ATLANTA, Ga. – With two opportunities in relays on Wednesday, Auburn took full advantage, scoring in the 200 medley and setting the program record in the 800 free relay to kick off the first day of competition at the 2026 NCAA Championships inside history McAuley Aquatic Center.
After two events, head coach Ryan Wochomurka and the Tigers sit 12th with 22 points.
Kalle Makinen, Uros Zivanovic, Sohib Khaled and Warner Russ put the first points on the board for the Orange and Blue in the 200 medley relay. A 1:22.37 missed the school record by 0.01 seconds but put Auburn 12th overall.
Moments later, it was Abdalla Nasr, Daniel Krichevsky, Warner Russ and Luke Bedsole finding a school record 6:10.77 in the 800 free relay to capture 11th.
Only minutes after an 18.87 in the final split of the 200 medley, Russ was working overtime to dial up a solid 1:33.12 for his split in the 800.
Nasr’s leadoff leg of 1:33.35 moved the freshman to the No. 8 performer in school history in the 200 free.
It was Krichevsky’s 1:31.64, though, that vaulted the Tigers ahead of Cal, USC, Pitt, SMU, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida State, Florida, Louisville, Notre Dame and Yale in the morning session.
Thursday’s event slate brings the 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, 200 free relay and 1-meter diving. Action begins at 9 a.m. CT and will be streamed live on ESPN Plus. Live results are available via Meet Mobile.
All Americans (7 athletes, 8 honors)
Luke Bedsole (800 FR HM)
Sohib Khaled (200 MR HM)
Daniel Krichevsky (800 FR HM)
Kalle Makinen (200 MR HM)
Abdalla Nasr (800 FR HM)
Warner Russ (200 MR HM, 800 FR HM)
Uros Zivanovic (200 MR HM)