UNI swim and dive: Brayton takes second in 100-yard backstroke

2/27/2026 9:04:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

Multiple Panthers swim personal-best times on day three of action at MVC Championships.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. --- Night three of the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Swimming and Diving Championships saw the UNI Panthers post multiple career-best marks, with Elyse Brayton earning her first career individual all-conference honor with a second place showing in the 100-yard backstroke.

After three days of competition, Northern Iowa sits in fifth in the team standings with 629 points with six events remaining in the meet on Saturday.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Friday's action kicked off with the 200-yard butterfly, where Nikki Walters took 12th place for the Panthers with a time of 2:05.20. Sam Oeltjen would go on to place 15th at 2:07.50, as Natalie Harris finished in 22nd (2:10.28).

The 100-yard breaststroke saw Neriah Giedrys claim sixth in her A-Final debut in the event with a time of 1:03.26, a new season-best. Aspen Cole swam a 1:04.23 to take tenth and Sydney Aird came in 14th with a time of 1:05.26.

Brayton found her way to the podium in the 100-yard backstroke as she claimed second in the event with a career-best time of 54.75 seconds. Morgan Raether followed close behind in fifth in 55.21 seconds, tying her career-best time. Morgan Meyer would go on to swim a 56.58 in the event to take 12th, as Abby Lear would place 18th with a career-best time of 56.73.

Rounding out the night was the 800-yard freestyle that saw Oeltjen, Abigail Barkhurst, Walters, and Harris take seventh with a time of 7:42.93.

TEAM STANDINGS (Thru Day Three)

Southern Illinois (875)
Indiana State (854)
Missouri State (796.5)
UIC (731.5)
UNI (629)
Little Rock (623)
Illinois State (475)
Evansville (242)
Valparaiso (185)

UP NEXT
The fourth and final day of the MVC Championships begins at 10:30 a.m. CT on Saturday with the 1,650-yard freestyle, 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard breaststroke, three-meter diving competition and 400-yard freestyle relay.

Live coverage of the meet can be found on the MVC YouTube channel, with live results available on the Meet Mobile app (swimming) and Dive Meets (diving). Click HERE to access the MVC Championship hub.

UNI swimming and diving action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Swimming and Diving), X (@uniswimdive) and on Instagram (@uniswimdive). Schedules and rosters, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.