University of Iowa 200 Freestyle Relay Team Breaks School Record

Payton Flowers, Rachel Dildine, Ella Jean Kelly and Audrey Olen set new program mark at Big Ten Championships

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The University of Iowa's 200 freestyle relay team broke the school record at the Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday evening. The quartet of underclassmen Payton Flowers, Rachel Dildine, Ella Jean Kelly and Audrey Olen touched the wall in 1:29.68, with Flowers also updating her 50 free school record time to 22.12 during the lead leg.

Why it matters

The record-breaking performance by Iowa's 200 freestyle relay team highlights the strength and depth of the Hawkeyes' swimming program, which continues to produce top-tier talent and set new program benchmarks at the highly competitive Big Ten Championships.

The details

In addition to the 200 freestyle relay record, the Hawkeyes had several other strong individual performances on the day. Flowers finished 11th overall in the 100 butterfly final with a time of 52.49, which ranks second in Iowa history. Freshman Zita Bernatsky and senior Lainey Woodward both qualified for the B final in the 1-meter diving event, with Woodward finishing ninth overall.

  • The 200 freestyle relay record was set on Thursday, February 20, 2026 during the Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships.
  • Flowers updated her 50 free school record time to 22.12 during the lead leg of the 200 freestyle relay.

The players

Payton Flowers

A member of the record-breaking 200 freestyle relay team and the second-fastest 100 butterfly swimmer in Iowa history.

Rachel Dildine

A member of the record-breaking 200 freestyle relay team and the fourth-fastest 100 butterfly swimmer in Iowa history.

Ella Jean Kelly

A member of the record-breaking 200 freestyle relay team.

Audrey Olen

A member of the record-breaking 200 freestyle relay team and the ninth-fastest 200 freestyle swimmer in Iowa history.

Nathan Mundt

The head coach of the University of Iowa swimming and diving team.

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What they’re saying

“It was an excellent day for our team, highlighted by three individual performances and two program records in the finals tonight. This morning, we had numerous lifetime best performances, which created a ton of momentum heading into tomorrow. We're excited to get back to the poor and keep it going on day three.”

— Nathan Mundt, Head Coach (kjan.com)

What’s next

The Hawkeyes will return to action on Friday morning for another full day of competition at the Big Ten Championships. Prelims will start at 10 a.m., with finals to follow at 5:30 p.m. The meet will be live streamed on B1G+.

The takeaway

Iowa's swimming and diving program continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten, as evidenced by the record-breaking performance of its 200 freestyle relay team and the strong individual showings by its athletes. The Hawkeyes' depth and talent suggest they are poised for continued success at the conference and national levels.