BOKOS WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY, WHILE FOUR SCHOOL RECORDS FALL ON NIGHT THREE IN EVANSVILLE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Tonight, the University of Tampa men's and women's swimming teams wrapped up the third day of action at the 2026 NCAA Swimming & Diving National Championship, highlighted by a National Championship performance by Burlingtyn Bokos. 

Bokos put up a dominant swim from beginning to end in the 400 Individual Medley, becoming the first individual National Champion for the women's program since Jessie Bardin in 2009. 

Head Coach Jimi Kiner on his Bokos' performance on night three, "It was pretty special. She went out hard and led the race from start to finish, which was awesome. It just shows how she trains and the kind of character she has." Kiner continued, "This one was also a little special for me because she is the daughter of two people I went to college with, and her dad was my college roommate, so it brings it a little closer to my heart."

Bokos on her National Title, "Tonight was a dream. It feels good to know that all the hours in the pool really have paid off. However, the job is not finished, and I look forward to having the chance to race again tomorrow in the 200 fly."

Kiner on what tomorrow means for his team, "We have a lot of swims tomorrow, so we can really move up in the team standings. It will be fun."

TOP PERFORMANCES (MEN)

• In the 100 Butterfly, William Beckstead-Holman swam to a fourth-place finish, stopping the clock at 46.46. Tibor Tistan also picked up All-American honors with a sixth-place finish, 46.58.

• Nick Cavic put up a 12th-place finish in the 400 Individual Medley, 3:51.15. Oliver Pope also swam to a top-16 finish, touching the wall in 16th place, 3:55.63.

• School record holder Jacob Hamlin picked up a National Runner-Up finish in the 200 Freestyle, setting a new school record in the process, 1:33.10, he was joined in the championship-final by Josh Noll who finished seventh, hitting the touchpad at 1:35.79. Barabas Fluck swam to a 15th-place finish by finishing seventh in the consolation final, 1:36.63.

• In the 200 Medley Relay, the team of Rufus Bernhardt, Britton Spann, William Beckstead-Holman, and Riccardo Pandin finished fourth, hitting the wall in a new school record time of 3:08.37.

  • Rufus Bernhardt (46.74)

  • Britton Spann (53.09 split)

  • William Beckstead-Holman (45.86 split)

  • Riccardo Pandin (42.68 split)

TOP PERFORMANCES (WOMEN)

• In the 100 Butterfly, Madalee Roberts picked up All-American honors with a seventh-place finish, 54.51.

• Burlingtyn Bokos swam to a National Championship in the 400 Individual Medley, stopping the clock in a new school record time of 4:14.09. In the consolation final, Caroline Foltz finished 14th with a final time of 4:23.78.

• The 200 Freestyle saw Lindsey Louder pick up another All-American selection with her fifth-place finish, 1:48.05. McKenna Patrick used a dominant performance in the consolation to finish tenth overall, 1:48.71.

• Sidni Meister, Hannah-Claire Jowers, Madalee Roberts, and Tilde Morin swam to a seventh-place finish in the 200 Medley Relay, hitting the wall in a school record time of 3:39.63.

  • Sidni Meister (54.50)

  • Hannah-Claire Jowers (1:01.99 split)

  • Madalee Roberts (54.26 split)

  • Tilde Morin (48.88 split)

TEAM STANDINGS (MEN)

1. Drury - 253 points

2. Tampa - 244 points

3. Indy - 228 points

4. Colorado Mesa - 214 points

5. McKendree - 151.5 points

TEAM STANDINGS (WOMEN)

1. Nova Southeastern - 265 points

2. Tampa - 209.5 points

3. Colorado Mesa - 160.5 points

4. Drury - 158 points

5. Indy - 153 points