INDIANAPOLIS - The third day of the 2025 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships took place Thursday from IU Natatorium. Cal State East Bay women's swimming saw a lot of success with high finishes and Pioneer records shattered. 

Tehani Kong placed third overall in the nation for the 100 yard butterfly at the NCAA Championships to earn the right to stand on a higher podium as she clocked 53.58 seconds. The historic finish was not Kong's only outstanding performance in the event on Thursday. She set a new Cal State East Bay program record for the 100 yard butterfly in the morning's prelims with a new Pioneer best 53.40 seconds. Ironically, it was nearly a year to the day Kong set the previous Pioneer record of 54.33 seconds at the 2024 NCAA Championships. 

Cal State East Bay head coach Shane Pelton spoke highly of Kong and her performance in the pool on Thursday, saying "She's special. She's elite in her underwater craft and she's put in the work to perfect the entire [100 yard butterfly]. It came together today. Special night for her Special night for the program. Incredibly proud of seeing the work she put in pay off today."

In the prelims for the 400 yard individual medley, Kylie Beaudet qualified for the evening's Consolation Final heat. Beaudet made history in the Consolation Final, finishing 10th in the nation and shattering a Pioneer record with a finish of 4:19.74. She broke a record for the program that stood for more than eight years. The prior East Bay record was 4:21.36 held by Morgan McClure, reached in 2017. 

Pelton also spoke about Thursday's 400 yard individual medley performance by Beaudet, stating "She just needed to believe and tonight she did just that. We've talked about when she put together the entire 400 IM, it wouldn't be a little time drop, but she would shatter her lifetime best. She did just that and the school record. One of the hardest workers. Loves to grind. Incredibly proud of her."

Thursday's action for East Bay was capped off by a 12th place finish in the 400 yard medley relay. The team of Alexia Fajardo, Kylie Beaudet, Tehani Kong and Brooklyn Dressel clocked in with a time of 3:45.98. 

"That's why you swim the relays!" added Pelton. "We had an opportunity and these women stepped up and took full advantage to do something special tonight. Phenomenal work effort and best time this season!" 

Of the 31 teams represented at the NCAA Championships, East Bay sits in 16th for team scoring through Thursday's action. 

The 2025 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships resume Friday morning for the fourth day of the meet. Prelims are scheduled for 10 a.m. ET with the finals at 5:30 p.m. ET. Events that feature the Pioneers on Friday include the 200 yard butterfly (Fajardo, Kong) and the 200 yard freestyle relay (Dressel, Kong, Delaney Carlson, Lily Caraway).