Men’s relay team posts 3rd fastest time in WVU history

By Charles Montgomery, WVU Sports

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The West Virginia University men’s and women’s swimming and diving team finished competition on the first day of the 2026 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The highlight of the night came in the men’s 800-yard freestyle relay, as the team comprised of sophomore Nick Lugo, junior Vedaant Madhavan, redshirt junior Christian Simpson and senior Max Nielsen, posted a final time of 6:27.89. That ranks third all-time in program history for that event, as the Mountaineers placed seventh.

In the men’s team diving event, the trio of sophomore Levi Hellmann, senior Christian Torres and redshirt senior Glenn Eloriaga scored 315.45 total points to place sixth.

On the women’s side, the relay team comprised of freshman Delia Ostafi, junior Maddie Smutny and seniors Gabriela Martin and Olivia Busch placed seventh in the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:17.17).

The Mountaineers return to action on Wednesday morning for prelims at 10 a.m.

Meet Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 25

• 10 a.m. – Prelims
• 5:15 p.m. – Women’s 1-meter diving
• 6 p.m. – Finals
  • 500 freestyle
  • 200 individual medley
  • 50 freestyle
  • Men’s 3-meter diving

Thursday, Feb. 26

• 10 a.m. – Prelims
• 5:15 p.m. – Men’s 1-meter diving
• 6 p.m. – Finals
  • 100 butterfly
  • 400 IM
  • 200 freestyle
  • Women’s 3-meter diving
  • 4×100 medley relay

Friday, Feb. 27

• 10 a.m. – Prelims
• 6 p.m. – Finals
  • 200 butterfly
  • 100 breaststroke
  • 100 backstroke
  • Men’s platform diving
  • 200 freestyle relay

Saturday, Feb. 28

• 10 a.m. – Prelims
• 6 p.m. – Finals
  • 200 backstroke
  • 100 freestyle
  • 1650 freestyle
  • 200 breaststroke
  • Women’s platform diving
  • 400 freestyle relay

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on X, Facebook and Instagram.