A Freshman's Record-Breaking Splash: Indiana Dominates Purdue in a Swim Meet to Remember
On a chilly January day in Bloomington, Indiana, the Hoosiers made a splash—literally—as they swept Purdue in a thrilling Big Ten dual meet. But here's where it gets exciting: IU freshman Liberty Clark stole the show with a jaw-dropping 20.79 split in the 50-yard freestyle, not only shattering her personal best but also setting a new program record for Indiana. And this is the part most people miss—Clark’s time is the fastest 50 free split in IU history, a feat previously achieved by only one other Hoosier, senior Kristina Paegle. Could Clark be the next big name in collegiate swimming? The debate is already heating up.
The meet, held at the Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center on January 24, 2026, saw Indiana’s men’s and women’s teams dominate the scoreboard. The men secured a decisive 209.5-90.5 victory, while the women triumphed 186-114. The Hoosiers set the tone early, with their women’s 200 medley relay teams taking the top two spots. The ‘A’ team, featuring Mya DeWitt (24.02), Jonette Lagreid (27.86), Grace Hoeper (23.41), and Clark (20.79), clocked an impressive 1:36.08. Clark’s split wasn’t just a personal milestone—it was a statement that this freshman is a force to be reckoned with.
Indiana’s ‘B’ team also shone, with Miranda Grana (24.05), Alessandra Gusperti (28.10), Amelia Bray (23.63), and Sze Yeo (21.98) securing second place in 1:37.76. The IU men followed suit, going 1-2 in their 200 medley relay. The ‘A’ team of Miroslav Knedla (21.14), Alexei Avakov (23.36), Mikkel Lee (20.39), and Vidar Carlbaum (18.78) touched first in 1:23.67, while the ‘B’ squad of Raekwon Noel (21.60), Travis Gulledge (23.39), Max Lestina (20.19), and Dylan Smiley (19.12) finished close behind in 1:24.30.
Clark’s dominance didn’t stop there. She went on to win three individual events, each with career-best times. In the 100 backstroke, she clocked a 52.40, obliterating her previous best of 57.44 from 2025. She then claimed the 100 butterfly in 51.26, leaving her competitors in the dust. To cap off her day, Clark swam a 1:55.86 in the 200 IM, becoming the only woman under 2:00 and slicing over 7 seconds off her previous best. Is Clark the next big star in collegiate swimming? The numbers certainly suggest so, but some argue it’s too early to crown her. What do you think?
Indiana’s Alexei Avakov also had a standout day, sweeping the men’s breaststroke events. He won the 100 breast in 52.53 and the 200 breast in 1:57.04, though Purdue’s Giorgio Mango gave him a run for his money in the 200, finishing just behind in 1:57.21. On the women’s side, Jonette Lagreid mirrored Avakov’s success, winning the 100 breast (1:01.92) and 200 breast (2:13.05).
Kristina Paegle continued IU’s winning streak, sweeping the women’s sprint freestyle events. She edged out teammate Sze Yeo in the 50 free (22.24 to 22.35) and took the 100 free in 48.35. Noah Cakir was another Hoosier standout, dominating the men’s distance events. His 1000 free time of 8:54.58 was a staggering career best, and he followed it up with a 4:19.73 win in the 500 free, dropping 4 seconds from his previous best. Teammate Josh Bey also impressed, finishing second in 4:20.80.
Kai Van Westering swept the men’s backstroke events, winning the 100 back in 46.50 and the 200 back in 1:43.03. Indiana closed the meet by sweeping the 200 free relays. The women’s ‘A’ team of Sze Yeo (22.53), Grace Hoeper (22.06), Paegle (21.42), and Mya DeWitt (22.00) won in 1:28.00, while the men’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams nearly tied, with the ‘A’ team (1:17.43) edging out the ‘B’ team (1:17.87).
Purdue had their moments too. Reagan Mattice won the women’s 1000 free in a career-best 9:48.00, and Caitlin Hurley took the 500 free in 4:50.01. Alex Hotta shone in the men’s 100 fly, winning in 45.81, and Abby Marcukaitis dominated the women’s 200 back in 1:55.14. The Boilermakers also swept the 200 fly, with Campbell Scofield (1:57.73) and Biko Hooper-Haviland (1:43.93) taking the women’s and men’s titles, respectively.
In diving, IU’s Ella Roselli won the women’s 1-meter event with 311.78 points, while Purdue’s Holden Higbie (364.50), Daryn Wright (324.23), and Tyler Wills (429.38) claimed victories in the men’s 1-meter, women’s platform, and men’s platform events, respectively.
Controversial Question: Is Liberty Clark’s meteoric rise a sign of future dominance, or is it too early to crown her as the next swimming superstar? Share your thoughts in the comments!
