AKRON, Ohio – Ohio’s Zita Szoke and Akron’s Claire Cox each punched their ticket into the NCAA Championships on the third night of the 2026 Mid-American Conference Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships. Szoke (200 freestyle) is the first qualifier for the Bobcats, while Cox (100 breaststroke) is the second for the Zips this weekend. Akron takes the lead into the final day of competition with 511.5 team points.

Akron’s Felicia Klintemar punched her second ticket into the NCAA Championships after a gold-medal finish in the 100 butterfly with a time of 51.35. Klintemar’s time is also a MAC Championship record, previously set by former teammate Abby Daniel (51.60) in 2024.

Freshman Gracie Gregory (Miami) made her MAC Championship debut by winning the 400 IM with a time of 4:16.83. Her gold medal was the first for the RedHawks this weekend.
Zita Szoke defended her 200 Freestyle title on Friday evening with an NCAA qualifying and pool record time of 1:44.82.

The Zips’ junior Claire Cox won the 100 Breaststroke and secured her first spot in the NCAA Championships, after touching the wall at 59.59.

Ball State’s Payton Kelly qualified for the NCAAs for the second time in as many days, with a gold medal touch-time of 52.07 in the 100 Backstroke.

Akron’s Callie Parkes, Ada Szwabinska, Klintemar, and Hannah Trainer set a pool, MAC, and MAC Championship record in the 200 freestyle relay at 1:28.35 to close out Friday’s schedule of events. The previous event record was set by the Zips (Engel, Fazekas, Henell, Waggoner) in 2019. 

The 2026 MAC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship concludes Saturday evening. Prelims beginning at 10:00 AM (EST) with the finals to follow at 6:00 PM (EST), including the 1,650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 3-Meter diving, and the 400 freestyle relay.
 
Team Standings after Day Three
1. Akron – 511.5 pts.
2. Ohio – 360 pts.
3. Ball State – 336.5 pts.
T-4. Buffalo – 311 pts.
T-4. Miami – 311 pts.
6. Eastern Michigan – 180 pts.
7. Massachusetts – 147 pts.
8. Toledo– 121 pts.
9. Bowling Green – 97 pts.
 
2025 MAC Women’s Swimming & Diving Event Winners
200 Medley Relay – Akron (Klintemar, Cox, Parkes, Szwabinska) 1:36.22 *^$
800 Freestyle Relay – Akron (Lalkovic, Trumpower, Couture, Trainer) 7:12.46
500 Freestyle –Helena Lalkovic (Akron), 4:47.76
200 Individual Medley – Felicia Klintemar (Akron), 1:57.52
50 Freestyle – Payton Kelly (Ball State), 21.88 *^$
1-Meter Diving – Grace Walker (Ball State), 298.75
400 Medley Relay – Akron (Klintemar, Cox, Parkes, Szwabinska), 3:32.40 $
100 Butterfly – Felicia Klintemar (Akron), 51.35 *
400 Individual Medley – Gracie Gregory (Miami), 4:16.83
200 Freestyle – Zita Szoke (Ohio), 1:44.82 $
100 Breaststroke – Claire Cox (Akron), 59.59
100 Backstroke – Payton Kelly (Ball State), 52.07
200 Freestyle Relay – Akron (Parkes, Szwabinska, Klintemar, Trainer), 1:28.35 *^$

* MAC Championship Record
^ MAC Record
 $ Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium Pool Record
NCAA Automatic Qualifier