Results
 
INDIANAPOLIS – The nationally-ranked Colorado School of Mines Men's and Women's Swimming teams opened their week at the 2025 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships on Wednesday, and true freshman Valdislav Kazakin was the star of the show.
 
Kazakin appeared in the 1000-free on Wednesday morning and he raced to the national podium in First-Team All-America fashion at a record-breaking pace. His final time of 9:07.50 helped the Highlands Ranch High School graduate finish seventh in the nation. The mark also shattered the previous program record (unadjusted) by more than eight seconds. Kazakin already owned the program's altitude-adjusted record thanks to his gold-medal swim at the RMAC Swimming & Diving Championships. Wednesday's race helped him top teammate Ronan Lauinger who had produced an unadjusted 9:15.69 at last year's national meet. It was Kazakin's first-ever race at the NCAA division II Swimming & Diving Championships, and marked the first podium appearance for an Oredigger man since Andrew Zerwick claimed national silver in the 200-back in 2011.
 
The podium finish for Kazakin garnered 12 points for Mines' men which has the Orediggers sitting #20 in the team standings after two days and three sessions of swimming. He was one of four competitors racing for Mines on Wednesday. Isabella Bono appeared in the women's 1000-free, also her debut at the national meet, and finished 30th in the nation in 10:21.56. Jennifer Pierson, who was selected as an alternate late Tuesday afternoon provided a third Oredigger debut at the NCAA championships. She churned out a 23.73 in the 50-free and finished 44th in the nation. Ronan Lauinger started his fourth straight run at the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships with a 1:51.64 in the 200-IM, putting him 43rd in DII.
 
Mines continues its time at the national meet on Thursday morning with Bono and Lauinger in the 400-IM, and Pierson and Kazakin in the 200-free. Live results and video will be available free of charge with links at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines swimming on "X" (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram at @MinesSwimming. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.