University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Six Gophers Qualify for 2026 NCAA Championships
3/4/2026 11:16:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. - Gopher swimmers Katie McCarthy, Rachel Conley, Ava Yablonski, Ava Goodno, Morgan Thomas, and Livi Wanner will represent the University of Minnesota at the 2026 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Atlanta, Georgia on March 18-21, as announced Wednesday.
Junior Katie McCarthy is set to make her third appearance at the NCAA championships, qualifying for the 1650 free, 400 IM, 500 free. McCarthy tallied a new personal best in the 1650 free at the most recent Big Ten Championships, placing fifth overall in the event with a 16:05.46. McCarthy also took eighth place in the 400 IM with a personal best of 4:06.49, and 17th overall in the 500 free with a time of 4:42.32.
Sophomore Rachel Conley will make her first appearance at the NCAA Championships this year, qualifying to compete in the 200 fly. Conley set a new personal best in the event at last weekend's Last Chance Meet, tallying a 1:55.41.
Ava Yablonski, Ava Goodno, Morgan Thomas, and Livi Wanner will all represent Minnesota as part of the 200 medley relay team. This will be Yablonski's second appearance at the NCAA championships while the rest of the relay team will make their NCAA championship debut. The group punched their ticket to the championship after posting a 1:36.01 in the event at last weekend's Last Chance Meet.
The Maroon & Gold will also have the opportunity to add more participants in this year's NCAAs after the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, which will be held on March 9-11 at Texas A&M.
Georgia Tech will serve as the host of this year's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, running from March 18-21 at the McAuley Aquatic Center.