By Spencer Penland on SwimSwam
2026 Missouri Valley Conference Championships
Dates: Wednesday, February 25–Saturday, February 28 Location: Deaconess Aquatic Center, Evansville, IN Defending Champions: Indiana State women (1x); Miami-OH (1x) Live Results (MeetMobile) Live Video Championship Central SwimSwam Fan Guide Teams: Ball State, Evansville, Illinois-Chicago*, Illinois State (women), Indiana State (women), Little Rock (women), Miami-OH (men), Missouri State, Northern Iowa (women), Southern Illinois, UIC, UMass (men)*, Valparaiso Day 1 ResultsTEAM STANDINGS (THRU DAY 1)
WOMEN
Southern Illinois – 366 Missouri State – 323.5 Indiana State – 316 Little Rock – 234 UIC – 217.5 Northern Iowa – 190 Illinois State – 151 Evansville – 90 Valparaiso – 84MEN
Miami (OH) – 490 Missouri State – 420.5 Southern Illinois – 326 UIC – 294 Ball State – 268.5 UMass – 251 Evansville – 124 Valparaiso – 99The first day of the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Championships is in the books. Through day 1 of the meet, Miami (OH) has taken a solid lead in the men’s team standings, while the Southern Illinois women have jumped into the lead as well.
There was one conference record that went down on the day. Missouri State freshman Zach Mendez took the men’s 500 free in 4:19.72, becoming the 1st man in MVC history to go under 4:20 in the event. Mendez blew away the previous MVC record, which stood at 4:22.74. He, of course, also set a new championship record in the process.
The future of the 500 free is looking great for the MVC, as Missouri State sophomore Ilias El Fallaki came in 2nd with a 4:20.78, and Miami (OH) freshman Elijah Rolfsen took 3rd with a 4:22.12.
The Miami (OH) men broke the championship record in the 200 free relay, posting a 1:18.43. Owen Hoban (20.05), Ian Rodrigues Kmiliauski (19.66), Duncan Salmen (19.43), and Tegan Barrier (19.29) combined to get the job done, taking down the previous record of 1:18.59. It was an exceedingly tight race, as SIU came in 2nd with a 1:18.49, which was also under the previous record. Benedek Andor (19.85), Alex Cimera (19.76), Carter Ruthven (19.87), and Willem Huggins (19.01) teamed up to earn the silver medal.
The SIU women took the women’s 200 free relay. Susana Hernandez (23.02), Zaria Terry (22.40), Ava Rines (22.13), and Masha Zhukova (22.77) combined for a 1:30.32.
Indiana State’s Grace Cummings was another freshman to win an event on day. 1. Cummings took the women’s 500 free, swimming a 4:45.98. The performance marks a new career best for Cummings, taking down her previous mark of 4:47.90 from about a month ago.
SIU senior Olivia Herron won the women’s 200 IM in 1:58.31 last night. That swim comes in just off her season best of 1:58.11, which she swam back in November. Herron holds a career best of 1:56.46 from last year’s NCAA Championships.
Southern Illinois made it a sweep of the 200 IM, seeing Benedek Andor win the men’s IM in 1:44.63. The performance marks a new career best for Andor, who entered the meet with a best time of 1:45.20. Andor was excellent at the end of the race, splitting 29.91 on breast and 25.27 on free.
In the women’s 50 free, SIU senior Susana Hernandez clocked a 22.81, touching 1st by 0.03 seconds. The swim for Hernandez ties her career best in the event. Northern Iowa senior Abby Lear came in 2nd with a 22.84, while Indiana State junior Kaleigh Kelley took 3rd in 22.88.
Miami (OH) junior Tegan Barrier claimed victory in the men’s 50 free with a 19.70.
The women’s 400 medley relay saw Liseska Gallegos Gutierrez (53.79), Olivia Herron (59.65), Brooklyn Anderson (53.90), and Susana Hernandez combine to earn the win for Southern Illinois in 3:37.11.
Miami (OH) took the men’s 400 medley relay in 3:08.58. Jensen Nelson (47.14), Brady Miller (52.55), Duncan Salmen (45.64), and Tegan Barrier (43.25) teamed up to get the job done.
The diving event of the day was men’s 1-meter, where Ball State junior Zach Shaddy won with a score of 360.15, breaking the championship record in the process. Shaddy blew away the championship record, which stood at 343.70.
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