HOUSTON —The University of Hawai'i men's and women's swimming and diving teams continued to compete in the 2026 Big West Championships at the CRWC Natatorium in Houston. The men remain firmly in title contention finishing second through two days of competition. After finishing in last place on Wednesday, the Rainbow Wahine had an outstanding turnaround as they now lead the conference championship after Day 2.
Men's swimmer
Karol Ostrowski set a new Big West record as he captured his third-consecutive conference crown (two in the Big West and one in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) in the 50 free finishing with a time of 19.13 which is an NCAA Automatic qualifying time. Fellow Rainbow Warriors
Finn Brophy (19.61) and
Regan Richardson (19.82) also swam well in the finals, finishing in fourth and seventh places respectively for 47 combined points.
Ostrowski also swam the leadoff leg of UH's Big West record setting 200 free relay team with Brophy swimming second,
Aleks Tomaszewski third and Richardson anchoring the squad, touching the wall with a time of 1:17.24. The Rainbow Warriors have now won three relay races in the championship.
After anchoring yesterday's 800 freestyle relay win, UH's
Tom Thalau won the 200 IM clocking in with a time of 1:43.93 which was also an NCAA Automatic Qualifying time.
Men's diver
Juan Esteban Ramirez Tamayo won the 3-meter diving event, finishing with a Big West record score of 393.45 points. His total score also ranks him with the seventh-highest score in UH history. Yesterday, Ramirez Tamayo won his second-straight 1-meter dive title with a score of 360.70 which was also a Big West record.
The Rainbow Wahine scored in bunches early with
Gabriela Kelly,
Aoife Harkin, and
Brooke Bennett earning 30 combined points by finishing in fourth, sixth and seventh places in the 500 Freestyle.
In the 50 Free,
Holly Nelson (22.28) and
Quincy Key (22.65) finished first and second to add 37 more points to the 'Bows' total. For Nelson, her time was an NCAA Automatic Qualifier time and it ranks No. 2 in the UH record books. The Rainbow Wahine set a new Big West record in the 200 free relay with Nelson leading off, Key swimming second,
Alexia Kovaluk third, and
Zofia Tyminska swimming the anchor leg for a time of 1:29.39 for 40 more points.
In diving, Hawai'i dominated the 1-meter event finishing first, second, third, fourth, and sixth place for a whopping 81 combined points.
Macie Wheeler won the event with a score of 311.85. Lovisa Gusstavson came in second with a score of 301.55 while
Ruby Pickron finished in third scoring 279.10.
Keira Chandler claimed fourth place with a 278.15 and
Avery Coates finished sixth with 265.50 points.
The 2026 Big West Championships continue on Friday with Day 3 at the CRWC Natatorium in Houston.
Men's Standings
| 1. |
Grand Canyon |
319 |
| 2. |
Hawai'i |
302 |
| 3. |
UC San Diego |
207 |
| 4. |
Cal State Bakersfield |
171.5 |
| 5. |
UC Santa Barbara |
166 |
| 6. |
Seattle U |
113.5 |
Women's Standings
| 1. |
Hawai'i |
271 |
| 2. |
UC Santa Barbara |
225 |
| 3. |
UC Davis |
217 |
| 4. |
UC San Diego |
207 |
| 5. |
San Diego |
133 |
| 6. |
Seattle U |
80 |
| 7. |
Cal State Bakersfield |
78 |
EVENT WINNERS
Men's Swim/Dive
3-M Dive -
Juan Esteban Ramirez Tamayo 393.45*
200 IM -
Tom Thalau 1:43.93 ^
50 FEWW -
Karol Ostrowski 19.13*^
200 Free Relay - Ostrowski, Brophy, Tomaszewski, Richardson
Women's Swim/Dive
50 Free -
Holly Nelson 22.28^
1-M Dive -
Macie Wheeler 311.85*
200 Free Relay - Nelson, Key, A. Kovaluk, Tyminska*
*- Big West Record
^ - NCAA Automatic Qualifier
UH Top Marks
200 IM-
Tom Thalau - 43.93 (2nd)
50 Free -
Holly Nelson - 22.28 (2nd)
200IM -
Zofia Tyminska - 1:58.09 (3rd)
50 Free -
Finn Brophy - 19.61 (5th)
500 Free -
Gabriela Kelly - 4:50.96 (6th)
3M Dive -
Juan Esteban Ramirez Tamayo - 393.45 (7th)
200 IM -
Carlotta Ingenerf - 2:00.09 (8th)
50 Free -
Quincy Key - 22.65 (10th)
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