Sophomore Alexandra Bastone made a significant impact at the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, securing 18th place in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:38.98. Her impressive finish marks Harvard’s highest individual placement at the meet since 2022, highlighting a strong conclusion to the women’s swimming season.
Bastone, originally seeded 25th, narrowly missed her personal best and school record, set during the Ivy League Championships in February. That competition saw her dominate in multiple events, winning the mile (15:59.70), 200-yard freestyle (1:46.33), and 500-yard freestyle, reinforcing her status as one of the top competitors in collegiate swimming.
Top Ivy League Performer at Nationals
While Bastone finished just outside the top 16 required for a consolation final—trailing the University of California at Berkeley’s Maya Geringer by only 0.22 seconds—she was the top-performing Ivy League swimmer among the three conference representatives at the national meet. Her placement also stands as Harvard’s best since then-senior Felicia Pasadyn finished 15th in the 400-yard individual medley in 2022.
Harvard’s junior diver, Nina Janmyr, also delivered a strong showing, placing 38th in the one-meter board event with a score of 249.45. This marked her third consecutive NCAA appearance, improving upon her previous finishes of 40th and 35th in her freshman and sophomore years, respectively.
Consistency Across Multiple Events
Bastone’s NCAA campaign didn’t stop with the 500-yard freestyle. She competed in the 200-yard freestyle and the 1,650-yard freestyle on Friday and Saturday, finishing 41st and 20th, respectively. Her time of 16:00.86 in the mile was just one second off her personal best from the Ivy League Championships, where she set a Harvard record and entered NCAAs as the 17th seed. Despite the slight difference, she outperformed all Ivy League competitors once again.
Additionally, Bastone’s 200-yard freestyle time of 1:45.99 set a new personal best, further solidifying her place as the fifth-fastest swimmer in Harvard program history.
A Legacy of Success for Harvard Women’s Swimming
With Bastone and Janmyr’s outstanding performances, Harvard Women’s Swimming extended its streak of NCAA appearances to 13 consecutive years, a testament to the program’s depth and excellence. As the women’s season wraps up, the Crimson’s Men’s Swimming and Diving Team is set to take the stage at the NCAA Championships next weekend in Washington, beginning Thursday, March 26.
