Nebraska State Swimming Prelims Highlight Records

Marian's Meredith Payton sets new 100 fly record, Bellevue's Zachary Decker tops 50 free qualifiers

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Nebraska State Activities Association (NSAA) state swimming prelims took place on Friday in Lincoln, with several impressive performances. Marian High School's Meredith Payton set a new state meet record in the 100 fly with a time of 54.03 seconds. Payton also had the fastest qualifying time in the 200 IM. On the boys' side, freshman Zachary Decker of Bellevue High School had the top qualifying time in the 50 free at 21.28 seconds. The NSAA state swimming finals will be held on Saturday in Lincoln.

Why it matters

The state swimming prelims are an important step towards the state championships, showcasing the top high school swimmers in Nebraska. Records being broken and top qualifiers emerging highlight the competitive nature of the event and the talent of the participating athletes.

The details

At the NSAA state swimming prelims on Friday, Meredith Payton of Marian High School set a new state meet record in the 100 fly with a time of 54.03 seconds. Payton also had the fastest qualifying time in the 200 IM. On the boys' side, freshman Zachary Decker of Bellevue High School had the top qualifying time in the 50 free at 21.28 seconds.

  • The NSAA state swimming prelims took place on Friday, February 28, 2026 in Lincoln.
  • The NSAA state swimming finals will be held on Saturday, February 29, 2026 in Lincoln.

The players

Meredith Payton

A swimmer for Marian High School who set a new state meet record in the 100 fly and had the fastest qualifying time in the 200 IM.

Zachary Decker

A freshman swimmer for Bellevue High School who had the top qualifying time in the 50 free.

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What’s next

The NSAA state swimming finals will be held on Saturday, February 29, 2026 in Lincoln.

The takeaway

The NSAA state swimming prelims showcased the impressive talent of Nebraska's high school swimmers, with records being broken and top qualifiers emerging. The finals on Saturday will determine the state champions in each event.