Women’s Swimming & Diving stays in second after night three of NCAA Championships

Friday, March 20

Atlanta, Ga.

University of Texas

NCAA Championships

Women’s Swimming & Diving stays in second after night three of NCAA Championships

03.20.2026 | Women's Swimming and Diving

Results PDF Saturday Meet Program

The Longhorns notch four top-six finishes, including two new team records

By: Miles Schuk Ehler

ATLANTA, Ga. – Texas Women's Swimming and Diving remains in second place with 272 points behind Virginia (437.5) after the third night of the four-day NCAA Championships at the McAuley Aquatic Center. The Longhorns earned All-America honors in the 500 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 3-meter diving and 400 freestyle relay, while setting program records in the 50 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay.

Jillian Cox opened the night with a silver-place victory in the 500-freestyle after touching the wall in 4:31.56. Cox shaved 2.33 seconds off her prelim time of 4:33.89.

During the 50-freestyle, Eva Okaro broke her own team-record set during the 2026 SEC Championships (21.26) by finishing fourth overall in 21.05 to earn her first individual All-American Honor.

Texas saw an additional team-record get broken when the quartet of Emma Kern, Piper Enge, Campbell Stoll and Eva Okaro finished fifth-overall with a time of 3:24.64. The previous mark of 3:24.92 was set back at the 2024 NCAA Championships.

Bayleigh Cranford contributed on the boards with a sixth-place finish with 342.05 points on 3-meter, highlighted by a 60.20 on her forward 3½ somersault tuck and a 58.80 on her reverse 2½ somersault tuck. She opened with a 54.60 on her back 1½ somersault 2½ twist and added a 58.50 on her forward 2½ somersault 1 twist pike, before closing with a 55.35 on her inward 2½ somersault tuck.

The Longhorns saw Honorable All-American mentions from Kate Hurst (4:37.61), Nikolett Padar (4:37.90) and Lillie Nesty (4:37.61) in the 500-freestyle event.

The Longhorns will wrap up competition at the NCAA Championships tomorrow Saturday, March at the McAuley Aquatic Center. Saturday's championship finals events include the 200-IM, 100-freestyle, 200-butterfly, 200-backstroke, 400-freestyle relay and platform diving. Prelims begin at 9 a.m. CT, with finals sessions scheduled to start at 5 p.m. CT. All prelim and finals sessions will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Team Rankings:

1.Virginia — 437.5

2.Texas — 272

3.Stanford — 242.5

4.Tennessee — 240.5

5.Michigan — 228

6.California — 199

7.Indiana — 176

8.Louisville — 144.5

9.NC State — 141.5

10.Florida — 113.5

Texas Longhorns National Champions:
Jillian Cox – 1,650-freestyle (15:32.26)

Texas Longhorns All-Americans:
Campbell Chase – 800-freestyle relay
Jillian Cox – 500-freestyle
Bayleigh Cranford – 1-meter and 3-meter diving
Piper Enge – 200-medley relay, 100-breaststroke and 400-medley relay
Erin Gemmell – 800-freestyle relay and 200-freestyle relay
Kate Hurst – 1,650-freestyle
Emma Kern – 200-medley relay and 400-medley relay
Lucy Mehraban – 200-freestyle relay
Lillie Nesty – 800 freestyle-relay and 200-freestyle relay
Eva Okaro – 50-freestyle, 200-medley relay, 200-freestyle relay and 400-medley relay
Nikolett Padar – 800-freestyle relay and 200-freestyle
Campbell Stoll – 200-medley relay, 100-butterfly and 400-medley relay

Texas Longhorns Honorable Mention All-Americans
Erin Gemmell — 200-freestyle
Kate Hurst — 500-freestyle
Lillie Nesty — 200-freestyle and 500-freestyle
Nikolett Padar — 500-freestyle
Campbell Stoll — 400-IM