INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Records have fallen, milestones have been reached, and new standards have been set—junior Haley Zelen has delivered one of the most historic seasons in the history of the College of Saint Benedict swimming and diving program.

Now, with the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships set for March 18–21, the Shakopee, Minn., native has the opportunity to build on a year that has already rewritten the program record book.

 

Zelen will compete in three events at the national meet—the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 100 butterfly—at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. She is one of 579 total competitors (526 swimmers and 53 divers) selected for the championships, hosted by Franklin College, the Indiana Sports Corporation, and the IU Natatorium.

Her qualification alone marks a significant milestone. Zelen is the first CSB swimmer in 24 years to advance to the NCAA Championships, and the first since Katie Kuhlmann in 2002. She is also the first Bennie since 2000 to qualify in three individual events and stands as the program's first-ever MIAC Swimmer of the Year.

Zelen's season has been historic from start to finish. She became the first CSB student-athlete to earn All-MIAC honors in seven events, captured three individual conference titles—including one in record-breaking fashion—and swam on three conference championship relay teams while helping a fourth relay to a runner-up finish. All four relay teams set school records at the MIAC Championships. Throughout the season, she was named MIAC Athlete of the Week six times.

She qualified for nationals with school-record times in each of her events, clocking 23.07 in the 50 freestyle and 50.79 in the 100 freestyle at the Rochester Invite, along with a 54.10 in the 100 butterfly at the MIAC Championships. Nationally, Zelen enters the meet ranked second in Division III in the 100 butterfly, seventh in the 50 freestyle, and 20th in the 100 freestyle.

Zelen opens competition March 18 in the 50 freestyle, followed by the 100 butterfly on March 19, and concludes with the 100 freestyle on March 21. Each day features preliminary heats at 9 a.m. and finals at 5 p.m., with events streamed live on NCAA.com.