The Delta State University women’s swim and dive team continued its strong showing at the 2026 New South Intercollegiate Swimming Conference Championships on Friday. The Lady Statesmen sit in second place overall with 679 team points heading into the final day of competition.
Delta State opened Friday’s finals with a dominant performance in the 100-yard backstroke, placing four swimmers in the A final. Senior Kaley Davis finished second with a time of 54.27 seconds, followed by sophomore Olivia Murphy in third at 54.40. Senior Aspen Shipp added a fifth-place finish in 54.95, while sophomore Kennedy Cleasant posted a B consideration time of 55.41 seconds, according to meet organizers.
In the 100-yard breaststroke, freshman Kiera Cloete earned a silver medal with a time of 1:03.53, achieving an NCAA Division II B cut. Senior Pia Delkeskamp and junior Hannah Jones finished fourth and fifth, respectively, with times of 1:04.72 and 1:05.46, adding valuable points for the team.
Reigning conference champion Janne Bodemer defended her title in the 200-yard butterfly with a winning swim of 1:59.86, earning an NCAA invite time and securing another conference crown for the Lady Statesmen. Senior Mikayla Kloth contributed in that event with a fourth-place finish in 2:06.49.
In distance events, freshman Rhianna Foster took fourth in the 500-yard freestyle with a B cut time of 5:02.42. Jessica Gannon won the B final in 5:05.16, while sophomore Julia Maciak also scored points in the consolation final.
The night concluded with a record-breaking performance in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team of Zinna Nimander, Ave Owens, Aspen Shipp and Olivia Murphy clocked a conference-record time of 1:30.69, earning gold and surpassing the previous NSISC record. The Lady Statesmen also finished ninth in the B final relay.
With 679 points, Delta State remains in second place as the meet heads into its final day, according to meet officials.
