Reader Places 20th In 1650 Free At NCAA Championships

Wednesday, March 18

Atlanta, Ga.

Finals: 10 AM

North Carolina

NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships

Photo by: Isabel Swindall

March 18, 2026 | Swimming & Diving

ATLANTA – University of North Carolina swimmer Lily Reader produced a huge personal best to finish 20th in the 1650 freestyle one day one of the NCAA Championships. Reader's mark of 16:12.81 was fast enough to move her to No. 5 all-time at UNC.

The 200 medley relay of Sophia Frei, Samantha Armand, Kamryn Meskill and Eden Goettsch clocked a 1:36.69 to finish 21st in the event. Frei opened in 23.85 followed by Armand on the breast leg in 27.28. Meskill handled the fly leg with a split of 23.42 and Goettsch brought it home in 22.14.

Action picks up on Thursday as Tar Heels will compete in the 400 IM, 100 breast, 3-meter diving and 200 freestyle relay. Prelims are set to start at 10 a.m. with finals at 6 p.m. The entire Championships can be streamed on ESPN+.

NCAA Women's Championships Day One

1650 Freestyle
20. Lily Reader, 16:12.81 (PB) (No. 5 All-Time at UNC)

200 Medley Relay
21. UNC A (S. Frei, S. Armand, K. Meskill, E. Goettsch), 1:36.69

For up-to-date information on UNC Swimming & Diving, visit GoHeels.com/Swimming-and-Diving and follow on X (@uncswimdive), Instagram (@uncswimdive) and Facebook (Facebook.com/UNCswimdive).