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Women's Swimming · D3 · 100y backstroke time (SCY)

What 100y backstroke time do you need for D3 women's swimming?

The short answer

For D3 women's swimming, the 100y backstroke time roster floor is around 59.0–1:05.9, scholarship-track sits near 57.1–58.1, and the elite band is around 56.76 · A-cut (auto-qualify): 53.70. These are entry zones, not hard cutoffs — verify with each program.

Academic filter for the same division: GPA floor 3.0, scholarship-track 3.5, elite 3.8.

100y backstroke time (SCY) by division

Full comparison across every division we have sourced data for. Roster floor · scholarship band · elite band.

DivisionRoster floorScholarship-trackElite
D157.1–58.153.9–56.153.53 · A-cut (auto-qualify): 50.66
D259.0–1:05.953.9–58.156.16 · A-cut (auto-qualify): 53.49
D359.0–1:05.957.1–58.156.76 · A-cut (auto-qualify): 53.70
NAIA1:05.957.1–58.11:02.44 · A-cut (auto-qualify): 56.85

Source: NCSA recruiting-times pages (updated Mar 2025) for floor/scholarship-track bands; official NCAA 2024-25 championship cuts (via SwimSwam Aug-Sep 2024) for the elite B-cut.

Honest caveats

  • • These are entry zones, not hard cutoffs. A player one tick below the floor can still make a lineup with strong academics, position scarcity, or a program fit no one else spotted.
  • • Numbers reflect the 2025–26 post-House recruiting landscape. Roster caps and revenue-sharing status vary by program.
  • • Coaches filter on the metric before they filter on character — but character, film, and outreach are what turn a filter-pass into an offer.

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Frequently asked questions

What 100y backstroke time do you need for D3 women's swimming?

For D3 women's swimming, the roster floor is around 59.0–1:05.9, scholarship-track sits near 57.1–58.1, and the elite band is around 56.76 · A-cut (auto-qualify): 53.70. Entry zones, not hard cutoffs — verify with each program.

Is 59.0–1:05.9 100y backstroke time enough for D3 women's swimming?

59.0–1:05.9 sits at the D3 women's swimming roster floor — the lower lineup / walk-on band. Scholarship-track programs typically want closer to 57.1–58.1, and elite lineups look for 56.76 · A-cut (auto-qualify): 53.70+.

What is a good 100y backstroke time for college women's swimming?

"Good" depends on the division you're targeting. D3 women's swimming coaches filter starting at 59.0–1:05.9, with scholarship-track around 57.1–58.1 and elite 56.76 · A-cut (auto-qualify): 53.70+. Use the full division table above to see where your athlete's number lands.