LITTLE ROCK, AR. – The Little Rock swimming team opened its 2025-26 campaign at the Donaghey Aquatic Center on Saturday, competing in the annual All Arkansas Invite. Facing a field of in-state programs, including the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Trojans showcased both their veteran strength and the impact of their nine newcomers, ultimately finishing second overall with 535 points.
Head Coach Nathan Townsend reflected on the day with optimism. "The energy was great today at the DAC. I am especially proud of all our newcomers and the new energy they brought. Our coaching staff learned a lot about our team today and it is exciting to think about what will be possible in the future."
Relays
Little Rock earned valuable points in the relay events, highlighted by the A squad of Amara Addison, Gabriella O'Neil, Nelanee Fulton, and Lena Nikolaeva placing third in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:46.60
The Trojans followed with a second-place showing in the 200 freestyle relay, as Adara Stoddard, Anna Nishizaki, Katherine Rasmussen, and Paige Pala combined for a 1:40.00 finish. The B relay added depth with a 1:43.64, taking third place.
Freestyle Events
Veteran leadership was on display in the 200 free, where freshman Megan Stewart led the Trojans with a runner-up finish at 1:53.67
Lyla Roper (7th, 1:56.27) and Katherine Rasmussen (9th, 2:02.80) added strong showings. In the 100 free, O'Neil placed fourth overall in 52.49, followed closely by Nikolaeva in sixth at 53.89.
In the 50 freestyle, O'Neil was again a top scorer, taking fifth in 24.16, just ahead of Nikolaeva in sixth at 24.24
Distance swimmer Megan Stewart capped her afternoon with a third-place finish in the 500 freestyle, touching in 5:07.48, while Roper added a fifth-place finish at 5:14.68
Non-Freestyle Events
Freshman Nelanee Fulton gave Little Rock a podium swim in the 200 IM, taking third with a time of 2:09.80. Beatriz Comini Romero and Adara Stoddard followed closely in fourth (2:11.05) and fifth (2:11.37) respectively, giving the Trojans three of the top five finishes
Addison and Fulton also turned in strong performances in the 100 butterfly, placing third and fifth overall. Stoddard added more points with a sixth-place swim.
Final Team Scores – Women
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Arkansas – 572
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Little Rock – 535
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Ouachita Baptist – 346
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Henderson State – 345
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Hendrix – 128
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Harding Club – 88
Up Next
The Trojans will return to the Donaghey Aquatic Center on October 10-11 to host Henderson State, Saint Louis, and Delta State, an event that will also feature the program's Alumni Day celebration.
For the latest information on Little Rock Swimming and Diving, make sure to check out
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