RollOnYouAll said:swimmer19 said:
From the SwimSwam article:
"Did a little dive on Mia West - 7 meets this year. PR in every individual race except 100 fr at Minnesota Invite (she scratched finals), and 100 fly here."
Sophomore Shooting Star Mia West Clocks 21st PB This Season With 1:53.32 2Fly Against Stanford
NCAA 2026 Pre-Conference Review: Women's Breakout Swimmers
With the conclusion of the dual meet season, schools across the country are gearing up for their conference championships and the subsequent NCAA championships at the end of March.
While for many swimmers their main tapered swims are still to come, there have been swimmers who have taken a leap already this year. There are always bolters in the NCAA, athletes who vault from relative obscurity to a key role for their team,or become a title threat after sitting a level or two below the very top.
Some of these names may be prominent in the postseason in a way that may come as a surprise. We have highlighted seven swimmers who may not be on your radar, but should make a splash over the next few weeks.
Note that this list will not include any freshmen they will have their own list. Here we are highlighting swimmers who were already in college, but have stepped up to reach another level compared to seasons past.
Mia West (CAN) Cal, Sophomore
West has had an absolutely phenomenal second season at Cal so far, with ACCs and NCAAs still to come. She has set best times in every single one of the events she has swum this season, and is currently ranked in the top-16 in seven events: the 100 free (47.51), 200 free (1:41.74), 100 back (50.78), 100 fly (51.12), 200 fly (1:53.32), 200 IM (1:54.77), and 400 IM (4:04.91).
That is elite versatility, but does not highlight just how much time she has dropped. She has taken multiple seconds off in multiple events, transitioning from a 'B' and 'C' final swimmer at ACCs last year to a nailed on 'A' finalist and NCAA threat. Add in that she has four 50 free splits of 21.57 or better this season and three 100 free splits of 47.15 or better, and she may well be Cal's most important swimmer this year.
The improvements have come thick and fast. Her best times in the 100 free, 200 free, 500 free, and 100 back have all come in January, and she has swum at least two best times at all six of her meets so far this season.
It would be hard to overstate just how much of a breakout West has been - even if she did not set another best time this year, she is almost certainly already the breakout story of the year. The Cal women have had some elite internationals recently - Lea Polonsky, Mary-Ambre Moluh, and Alicia Wilson spring to mind - and West seems set to be the best of the bunch.
Event
2024-25 Best Time
2025-26 Best Time
100 free
49.51
47.51
200 free
1:45.17
1:41.74
500 free
4:45.52
4:39.75
100 back
56.31
50.78
100 fly
53.63
51.12
200 fly
1:57.61
1:53.32
200 IM
1:57.05
1:54.77
400 IM
4:04.91
