Navikonis Wins Third Straight Big Ten 200 Free Title
2/26/2026 10:10:00 PM | Men's Swim & Dive
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 11 Ohio State men's swimming and diving team collected four medals on the second night of the Big Ten Championships, with Tomas Navikonis winning the 200 free title for the third straight season.
Matt Klinge won silver in the 100 fly with a program record time of 44.48 to open the night. It was his second time breaking his own previously held record of 44.63; he swam a 44.61 in prelims. Klinge's time is an NCAA standard time.
In the B final of the 100 fly, Evan Fentress finished third with an NCAA standard time of 45.85.
Tristan Jankovics was the bronze medalist in the 400 IM, finishing in an NCAA standard time of 3:36.69. Also in the A final, Mason Edmund placed eighth with an NCAA standard time of 3:45.99.
In the 400 IM B final, Sam Vaisburg finished fifth, touching at 3:43.04, which is an NCAA standard time. In the C final, TJ Frost placed fourth with an NCAA standard time of 3:45.85.
Navikonis claimed his third straight Big Ten title in the 200 free, touching in an NCAA standard time of 1:31.32. His time, combined with his conference title, automatically qualifies him for the NCAA Championships.
Jordi Vilchez placed eighth in the 200 free A final with an NCAA standard time of 1:33.66. In the B final, Cornelius Jahn finished fifth with an NCAA standard time of 1:33.29. In the C final, Rasmus Hanson placed sixth with a time of 1:35.27 and Alex Axon placed seventh with a time of 1:35.98.
In the B final of the 100 breast, Ahemed Ismail placed third, touching at 52.51, which is an NCAA standard time.
In the A final of the one-meter dive, Tyler Read earned a sixth-place finish with an aggregate score of 342.60. In the consolation final, Dom Roberto placed fourth with a score of 334.90. Both scores are NCAA Zones qualifiers.
The Buckeyes closed out the night winning bronze in the 200 free relay. The team of Klinge, Ethan Reniewicki, Fentress and Hanson finished in an automatic NCAA qualifying time of 1:15.93.
After two days of competition, the Buckeyes are in third place with 414.5 points. Indiana leads with 535 points, and Michigan is in second with 491 points.
The Big Ten Championships continue Feb. 27-28. Prelims will begin at 11 a.m. ET and finals will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET each day. All sessions will stream live on B1G+.
Standings
Matt Klinge won silver in the 100 fly with a program record time of 44.48 to open the night. It was his second time breaking his own previously held record of 44.63; he swam a 44.61 in prelims. Klinge's time is an NCAA standard time.
In the B final of the 100 fly, Evan Fentress finished third with an NCAA standard time of 45.85.
Tristan Jankovics was the bronze medalist in the 400 IM, finishing in an NCAA standard time of 3:36.69. Also in the A final, Mason Edmund placed eighth with an NCAA standard time of 3:45.99.
In the 400 IM B final, Sam Vaisburg finished fifth, touching at 3:43.04, which is an NCAA standard time. In the C final, TJ Frost placed fourth with an NCAA standard time of 3:45.85.
Navikonis claimed his third straight Big Ten title in the 200 free, touching in an NCAA standard time of 1:31.32. His time, combined with his conference title, automatically qualifies him for the NCAA Championships.
Jordi Vilchez placed eighth in the 200 free A final with an NCAA standard time of 1:33.66. In the B final, Cornelius Jahn finished fifth with an NCAA standard time of 1:33.29. In the C final, Rasmus Hanson placed sixth with a time of 1:35.27 and Alex Axon placed seventh with a time of 1:35.98.
In the B final of the 100 breast, Ahemed Ismail placed third, touching at 52.51, which is an NCAA standard time.
In the A final of the one-meter dive, Tyler Read earned a sixth-place finish with an aggregate score of 342.60. In the consolation final, Dom Roberto placed fourth with a score of 334.90. Both scores are NCAA Zones qualifiers.
The Buckeyes closed out the night winning bronze in the 200 free relay. The team of Klinge, Ethan Reniewicki, Fentress and Hanson finished in an automatic NCAA qualifying time of 1:15.93.
After two days of competition, the Buckeyes are in third place with 414.5 points. Indiana leads with 535 points, and Michigan is in second with 491 points.
The Big Ten Championships continue Feb. 27-28. Prelims will begin at 11 a.m. ET and finals will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET each day. All sessions will stream live on B1G+.
Standings
- Indiana – 535
- Michigan - 491
- Ohio State – 414.5
- Wisconsin – 349
- Northwestern – 319
- Purdue – 313
- USC – 291.5
- Minnesota – 249
- Penn State - 170
#GoBucks
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