50 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Schwenk, James SR St. Mary's MD 19.59 19.53
9.43 19.53 (10.10)
2 Cory, Maximillian JR Bates 19.56 19.60
9.43 19.60 (10.17)
3 Dragojlovic, Djordje JR Kenyon 19.66 19.61
9.53 19.61 (10.08)
4 Bajwa, David SR Calvin 19.69 19.75
9.46 19.75 (10.29)
5 Jacobs, Casey SO Pomona-Pitzer 19.74 19.76
9.62 19.76 (10.14)
6 Reitan, Kyle SO UC Santa Cruz 19.95 19.95
9.46 19.95 (10.49)
7 Taft, Nathaniel SO Hamilton 19.93 19.99
9.80 19.99 (10.19)
8 Dzurica, Jacob JR Saint Vincent 19.82 20.08
9.63 20.08 (10.45)
Men’s 3-meter diving
With last year’s champion Israel Zavaleta trading up to Division II, SUNY Geneseo’s Trent Makowiec bumped up from second to first, with a winning score of 558.35. He was precisely three points up on Centre’s Avery Balch, third last year and silver now. His teammate Rowan Fitzsimmons was behind him by a spot again, this time getting bronze. Rhodes’ John Bueuerlein finished fourth after having been seventh last year.
Event 7 Men 3 mtr Diving
==================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals
==================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Makowiec, Trent 5Y SUNY Geneseo 532.65 558.35
2 Balch, Avery SR Centre 547.65 555.35
3 Fitzsimmons, Rowan SO Centre 510.35 505.75
4 Beuerlein, John 5Y Rhodes 481.55 497.00
5 Toth, Justin JR Centre 478.80 495.45
6 Kish, Gellert SR RIT 502.70 492.65
7 Compton, Conor JR Alfred State 509.05 485.65
8 Fogle, Nick JR Denison 493.95 482.85
Women’s 400 medley relay
MIT made a run at the NCAA record, falling .43 seconds back in 3:38.48. They appeared to be waltzing to the title until NYU’s anchor Kaley McIntyre hit the water.
MIT’s squad was composed of Kate Augustyn, Sarah Bernard, Sydney Smith and Alex Turvey. Augustyn went out in 53.61.
McIntyre made it close, getting NYU within .08 seconds with her anchor split of 47.76. Kenyon was third, with Chicago fourth.
Event 8 Women 400 Yard Medley Relay
====================================================================
School Prelims Finals
====================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 MIT 3:41.55 3:38.48
1) Augustyn, Kate SR 2) Bernard, Sarah FR
3) Smith, Sydney SO 4) Turvey, Alex 5Y
25.93 53.61 (53.61)
1:22.62 (29.01) 1:55.42 (1:01.81)
2:19.61 (24.19) 2:49.12 (53.70)
3:12.61 (23.49) 3:38.48 (49.36)
2 NYU 3:40.13 3:38.56
1) Ranile, Nicole JR 2) Li, Anna SR
3) Xayaveth, Hope SO 4) McIntyre, Kaley JR
26.43 54.28 (54.28)
1:23.27 (28.99) 1:56.90 (1:02.62)
2:21.46 (24.56) 2:50.80 (53.90)
3:13.34 (22.54) 3:38.56 (47.76)
3 Kenyon 3:40.78 3:39.75
1) Eisenbeis, Gwen JR 2) Fadely, Jennah SR
3) Ford, Celia SR 4) Geboy, Sydney SR
26.42 55.15 (55.15)
1:22.74 (27.59) 1:54.45 (59.30)
2:19.65 (25.20) 2:49.64 (55.19)
3:13.56 (23.92) 3:39.75 (50.11)
4 Chicago 3:40.82 3:40.50
1) Forest, Elisabella SR 2) Soosai, Alicia JR
3) Xu, Emily JR 4) Zhao, Karen SR
26.52 54.80 (54.80)
1:23.45 (28.65) 1:56.73 (1:01.93)
2:21.33 (24.60) 2:50.97 (54.24)
3:14.43 (23.46) 3:40.50 (49.53)
5 Denison 3:41.53 3:41.75
1) Park, Jasmine SO 2) Thielking, Drue JR
3) Ferguson, Phoebe JR 4) Vogen, Avery SR
26.79 55.36 (55.36)
1:24.11 (28.75)
2:22.37 ( ) 2:51.21 ( )
3:15.21 (24.00) 3:41.75 (50.54)
6 Williams 3:43.40 3:42.03
1) Robins, Clementine SO 2) Wishnack, Charlotte SR
3) Verkleeren, Sophia SR 4) Roebuck, Carter SO
27.03 55.61 (55.61)
1:24.48 (28.87) 1:57.61 (1:02.00)
2:22.96 (25.35) 2:51.59 (53.98)
3:15.31 (23.72) 3:42.03 (50.44)
7 Emory 3:43.08 3:42.27
1) Jungers, Megan 5Y 2) Cohen, Katie SO
3) Greeneway, Allison FR 4) Crysel, Caitlin FR
26.24 55.03 (55.03)
1:23.75 (28.72) 1:57.36 (1:02.33)
2:22.17 (24.81) 2:51.89 (54.53)
3:15.54 (23.65) 3:42.27 (50.38)
8 Hope 3:43.41 3:44.44
1) Kraus, Sara SR 2) Ryle, Lauren SR
3) Gidley, Greta SR 4) Wasiniak, Laurel JR
26.73 55.44 (55.44)
1:24.85 (29.41) 1:58.93 (1:03.49)
2:24.46 (25.53) 2:54.40 (55.47)
3:18.00 (23.60) 3:44.44 (50.04)
Men’s 400 medley relay
Carnegie Mellon got the win in 3:10.84, winning by more than a second. It was ninth last year. Arvan Deshpande, Christian Lanuza, Brayden Morford and Matthew Peitler were the quartet. Emory was second in 3:12.01, .08 ahead of Bates. Denison was fourth, a tenth ahead of Kenyon.
