Indiana Freshmen Lead Three-Medal Thursday

Thursday, March 19

Atlanta, Ga.

6 p.m.

Indiana University

NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships - Finals

3/19/2026 11:30:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

Results (PDF)

ATLANTA – Indiana's freshman swimmer trio earned their first NCAA medals Thursday (March 19) night to keep IU among the top teams through two days at the 2026 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships inside the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta.

Liberty Clark took silver in the 200-yard freestyle, and Alex Shackell collected the bronze medal in the 100-yard butterfly. To end the night, Clark, Shackell and classmate Grace Hoeper made up three of IU's bronze-medal 200-yard freestyle relay. Indiana sits seventh – five points out of fifth place and 49 points in front of eighth.

Clark and the champion swimmer, Virginia sophomore Anna Moesch, became the first women to hit 1:39 in the 200 free twice. The Indiana freshman followed up her 17-18 National Age Group record 1:39.70 – that led off Wednesday's 800 free relay – with a 1:39.88, placing second behind Moesch's 1:39.23.

Clark picked off her second 17-18 NAG record of the week with her 200-yard freestyle leadoff, a 21.27 to beat Simone Manuel's 21.32 from 2015. The split kickstarted a third place finish, Indiana's best-ever placing in the event, as well as a program record 1:25.67. Senior Kristina Paegle followed with a 21.00, Hoeper went 22.05 and Shackell anchored in 21.35. Indiana's time of 1:25.67 marked a program record, 53 tenths quicker than the time set at the Big Ten Championships last month.

Like Clark, Shackell was a two-medal winner on Thursday. The freshman lowered her program record in the 100-yard butterfly to 49.82 in the final to capture bronze and was one of three swimmers under 50 seconds. Junior Miranda Grana joined Shackell on the podium, placing eighth with a 51.11. Shackell leads the team with four All-American honors this week, having contributed to all three relays.

"Fantastic evening for the Hoosiers," IU head swimming coach Ray Looze said. "I am so proud of this very young team. Liberty Clark is one of only two people ever to go under 1:40 twice and gave us a fantastic relay leadoff. Alex Shackell was outstanding in the 100 butterfly. I couldn't imagine a better way to end the evening with a third place in the 200 freestyle relay!"

Diving got started Thursday and earned crucial points from junior Ella Roselli's 12th place finish in the morning.

"The girls fought hard today," IU head diving coach Drew Johansen said. "Ella had her best finish at this meet today. She was frustrated she didn't get that 'A' final but also understands the improvement was there. We're looking forward to going higher tomorrow."

RESULTS
100 BUTTERFLY
3. Alex Shackell – 49.82 (NCAA Bronze, Program Record, First-Team All-America)
8. Miranda Grana – 51.11 (First-Team All-America)

400 IM
16. Reese Tiltmann – 4:06.02 (Personal Best, Second-Team All-America)
33. Macky Hodges – 4:12.28

200 FREESTYLE
3. Liberty Clark – 1:39.88 (NCAA Silver, First-Team All-America)
23. Grace Hoeper – 1:43.93 (Personal Best)

1-METER SPRINGBOARD
12. Ella Roselli – 275.70 (Second-Team All-America)
27. Lily Witte – 253.25

200 FREESTYLE RELAY
3. Liberty Clark, Kristina Paegle, Grace Hoeper, Alex Shackell – 1:25.67 (NCAA Bronze, Program Record, First-Team All-America)

Liberty Clark (leadoff) – 21.27 (Program Record, Personal Best)

HOOSIER ALL-AMERICANS
Liberty Clark – 800 freestyle relay, 200 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay
Miranda Grana – 200 medley relay*, 100 butterfly
Macky Hodges – 800 freestyle relay
Grace Hoeper – 800 freestyle relay, 200 freestyle relay
Jonette Laegreid – 200 medley relay*
Kristina Paegle – 200 medley relay*, 200 freestyle relay
Ella Roselli – 1-meter springboard*
Alex Shackell – 200 medley relay*, 800 freestyle relay, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle relay
Reese Tiltmann – 400 IM*
* - Denotes second-team honoree

UP NEXT
Indiana will compete in the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard breaststroke, 50-yard freestyle, 3-meter diving and 400-yard medley relay on Friday.

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