Florida State University Athletics
Six Seminoles Qualify for NCAA Championships
3/4/2026 7:12:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida State swimming and diving team earned four qualifiers to the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, as the NCAA announced its swimming qualifiers on Wednesday.
Sophomore Alice Velden and freshman Lucy Porter earned individual selections for the Seminoles, while Florida State also qualified in the 200 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay. Divers will have the opportunity to earn their NCAA berths at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, which begin this weekend. Men's swimming NCAA qualifiers will be announced next week.
The women's NCAA Championships are scheduled for March 18-21 at McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta.
"I'm incredibly proud of our individual and relay qualifiers, especially the new tougher guideline," FSU head coach Neal Studd said. "We have a little of everything, a first-semester freshman in Lucy Porter and a senior at her final meet, Sarah Evans, so there are some really nice stories."
Velden will compete in the 100 backstroke after posting a school-record 51.48 at the ACC Championships. Porter punched her ticket in the 200 breaststroke with a personal-best 2:08.77 at Georgia's Bulldog Invitational Last Chance Meet.
The 200 freestyle relay team of sophomore Maryn McDade, Velden, senior Sarah Evans and sophomore Mary Leigh Hardman posted a 1:28.77 to earn a spot at the national meet. The Seminoles also qualified in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:35.43, featuring Velden, senior Julia Mansson, McDade and Hardman.
Alice Velden | 100 Backstroke – 51.48 | 200 Freestyle Relay – 1:28.77 | 200 Medley Relay – 1:35.43
Velden qualified for her second NCAA Championships with a personal best and school-record 51.48 at the 2026 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships in February, placing 17th overall in the conference. She will also compete on both the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay teams, serving as the leadoff leg on the 800 medley relay team that finished eighth at ACCs.
Lucy Porter | 200 Breaststroke | 2:08.77
A spring-enrollee, Porter earner her first NCAA berth with a personal-best 2:08.77 in the 200 breaststroke, third-fastest in FSU history. At ACCs, she placed 18th in the event with a then-personal-best time of 2:09.60 and also holds the sixth-fastest 200 IM time in program history (1:58.59).
Mary Leigh Hardman | 200 Freestyle Relay – 1:28.77 | 200 Medley Relay – 1:35.43
Hardman will compete in both relays for the Seminoles after a strong sophomore season. At ACCs, she helped the team to an eighth-place finish in the 200 medley relay and also competed in both the 400 and 800 freestyle relays. She posted a personal-best 1:48.17 in the 200 freestyle at the ACCs and recorded several other personal bests throughout the season.
Maryn McDade | 200 Freestyle Relay – 1:28.77 | 200 Medley Relay – 1:35.43
McDade will swim on both NCAA relay teams. The sophomore placed 17th in the 50 freestyle at ACCs while helping the Seminoles to an eighth-place finish in the 200 medley relay. She also competed at the 2025 NCAA Championships as part of the Seminoles' 200 freestyle relay team.
Julia Mansson | 200 Medley Relay – 1:35.43
Mansson will represent Florida State in the 200 medley relay. At ACCs, she placed 13th in the 100 breaststroke and 17th in the 200 breaststroke, while contributing to an eighth-place 200 medley relay finish. This will be her second NCAA appearance, following her 2023 qualification in the 200 breaststroke.
Sarah Evans | 200 Freestyle Relay – 1:28.77
Evans will compete on the 200 freestyle relay at her second NCAA Championships. At NCAAs in 2024, she swam the 100 backstroke as the leadoff of the 400 medley relay and competed in the 200 medley relay. Evans also competed at the 2026 ACC Championships, placing 13th in the 100 backstroke and 16th in the 200 backstroke, while contributing to the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Florida State's divers will look to qualify for the NCAA Championships this upcoming week March 8-11 at the NCAA B Zone Diving Championships at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Georgia.
