NCAA Women’s Championships Day 3: Anna Peplowski Claims 200 Free in Big Ten Showdown
With all eyes on Virginia and Stanford this week, the 200 freestyle looked to be a good old-fashioned Big Ten duel and it ended up a three-way duel of Big Ten swimmers.
Indiana senior Anna Peplowski used a strong race to hold off her Big Ten foes and claim her first NCAA title.
“It means so much, just for the Hoosiers. To bring home an NCAA title means so much. I have been thinking about it for a long time,” Peplowski said. “It is really special.”
Peplowski had been the best performer in the event all season, including winning the Big Ten title. Meanwhile, Michigan sophomore Stephanie Balduccini took the top seed from the morning, the only swimmer to go a 1:41 in prelims.
Balduccini took the early led with Peplowski just behind after 50 and 100. USC’s Minna Abraham‘s made a charge, and it was a three-way race down the stretch.
Peplowski, a 2024 Olympian, won the race in 1:40.50 to hold off Abraham (1:40.56). Balduccini was just behind at 1:40.89 as all three broke the 1:41 mark.
“I knew coming off of Big Tens, it was going to be really competitive at NCAAs. I never kept my eye off the prize and tried to stay in my own lane and do my own race. Sometimes that is hard when you get consumed with what others are doing,” Peplowski said. “Swimming is so diverse and having the Big Ten represent on the big stage is really special.”
Peplowski got some great big-stage experience as a silver medalist in the 800 free relay at the Paris Olympics.
“I don’t think it affected my approach. After making the Olympics I was prepared for what post-Olympic depression looks like. Everyone deals with it differently and I don’t think it is talked about enough. But I just wanted to put a lot of focus into my team this year and give it all for my team. I had a lot of momentum coming off of the Olympics, but I was still hungry for more at NCAAs.”
And another shot at an Olympic team.
“I will be training at Indiana through LA 2028. I just love the team so much and being able to surround myself with the great culture we have and the great coaches is just so special.” Peplowski said.
Cal’s Lea Polonsky took fourth in 1:41.85 to hold off Virginia’s Anna Moesch (1:42.39).
Stanford’s Aurora Roghair, who swam in the consolation final of the 200 free after leading Stanford to the 800 free NCAA title, was named the Elite 90 Award winner – the athlete with the highest GPA at the championships. ‘
Roghair was third in the consolation to finish 11th in 1:43.08.
