By Terin Frodyma on SwimSwam
2026 Minnesota First Chance Meet
February 6-7, 2026 Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center, Minneapolis, MN SCY (25 yards) Results Day 1 Day 2The Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center played host to the Minnesota First Chance meet, which included the University of Minnesota, St. Thomas, Wisconsin-La Crosse, Wisconsin- Eau Claire, Macalester, Carleton, St. Johns, St. Olaf, Hamline, Gustavus Adolphus, and Saint Benedict.
The Gophers’ performances stood out above the rest as Minnesota prepares for the upcoming Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships, as they tallied a total of ten lifetime best performances on the weekend.
On the women’s side, Gopher senior Ava Yablonski dominated the field in the 500 free, finishing nearly 20 seconds faster than the field in 4:57.90. This time marks her fastest time ever in the event, besting her 2021 mark of 5:03.05.
Minnesota had three sub-23-second 50 freestylers, as junior Morgan Thomas (22.76), sophomore Kamdyn Periat (22.85), and sophomore Rachel Conley (22.99) finished 1-2-3. That time for Conley stands as her fastest of her career thus far. Periat logged a new lifetime best in the 200 back later in the meet, touching first in 1:58.96, more than six seconds better than the event field, and lowering her former best from the Minnesota Invite in December of 2:00.16.
Freshman Finnly Jollands turned in the fastest 200 IM of the meet and her career for the Gophers, finishing just under three seconds faster than the field in 2:02.44.
The women’s 100 fly saw six different schools represented in the top seven finishers: Minnesota’s Mira Keller sat atop the final results in 55.27, St’ Thomas’ Emily Wooden followed in 58.05. UW-La Crosse’s Ava Pulvermacher was 3rd in 58.18.
The Gopher men finished 1-2-3-4-5 in the 100 breast, led by freshman Luke Mychalowych (53.98) and his freshman teammate Joe Polyak (54.58), who both set season bests in the process. All five gopher breaststrokers clocked a time under 55.5.
Minnesota’s Alberto Hernandez notched the fastest 500 free of his career; the senior touched in 4:19.46, over 15 seconds better than his former best from October, when he logged a 4:35.01 in a meet with Nebraska and South Dakota.
The Gophers also claimed the top four spots in the men’s 50 free, with sophomore Jacob Johnson touching first in 20.04. Just behind him was junior Ryan Slonac, who swam to a lifetime best of 20.34 for 2nd. Slonac also won the 400 IM on day two, notching his fastest time of the season in 3:53.45, the only swimmer under 4:00 in the event.
St. Thomas’ Miggy San Jose was untouchable in the men’s 200 back, touching over seven seconds better than the field in a personal best 1:53.10.
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