By Sophie Kaufman on SwimSwam
2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships
Dates: Wednesday, March 25–Saturday, March 28 Location: McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, GA Defending Champions: Texas (1x) SwimSwam Preview Index Psych Sheets Preview Index Live Stream Live Results Live Recaps: Prelims: Day 1Day 1 Finals Heat Sheet
It’s time, swim fans. The first finals session of the 2026 Men’s NCAA Division I Championships gets underway tonight in Atlanta, Georgia. Thanks to the schedule change, the meet is already underway; this morning treated us to action in the early heats of the 1650 freestyle, 200 medley relay, and 800 freestyle relay. Tonight, we’ll see the fastest heats of all three events.
Zalan Sarkany aims to win the 1650 freestyle for the third-straight season. He won last year with a speedy 14:21.59, he was within three seconds of that swim earlier this season and comes in with the field-best 14:23.85. Two other swimmers are seeded under 14:30–Florida’s Ahmed Jaouadi (14:25.14) and Harvard’s William Mulgrew (14:26.79), both at their debut NCAA Championships. Another Florida first year, Ahmed Hafnaoui, could mount a challenge from elsewhere in the final. The Gators stand to pick up major points in this event as Gio Linscheer holds the fastest time from the early heats (14:34.18).
Then, the action shifts to the relays. NC State leads after the morning in the 200 medley relay, boasting a 1:21.23 courtesy of Quintin McCarty, Daniel Diehl, Aiden Hayes, and Drew Salls. Last year, Florida touched first in this relay in NCAA record time but was disqualified. Texas took the win and went onto win the meet. This year, the Gators are back for revenge and have reloaded with three of the four legs from 2025 (Jonny Marshall, Scotty Buff, and Josh Liendo) and bringing in breaststroker Koen de Groot. At midseason, Texas’ Will Modglin fired off a 20.00 50 backstroke lead-off, coming tantalizingly close to becoming the first man under the 20 second barrier in the event. He’ll be chasing that accolade as he leads off for a Longhorns team aiming to start their title defense in style.
The 800 freestyle relay was one for the history books last year, with Cal and Texas going head to head, aiming to become the first team sub-six minutes in the event. Both relays have seen major turnover this year, making this a much different race. The Longhorns own the top time on the psych sheet (6:06.24) with Ohio State sitting four-tenths back. The Virginia Cavaliers fired off a 6:06.85 this morning and are the clubhouse leaders.
Men’s 1650 Freestyle — Final Heat
NCAA Record: 14:12.08 — Bobby Finke, Florida (2020) Championship Record: 14:12.52 — Bobby Finke, Florida (2021) American Record: 14:12.08 — Bobby Finke, Florida (2020) U.S. Open Record: 14:12.08 — Bobby Finke, Florida (2020) Defending Champion: Zalan Sarkany, Indiana — 14:21.59 2025 8th/16th Place Times: 14:31.08/14:43.50Leader after early heats: Gio Linscheer, Florida — 14:34.18
Final Heat:
Top 8:
Men’s 200 Medley Relay — Final Heat
NCAA Record: 1:20.03 – Florida (Marshall, de Groot, Buff, Liendo), 2026 Championship Record: 1:20.15 – Florida (Chaney, Smith, Liendo, McDuff), 2024 American Record: 1:20.92 – Indiana (Barr, Benzing, Brooks, King), 2025 U.S. Open Record: 1:20.03 – Florida (Marshall, de Groot, Buff, Liendo), 2026 Defending Champion: Texas (Modglin, Germonprez, Kos, Guiliano) – 1:20.28 2025 8th/16th Place Times: 1:22.01/1:23.59Leader after early heats: NC State (McCarty, Diehl, Hayes, Salls) — 1:21.23
Final Heat:
Top 8:
Men’s 800 Freestyle Relay — Final Heat
NCAA Record: 5:59.75 – California (Alexy, Jett, Lasco, Henveaux), 2025 Championship Record: 5:59.75 – California (Alexy, Jett, Lasco, Henveaux), 2025 American Record: 6:00.08 – Texas (Hobson, Guiliano, Maurer, Carrozza), 2025 U.S. Open Record: 5:59.75 – California (Alexy, Jett, Lasco, Henveaux), 2025 Defending Champion: California (Alexy, Jett, Lasco, Henveaux) – 5:59.75 2025 8th/16th Place Times: 6:06.96/6:12.82Leader after early heats: Virginia (Williamson, King, Heilman, Aikins) — 6:06.85
Final Heat:
Top 8:
Scores Thru Day 1
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