Pitt Women Reach New Heights at 2026 NCAA Championships

Earn Highest Finish in Program History

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:34am

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The Pitt women's swimming and diving team concluded the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships with a record-breaking performance, finishing tied for 16th with 55 points - the highest team finish in program history. Senior Claire Jansen posted the highest individual finish by any swimmer in program history, placing fourth in the 200 backstroke finals. Other standout performances included Sydney Gring breaking the 200 IM school record and contributing to multiple record-breaking relay teams.

Why it matters

This result marks an 11-place improvement over Pitt's previous best NCAA finish and demonstrates the continued growth and success of the women's swimming and diving program. It also highlights the individual accomplishments of standout swimmers like Jansen and Gring, who have helped elevate the program to new heights.

The details

Pitt finished tied for 16th with 55 points, surpassing the previous program record of 18th set in 1982-83. Senior Claire Jansen placed fourth in the 200 backstroke finals, earning first-team All-America honors. Sydney Gring broke the 200 IM school record and earned honorable mention All-America in multiple events. Pitt's relay teams also set new school records, with the 800 freestyle relay scoring for the first time in 39 years and the team scoring in three relays at a single NCAA Championship meet for the first time in program history.

  • The 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships took place on March 21-22, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The players

Claire Jansen

A senior on the Pitt women's swimming and diving team who posted the highest individual finish in program history, placing fourth in the 200 backstroke finals and earning first-team All-America honors.

Sydney Gring

A Pitt swimmer who broke the 200 IM school record and earned honorable mention All-America in multiple events, including the 200 IM, 100 backstroke, and 100 butterfly.

Pitt Women's Swimming and Diving

The Pitt women's swimming and diving team, which finished tied for 16th at the 2026 NCAA Championships - the highest team finish in program history.

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The takeaway

Pitt's women's swimming and diving team has reached new heights, posting the best NCAA Championship finish in program history and setting numerous school records. This performance demonstrates the continued growth and success of the program, and the individual accomplishments of standout swimmers like Claire Jansen and Sydney Gring have helped elevate Pitt to new levels of national prominence.