For updates and exclusive content, follow the Seminoles on Twitter/X (@FSU_Swimming), Instagram (@FSUSwimDive) and Facebook (FSUSwimmingDiving).
Sophomore Alice Velden and freshman Lucy Porter earned individual selections for the Seminoles, while Florida State also qualified in the 200 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay. Divers will have the opportunity to earn their NCAA berths at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, which begin this weekend. Men's swimming NCAA qualifiers will be announced next week.
The women's NCAA Championships are scheduled for March 18-21 at McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta.
"I'm incredibly proud of our individual and relay qualifiers, especially the new tougher guideline," FSU head coach Neal Studd said. "We have a little of everything, a first-semester freshman in Lucy Porter and a senior at her final meet, Sarah Evans, so there are some really nice stories."
Velden will compete in the 100 backstroke after posting a school-record 51.48 at the ACC Championships. Porter punched her ticket in the 200 breaststroke with a personal-best 2:08.77 at Georgia's Bulldog Invitational Last Chance Meet.
The 200 freestyle relay team of sophomore Maryn McDade, Velden, senior Sarah Evans and sophomore Mary Leigh Hardman posted a 1:28.77 to earn a spot at the national meet. The Seminoles also qualified in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:35.43, featuring Velden, senior Julia Mansson, McDade and Hardman.
Alice Velden | 100 Backstroke – 51.48 | 200 Freestyle Relay – 1:28.77 | 200 Medley Relay – 1:35.43
Velden qualified for her second NCAA Championships with a personal best and school-record 51.48 at the 2026 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships in February, placing 17th overall in the conference. She will also compete on both the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay teams, serving as the leadoff leg on the 800 medley relay team that finished eighth at ACCs.
Lucy Porter | 200 Breaststroke | 2:08.77
A spring-enrollee, Porter earner her first NCAA berth with a personal-best 2:08.77 in the 200 breaststroke, third-fastest in FSU history. At ACCs, she placed 18th in the event with a then-personal-best time of 2:09.60 and also holds the sixth-fastest 200 IM time in program history (1:58.59).
Mary Leigh Hardman | 200 Freestyle Relay – 1:28.77 | 200 Medley Relay – 1:35.43
Hardman will compete in both relays for the Seminoles after a strong sophomore season. At ACCs, she helped the team to an eighth-place finish in the 200 medley relay and also competed in both the 400 and 800 freestyle relays. She posted a personal-best 1:48.17 in the 200 freestyle at the ACCs and recorded several other personal bests throughout the season.
Maryn McDade | 200 Freestyle Relay – 1:28.77 | 200 Medley Relay – 1:35.43
McDade will swim on both NCAA relay teams. The sophomore placed 17th in the 50 freestyle at ACCs while helping the Seminoles to an eighth-place finish in the 200 medley relay. She also competed at the 2025 NCAA Championships as part of the Seminoles' 200 freestyle relay team.
Julia Mansson | 200 Medley Relay – 1:35.43
Mansson will represent Florida State in the 200 medley relay. At ACCs, she placed 13th in the 100 breaststroke and 17th in the 200 breaststroke, while contributing to an eighth-place 200 medley relay finish. This will be her second NCAA appearance, following her 2023 qualification in the 200 breaststroke.
Sarah Evans | 200 Freestyle Relay – 1:28.77
Evans will compete on the 200 freestyle relay at her second NCAA Championships. At NCAAs in 2024, she swam the 100 backstroke as the leadoff of the 400 medley relay and competed in the 200 medley relay. Evans also competed at the 2026 ACC Championships, placing 13th in the 100 backstroke and 16th in the 200 backstroke, while contributing to the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Florida State's divers will look to qualify for the NCAA Championships this upcoming week March 8-11 at the NCAA B Zone Diving Championships at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Georgia.
For updates and exclusive content, follow the Seminoles on Twitter/X (@FSU_Swimming), Instagram (@FSUSwimDive) and Facebook (FSUSwimmingDiving).
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