Imagine the tension, the adrenaline, the shaved tenths of a second determining victory. But what if I told you that even in the high-stakes world of collegiate swimming, unexpected upsets and breakout performances can completely rewrite the script? That's exactly what happened at the 2025 Ohio State Fall Invitational! Let's dive into the Day 3 Prelims and uncover the shocking moments, surprising stars, and the times that are already shaking up the NCAA landscape.
Welcome to the 2025 Ohio State Fall Invitational!
- Dates: November 18-21, 2025
- Location: The legendary McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, Columbus, OH
- Daily Schedule:
- 9:30 AM ET: Swimming Prelims - The morning races that set the stage for evening glory.
- 11:30 AM ET: Diving Prelims - Grace and power combined in breathtaking displays.
- 5:30 PM ET: Finals - Where champions are crowned and records are broken.
- Who's Fighting for the Win? A powerhouse lineup including Ohio State, Indiana, Yale, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Louisville, Penn State, UCLA, Kentucky, and Purdue.
- Course: SCY (Short Course Yards), meaning fast times and furious competition!
- Follow the Action:
- Live Results: Stay up-to-the-minute with live results available at https://sidearmstats.com/ohiostatedev/swim/.
- Meet Mobile: Search for "2025 Ohio State Fall Invitational" on the Meet Mobile app.
- Live Stream: Catch all the races live (subscription required) on Big Ten Plus: https://www.bigtenplus.com/en-int/livestream/ohio-state-fall-invitational/2041759.
- Catch up on Previous Days: Day 1 Finals (https://swimswam.com/2025-ohio-state-invitational-day-one-finals-live-recap/) | Day 2 Prelims (https://swimswam.com/2025-ohio-state-fall-invitational-day-2-prelims-live-recap/)
Day 3 of the 2025 Ohio State Fall Invitational offered a diverse lineup, keeping swimmers and fans on their toes. We saw everything from explosive sprint events to grueling distance races, showcasing the depth and talent present. Specifically, the prelims featured the 100 backstroke, the 200 breaststroke, and the always exciting 50 and 500 freestyle events. This mix of events tested athletes' versatility and endurance, making for a thrilling day of competition.
The day's schedule was strategically designed: the 100 backstroke kicked things off, followed by the 200 breaststroke. Then, to cap things off with a bang, the 500 freestyle and 50 freestyle ran back-to-back. This ensured maximum excitement and allowed athletes to shine in both longer and shorter distances.
WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 48.10, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2024
- 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 52.65 (This is the 'A' cut, guaranteeing a spot at NCAAs)
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 51.68 (The 'B' cut, making you eligible for selection)
'A' Final Qualifiers:
- Miranda Grana (IU), 50.79
- Mya DeWitt (IU), 51.07
- Claudia Yovanovich (UCLA), 51.73
- Fay Lustria (UCLA), 52.12
- Julie Mishler (LOU), 52.38
- Camille Murray (LOU), 52.95
- Rosie Murphy (UCLA), 52.97
- Delia Lloyd (OSU), 53.29
- Nika Sharafutdinova (OSU), 53.31
- KK LeBlanc (OSU), 53.32
After a stellar performance in the 100 butterfly the previous night, Indiana's Miranda Grana carried her momentum into Day 3, clocking an impressive prelim time in the 100 backstroke. Grana's time of 50.79 was just shy of her personal best of 50.75, a time she set earlier in the season at the USC Invite. This performance highlights Grana's consistency and potential for even faster swims in the finals.
But here's where it gets interesting... Grana's teammate, Mya DeWitt, had a breakthrough swim, shattering her season-best by over a second! DeWitt touched the wall in 51.07, only three-tenths of a second off her lifetime best. This time was already faster than her performance at the same meet last year (51.86 in the 100 back final and 51.56 in the 400 medley relay), signaling significant improvement. Is this a sign of things to come for DeWitt?
UCLA's Claudia Yovanovich also had a memorable swim, breaking the 52-second barrier for the first time with a time of 51.73. This was a significant personal best for Yovanovich, who had previously set a best time of 52.24 just two weeks prior. This swim secured her third place in the prelims and a spot in the 'A' final. Can she improve even more in finals?
MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 43.20, Hubert Kos (Texas) – 2025
- 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 46.29
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 45.26
'A' Final Qualifiers:
- Owen McDonald (IU), 44.25
- Raekwon Noel (IU), 44.91
- Miroslav Knedla (IU), 45.33
- Cooper Morley (PSU), 45.63
- Matthew Bittner (PSU), 45.74
- Rian Graham (LOU), 46.02
- Lysander Osman (UKY), 46.15
- Jackson Millard (LOU), 46.19
- Dylan Burau (PUR), 46.20
- Filip Kosinski (LOU) / Alex Hotta (PUR), 46.24
The Indiana Hoosiers dominated the men's 100 backstroke prelims, securing the top three spots. Leading the charge was senior Owen McDonald, who unleashed a scorching time of 44.25. And this is the part most people miss... This time is not only a personal best for McDonald, but it's also the fastest time in the NCAA so far this season, based on pre-meet rankings. Keep in mind that McDonald finished 6th in the 100 back at the 2025 NCAA Championships, further solidifying his status as a top contender. He was also significantly faster than his performance at last year's OSU Invite (44.93 in the final), indicating impressive progress.
McDonald's teammate, Raekwon Noel, had a breakthrough performance of his own, slicing nearly a full second off his lifetime best with a time of 44.91. This was the first time Noel had broken the 45-second barrier, obliterating his previous best of 45.87. What caused this incredible improvement?
Miroslav Knedla completed the Hoosier sweep, finishing third with a time of 45.33. This was just shy of his season-best of 45.22, a time he set earlier in the season at the USC Invite. This consistency demonstrates Knedla's reliability and potential to challenge for the top spot in the finals.
Adding to the drama, Louisville's Filip Kosinski and Purdue's Alex Hotta tied for 10th place with a time of 46.24, setting the stage for a potential swim-off for the last spot in the 'A' final. Swim-offs are always tense and exciting, as athletes battle head-to-head for a coveted spot in the finals. Who would prevail?
WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 2:01.29, Kate Douglass (Virginia) – 2023
- 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 2:11.27
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 2:09.58
'A' Final Qualifiers:
(Results Pending)
MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 1:46.35, Leon Marchand (ASU) – 2024
- 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 1:54.95
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 1:52.89
'A' Final Qualifiers:
(Results Pending)
WOMEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 4:24.06, Katie Ledecky (Stanford) – 2017
- 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 4:43.70
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 4:39.47
'A' Final Qualifiers:
(Results Pending)
MEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 4:02.31, Leon Marchand (ASU) – 2024
- 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 4:18.07
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 4:14.13
'A' Final Qualifiers:
(Results Pending)
WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 20.37, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2024
- 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 22.28
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 22.01
'A' Final Qualifiers:
(Results Pending)
MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 17.63, Caeleb Dressel (Florida) – 2018
- 2026 NCAA Qualifying Time: 19.43
- 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 19.02
'A' Final Qualifiers:
(Results Pending)
About James Sutherland
James Sutherland swam for five years at Laurentian University, specializing in the 200 free, backstroke, and IM. He completed his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics and a graduate degree in sports journalism in 2019.
Read More » (https://swimswam.com/bio/james-sutherland/)
So, what do you think? Did Indiana's dominance in the backstroke come as a surprise? Will Owen McDonald hold onto the top spot in the finals, or will someone else challenge him? And what about the potential swim-off in the men's 100 back - who are you rooting for? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below!
