Indianapolis, Ind. – Sophomore Delaney Klaus of the Stevens Institute of Technology women's swimming team placed 36th in the 100-yard backstroke at the 2026 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships on Friday.

"It was an overall great experience," Klaus expressed. "I am very grateful to have made it to NCAAs this year. It was amazing to get to see some of the best swimmers in the country, swim at one of the best pools in the country and really get a better understanding of what it takes to make it to Finals. Although my race could have gone better, I'm still very pleased with how my season went and I look forward to hopefully returning next year with more of my teammates."

Maeve O'Donnell entered the finals with the top overall time of 54.11, while Penny Celtnieks of Emory (54.37) and Gwen Eisenbeis of Kenyon (54.62) rounded out the top three heading into Friday night.

Klaus, who was making her first appearance at the NCAA Championships, recorded a time of 56.79 in the 100-yard backstroke. Competing in the fifth of six heats, Klaus opened with a 25-yard split of 13.14 and reached the halfway point in 26.88. Her time of 56.79 was faster than swimmers from Johns Hopkins, Emory, Denison, and Gettysburg.

Klaus originally earned her NCAA "B" cut during the 400-yard medley relay, as the Ducks set a MAC Championship meet record in the event. She officially punched her ticket in the 100-yard backstroke on the final day of the conference meet, winning the event in 55.85, nearly two seconds faster than the runner-up. The sophomore became the first Stevens women's swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships since Kaitlynn Prescott in 2017-18.