Prelims included a DQ for sixth seed University of Chicago. Chicago was third last year.
Event 9 Men 400 Yard Medley Relay
====================================================================
School Prelims Finals
====================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Carnegie Mellon 3:11.73 3:10.84
1) Deshpande, Arnav JR 2) Lanuza, Christian SR
3) Morford, Brayden SO 4) Peitler, Matthew FR
22.81 47.87 (47.87)
1:12.43 (24.56) 1:41.55 (53.68)
2:02.91 (21.36) 2:28.15 (46.60)
2:48.32 (20.17) 3:10.84 (42.69)
2 Emory 3:12.83 3:12.01
1) Lahmann, Nolan SR 2) Bonnault, Henri JR
3) Echols, Jeff SR 4) Zexter, Colin FR
22.84 48.34 (48.34)
1:12.32 (23.98) 1:40.75 (52.41)
2:02.00 (21.25) 2:27.58 (46.83)
2:48.14 (20.56) 3:12.01 (44.43)
3 Bates 3:12.76 3:12.09
1) Johnson, Timothy SO 2) Somridhivej, Marrich JR
3) Oppenheim, Nathaniel FR 4) Cory, Maximillian JR
23.61 48.49 (48.49)
1:12.73 (24.24) 1:41.17 (52.68)
2:03.52 (22.35) 2:29.85 (48.68)
2:49.72 (19.87) 3:12.09 (42.24)
4 Denison 3:13.88 3:12.74
1) Hill, Jack SO 2) Venos, Elijah SR
3) Beduschi, Andre SO 4) Hensel, Nickolas FR
23.20 48.56 (48.56)
1:12.75 (24.19) 1:41.04 (52.48)
2:03.24 (22.20) 2:29.19 (48.15)
2:49.64 (20.45) 3:12.74 (43.55)
5 Kenyon 3:13.65 3:12.84
1) Green, Charlie FR 2) Tumbasz, Noel SO
3) Savage, Roman SO 4) Dragojlovic, Djordje JR
23.76 49.27 (49.27)
1:14.13 (24.86) 1:43.43 (54.16)
2:04.95 (21.52) 2:30.12 (46.69)
2:49.94 (19.82) 3:12.84 (42.72)
6 Tufts 3:14.01 3:13.46
1) Lundgren, Eric SR 2) Adams, Emmett SR
3) Sikka, Armaan JR 4) Euvrard, Soeren SR
22.60 47.28 (47.28)
1:11.46 (24.18) 1:40.68 (53.40)
2:02.56 (21.88) 2:29.07 (48.39)
2:50.01 (20.94) 3:13.46 (44.39)
7 Calvin 3:14.42 3:14.22
1) Platt, Charles JR 2) Gemmen, Caleb JR
3) Campbell, Logan SR 4) Bajwa, David SR
23.14 48.47 (48.47)
1:13.34 (24.87) 1:43.13 (54.66)
2:05.23 (22.10) 2:31.08 (47.95)
2:51.15 (20.07) 3:14.22 (43.14)
8 Conn College 3:15.20 3:16.38
1) Morris, Matthew JR 2) Shea, Carrick FR
3) Finkel, Justin SR 4) Holovacs, Nicholas FR
23.61 50.53 (50.53)
1:14.15 (23.62) 1:43.05 (52.52)
2:04.77 (21.72) 2:30.50 (47.45)
2:51.96 (21.46) 3:16.38 (45.88)
