Claire Curzan's Swimming Strategy for the NCAA Championship
The 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships are set to take place from Wednesday, March 18, to Saturday, March 21, at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Defending champions Virginia, who have won the title five times, will be looking to add to their trophy cabinet. The championship is a highly anticipated event, with the pre-selection psych sheets available for reference at https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-pre-selection-entry-list.pdf, and live results and video streaming accessible at https://swimmeetresults.tech/NCAA-Division-I-Women-2026/ and https://www.youtube.com/c/NCAA, respectively.
One of the standout swimmers at this championship is Claire Curzan, a redshirt junior from the University of Virginia. Curzan has chosen to stick with the 100 fly, 100 back, and 200 back events, mirroring the lineup she swam at the ACC Championships. This decision is notable for two reasons. Firstly, it differs from her lineup at last year's ACC Championships, and secondly, it aligns with the history of Virginia's versatile star swimmers, who often change event lineups between conference and national championship meets, as seen with Alex Walsh and Kate Douglass.
At the 2025 NCAA Championship, Curzan finished second in the 50 free, first in the 100 back, and first in the 200 back. Her choice of backstroke events is a strategic one, given her recent success in breaking the U.S. Open Record in the 200 back at the ACC Championships. While there are strong swimmers in both the 100 back and 200 back, the field is not as competitive as it has been in recent years, especially with Bella Sims skipping the 200 back. Curzan's performance in the 50 free at last year's NCAA Championships, where she clocked 21.11, makes her the best returning performer in that race. However, four swimmers (Camille Spink, Torri Huske, Brady Kendall, and Sara Curtis) are faster than her time this year.
The 100 fly event will see a highly anticipated showdown between Curzan and her former Stanford teammate, Torri Huske. With Huske seeded at 48.26 and Curzan at 48.47, both swimmers achieved their best times in the race at the ACC Championships, with Huske emerging victorious. Only three other swimmers are seeded under 49 seconds in the 100 fly: Alex Shackell of Indiana (49.95), Gigi Johnson from Stanford (49.95), and Miranda Grana from Indiana (49.98). From a scoring perspective, this makes the 100 fly a less volatile choice for Virginia, who are aiming for a sixth consecutive NCAA title.
The new NCAA Championship schedule also influenced Curzan's event lineup. Last year, the 50 free and 100 back were on separate days, while the 100 fly conflicted. This year, the 100 fly moves to day two, and the 50 free is scheduled a few events after the 100 back. With the 400 medley relay on the same day, Curzan would have faced a challenging triple if she had maintained her previous lineup. This strategic adjustment ensures a more manageable schedule for Curzan and her team.
In summary, Claire Curzan's decision to stick with the 100 fly, 100 back, and 200 back events at the NCAA Championships is a strategic move, considering her recent success and the competitive landscape. Her performance in these events will be crucial to Virginia's pursuit of a sixth consecutive NCAA title.
