By Robert Gibbs on SwimSwam
2026 CAVALIER INVITE
February 5th-7th, 2026 Aquatic and Fitness Center, Charlottesville, VA Invite Format Results on Meet Mobile as “2026 Cavalier Invite” Day 1 Prelims Results Day 1 Finals Results Day 2 Prelims Results Day 2 Finals Results Day 3 Prelims Results Day 3 Final ResultsIt’s not totally unheard of for international athletes to deliver nationally-ranked swims in their first time racing a particular event in short-course yards, instead of meters. It’s a bit more unusual for even some of the more talented athletes to deliver a nationally relevant swim in their first time swimming a particular event in any format.
And yet, Virginia senior Aimee Canny, who hails from South Africa, did just that this morning in a 400 IM time trial. Sure, it wasn’t entirely out of left field — Canny has times strong enough to score at NCAAs in both the 500 free (4:34.26) and the 200 IM (1:54.05), so she’s demonstrated both the endurance and the skillful stroke versatility needed to do likewise in the 400 IM.
But still, the 400 IM is usually a race that feels like it should take a few attempts to nail. During this morning’s prelims time trials, however, Canny split 55.55/1:02.61/1:09.85/55.35 to post a time of 4:03.35 in her first-ever 400 IM and move to #6 nationally this season.
Canny also hit lifetime bests in the 100 free (47.79) and the 100 breast (58.30). With the new NCAA format, it looks like we could see Canny opt for a 400 IM/200 breast/200 IM lineup come March. She won the 200 free B-final at NCAAs last year, but her 400 IM time from today would’ve made the A-final last year. Both the 200 free and the 400 IM will now be part of the Day 2 lineup under the new-look championship format. Not that the details are likely to matter all that much, as the Cavaliers seem destined to run away with yet another NCAA title next month.
Tonight Canny’s 100 free time was enough to win the event against teammates Melissa Nwakalor (47.85) and Nina Jazy (47.90), as all three swimmers set new PRs in a tight finish.
Virginia continued to rack up wins in the backstroke, as Katie Grimes took the women’s 200 back in 1:51.21, moving her up to 10th nationally this season. That’s Grimes’ best time in the event since starting college competition, and the 3rd-fastest time of her career. Her personal best is a 1:50.56 from late 2023. In the 200 breaststroke, Emma Weber continued Virginia’s roll, touching first in 2:07.96, just a tenth off her season best, after pulling away on the final 50. Virginia closed out the individual events with Tess Howley winning the 200 butterfly in 1:52.53.
Leah Hayes swam the 400 IM twice today, going 4:05.21 alongside Canny in a prelims time trial and 4:05.68 in a solo evening time trial (although that appears as a 500 free in the PDF results). Heading into today, Hayes ranked 6th in the nation this season with a 4:04.01, and she’s slipped back one spot after Canny’s swim this morning. With Grimes having gone 4:03.34 at midseason, the Cavaliers have the 5th-7th ranked women in the event this season.
The William & Mary Tribe women bookended the session with victories. Lauren Tucker got the evening started with a 16:41.62 win in the 1650, winning by over six seconds. That’s a lifetime best by over 15 seconds for Tucker, whose previous best of 16:56.86 earned her a 5th-place finish at last year’s CAA Championships. Tonight’s time would’ve put her 3rd last year, and it appears to be the 2nd-fastest time in the conference so far this season.
The meet concluded with William & Mary taking the women’s 400 freestyle relay in 3:29.02.
William & Mary set the tone early on the men’s side, as freshman Tyler Barritt claimed the 1650 freestyle title in 15:40.67 to come within a second of his lifetime best. Tonight’s time would’ve ranked him 6th at last year’s CAA Championships, although it’s only the 8th-fastest time in the conference this season.
After that, Virginia swimmers took the next two events, with Jack Aikins winning the 200 back in 1:41.02, about two-tenths off his season best from the CSCAA Dual Meet Challenge. Maximus Williamson won the 100 free in 42.60, 0.72s away from his midseason time.
St. Bonaventure’s Corey Su picked up a win in the 200 breaststroke, touching first in 2:11.44 to edge William & Mary’s Jackson Mueller. Virginia closed the meet with another win in the 200 butterfly, where Dillon Wright posted a 1:47.22 to secure the title ahead of Towson’s Jackson Cummins.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Aimee Canny Makes Her 400 IM Debut at Cavalier Invite Day 3 with a 4:03.36, Now #6 This Season
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