The first full night of finals at the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships kicked off with the 100 butterfly.
Two of the world’s best – Stanford’s Torri Huske and Virginia’s Claire Curzan have battled in this event for years both in short and long course.
This was no different.
Huske pulled away at the 75-yard mark with a third split of 12.72 and was able to hold off Curzan’s late surge as they finished nearly together.
Huske won in a time of 48.49, just ahead of Curzan, who finished in 48.55.
“I feel like I was definitely nervous, even during the race. I could see that I was behind at the 50 and I knew I really had to go. My last stroke was a short stroke, and I think that was the right decision, but as I was taking it, I thought I cost myself the race,” Huske said. “I am proud of myself for racing. My goal was to race Claire. She is always so good. I love racing her. It has been since our junior year of high school going head-to-head. I love racing the best of the best and that makes me a better swimmer.”
Curzan felt the same.
“I love racing with her. I am really sad that she is graduating and I won’t have her to race next year,” Curzan said. “I do think she has been awesome at pushing me. I always feel like I am chasing her and if I have a good prelims swim, she is chasing me. It has been a really fun back-and-forth and we have really grown together. It is special that I got to swim her last 100 fly short-course together.”
It was Curzan, who was out fastest and led at the 25 and barely at the 50.
Huske pulled ahead at the 75 and the race was neck-and-neck the rest of the way.
Indiana’s Alex Shackell took third in 49.82, as three swimmers broke 50 seconds.
Stanford’s Gigi Johnson took fourth in 50.06, giving the Cardinal a good point swing in the event.
Cal’s Annie Jia was fifth in 50.34, followed by Tennessee’s Mizuki Hirai (50.56), Texas’ Campbell Stoll (50.61) and Indiana’s Miranda Grana (51.11).
Event 4 Women 100 Yard Butterfly
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NCAA: N 46.97 3/21/2025 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
Meet: M 46.97 3/21/2025 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
American: A 46.97 3/21/2025 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
US Open: O 46.97 3/21/2025 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
Pool: P 48.26 2/19/2026 Torri Huske, Stanford
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
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=== Championship Final ===
1 Huske, Torri SR Stanford 49.38 48.49 20
r:+0.57 10.22 22.40 (12.18)
35.12 (12.72) 48.49 (13.37)
2 Curzan, Claire JR Virginia 49.20 48.55 17
r:+0.63 10.14 22.35 (12.21)
35.35 (13.00) 48.55 (13.20)
3 Shackell, Alex FR Indiana 49.95 49.82 16
r:+0.63 10.45 22.91 (12.46)
36.12 (13.21) 49.82 (13.70)
4 Johnson, Gigi SR Stanford 50.28 50.06 15
r:+0.65 10.58 23.20 (12.62)
36.30 (13.10) 50.06 (13.76)
5 Jia, Annie FR California 50.77 50.34 14
r:+0.67 10.92 23.81 (12.89)
36.79 (12.98) 50.34 (13.55)
6 Hirai, Mizuki FR Tennessee 50.50 50.56 13
r:+0.62 10.62 23.45 (12.83)
36.95 (13.50) 50.56 (13.61)
7 Stoll, Campbell JR Texas 50.49 50.61 12
r:+0.67 10.68 23.48 (12.80)
36.75 (13.27) 50.61 (13.86)
8 Grana, Miranda JR Indiana 50.68 51.11 11
r:+0.65 11.15 24.27 (13.12)
37.44 (13.17) 51.11 (13.67)
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