Indiana Freshman Matches Meet Record in 100 Free at Big Ten Championships

Liberty Clark ties Maggie Mac Neil's 2020 mark as Indiana, Michigan, and USC swimmers shine in prelims

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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At the 2026 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, Indiana freshman Liberty Clark sprinted to the top seed in the 100 freestyle, tying the meet record of 46.57 set by Michigan's Maggie Mac Neil in 2020. Other top performers included UCLA senior Rosie Murphy in the 200 IM, Michigan junior Hannah Bellard in the 200 butterfly, and Wisconsin senior Maggie Wanezek in the 200 backstroke.

Why it matters

The Big Ten Championships are a key stepping stone for swimmers looking to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Liberty Clark's record-tying swim in the 100 free highlights the depth of talent in the conference, as Indiana, Michigan, USC, and other programs continue to produce elite-level swimmers.

The details

In the 100 freestyle, Clark touched the wall in 46.57 to match the meet record set by Maggie Mac Neil in 2020. Ohio State sophomore Rachel Bockrath took second in 47.68, followed by Michigan's Brady Kendall (47.95) and Stephanie Balduccini (48.04). Indiana's Grace Hoeper finished fifth in 48.11. In the 200 IM, UCLA's Rosie Murphy led the way in 1:54.25, just ahead of Michigan's Bella Sims (1:54.74). Indiana's Mackenzie Hodges took fifth in 1:57.03. Indiana freshman Alex Shackell won the 200 butterfly in 1:52.48, with Michigan's Hannah Bellard second in 1:52.73. And in the 200 backstroke, Wisconsin's Maggie Wanezek posted a time of 1:48.94 to lead the field, nearly three seconds ahead of runner-up Rosie Murphy of UCLA (1:51.79).

  • The 2026 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships are taking place from February 20-23 in Minneapolis.

The players

Liberty Clark

A freshman swimmer at Indiana University who tied the Big Ten meet record in the 100 freestyle.

Maggie Mac Neil

A former swimmer at the University of Michigan who set the Big Ten meet record in the 100 freestyle in 2020 that Clark matched.

Rosie Murphy

A senior swimmer at UCLA who won the 200 IM and finished second in the 200 backstroke.

Hannah Bellard

A junior swimmer at the University of Michigan who finished second in the 200 butterfly.

Maggie Wanezek

A senior swimmer at the University of Wisconsin who won the 200 backstroke.

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What’s next

The Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships will continue with the finals session on Saturday, February 22.

The takeaway

The preliminary rounds of the Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships showcased the conference's elite talent, with standout performances from swimmers representing Indiana, Michigan, UCLA, Wisconsin, and other top programs. The meet record-tying swim by Indiana freshman Liberty Clark in the 100 freestyle was a highlight, demonstrating the depth of talent in the Big Ten.