Spencer Nicholas Secures NCAA Qualification at Virginia's Last Chance Meet
The 2026 UVA Last Chance Meet, held from February 28 to March 1 in Charlottesville, Virginia, was a pivotal event for many swimmers aiming to secure their spots in the NCAA Championships. Among them, Spencer Nicholas, a sophomore, demonstrated remarkable improvement, moving into a qualifying position for the NCAA meet.
Nicholas, who had not initially qualified for the individual NCAA invite time, showcased his prowess at the ACC Championships. He achieved season bests in the 100 fly (45.68) and 200 IM (1:44.10), and a mid-season best of 45.75 from the CSCAA Dual Meet Challenge. However, these times were not close enough to secure a spot in Atlanta, causing some disappointment among fans.
But the Cavalier Last Chance Meet proved to be a turning point. Nicholas posted a season-best time of 44.86 in the 100 fly, propelling him to 21st place in the NCAA rankings this season. While the new Auto Qualifier system adds an element of uncertainty, this achievement should be sufficient to secure his spot.
Additionally, Nicholas set a new personal best in the 100 back with a time of 45.32. Although this time alone may not be enough for an invite, it serves as a positive indicator of his progress heading into the NCAAs.
The Last Chance Meet witnessed impressive performances from several Virginia swimmers. Jack Aikins, a member of the US team for the World Championships, swam a 1:39.00 in the 200 back, moving him up to 10th place in the NCAA rankings. Hayden Bellotti, a junior, improved his 200 fly time by half a second, jumping up to 21st place nationally.
Melissa Nwakalor, a transfer from Richmond, impressed with a 21.82 in the 50 free, just 0.03 seconds off her season best. Despite not being on the ACC Championships team, she has a strong chance of meeting the invite time for the NCAAs.
Noah Powers achieved a season-best 100 free time trial of 43.65. Similarly, Gavin Keogh from NC State made a strong case for NCAA qualification with a 1:41.13 in the 200 back, though he fell short of his previous ACCs performance.
The women's meet psych sheets will be available by noon Eastern on March 4, while the men's sheets will be posted by noon on March 11.
This article highlights the intense competition and the dramatic improvements of swimmers at the Last Chance Meet, showcasing the challenges and triumphs of athletes striving for NCAA qualification.
