2025 U.S. Nationals: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, June 3 – Saturday, June 7, 2025
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Indiana University Natatorium
• LCM (50 meters)
• World Championship Selection Criteria
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results

Day 4 Prelims Heat Sheet 

Happy Friday everyone, it’s time for the fourth day of the 2025 U.S. National Championships! There are just three events on the schedule this morning–the 400 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, and 100 backstroke–but there should be plenty of action. Not only is Katie Ledecky in the water for the 400 freestyle prelims and the men’s 400 freestyle field as open as ever, but the sprint breaststroke and backstroke specialists will quickly renew their rivalries from yesterday’s 50s in the 100s this morning.

Women’s 400 Freestyle — Prelims

• World Record: 3:55.58 — Ariarne Titmus, Australia (2023)
• American Record: 3:56.46 — Katie Ledecky (2016)
• U.S. Open Record: 3:56.81 — Katie Ledecky, United States (2025)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Katie Ledecky — 3:58.35
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 4:10.23

Championship Final Qualifiers: 

1. Katie Ledecky (GSC) — 4:03.16
2. Claire Weinstein (SAND) — 4:07.45
3. Erin Gemmell (TXLA) — 4:09.04
4. Cavan Gormsen (LIAC) — 4:09.53
5. Bella Sims (SAND) — 4:10.18
6. Madi Mintenko (PPA) — 4:11.14
7. Mila Nikanorov (OSU) — 4:11.39
8. Michaela Mattes (FLOR) — 4:11.72

Daisy Collins won heat two by dropping exactly seven seconds from the 4:20.67 lifetime best she swam two weeks ago at the NCAC Meet on the Hill. Collins is wrapping up her sophomore year of high school and popped a 4:13.67 to take over the top time of the morning.

Collins’ remained at the top of the leaderboard after heats three and four. Paige Downey won a tight battle in heat three, fighting with swimmers on the other side of the pool from lane eight. Downey, an Indiana ’26 commit, dropped about four-tenths from her lifetime best with a 4:16.42. Then, Lillie Nesty edged out Marie Landreneau for the win in heat four, 4:15.82 to 4:15.96.

Nebraska’s Gena Jorgenson took over as the clubhouse leader in heat five. She battled with Minnesota’s Katie McCarthy in the closing meters of the race and earned the win in a lifetime best 4:12.13, three-hundredths ahead of McCarthy, who swam the second-fastest time of the morning so far.

Bella Sims had the early lead in heat six, but her Sandpiper teammate Claire Weinstein took over by the 150-meter mark. Weinstein made the 200-meter turn in 2:01.90 and held onto the lead while Sims battled Cavan Gormsen for the second spot in the heat. Weinstein brought the fastest time of the morning below 4:10 for the first time today, swimming a 4:07.45.

Gormsen took second in 4:09.53, joining Weinstein under that time barrier while Sims touched third in 4:10.18.

Katie Ledecky controlled the final heat of the women’s 400 freestyle. She made the halfway turn in 1:59, building a lead of about four seconds on Erin Gemmell, who was swimming second in the heat. Ledecky touched in 4:03.16 to comfortably take over the top time of the morning and secure lane four for tonight’s final.

Gemmell finished second in the final heat, swimming a 4:09.04 to qualify third for tonight’s final behind Ledecky and Weinstein.

Men’s 400 Freestyle — Prelims

• World Record: 3:39.96 — Lukas Märtens, Germany (2025)
• American Record: 3:42.78 — Larsen Jensen (2008)
• U.S. Open Record: 3:43.53 — Larsen Jensen, United States (2008)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Aaron Shackell — 3:45.46
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 3:48.15

Championship Final Qualifiers: 

1. Luka Mijatovic (PLS) — 3:45.89
2. Rex Maurer (TXLA) — 3:47.22
3. Ryan Erisman (LAKR) — 3:48.19
4. Luke Hobson (TXLA) — 3:48.29
5. David Johnston (TXLA) — 3:48.45
6. Alec Enyeart (TST) — 3:48.46
7. Kieran Smith (RAC) — 3:48.96
8. Joey Tepper (UOFM) — 3:49.29

Multiple DNS-es from swimmers in the early heats of the men’s 400 freestyle gave the first two heats a funny look, with two swimmers in heat one and four swimmers in heat two. Mason Edmund put up a 3:56.43 in heat one, which stayed the fastest time of the morning through the next heat. Bolles’ Xavier Sohovich won heat two with a 3:56.50, which is seven-hundredths from his lifetime best.

Sean Atkinson had a big drop to win heat three. The Notre Dame swimmer logged 3:53.29, shaving 1.44 seconds from his lifetime best.

A 28.51 on the final 50 meters helped Carson Hick earn the win in heat four. Hick had a breakout meet at the 2025 NCAA Championships and seems to have carried that momentum to long course. His 3:52.39 not only takes over the leaderboard but is also his first time sub-3:53. Hick beat William Allen by a hundredth.

Heat five saw a battle between Olympic medalist Kieran Smith and rising star Luka Mijatovic. Mijatovic held the edge at the halfway point, flipping in 1:51.70. He extended his gap on Smith at the 300-meter mark, continuing to lead with 100 meters to go.

Mijatovic powered ahead to the win in a stunning 3:45.89. That’s a lifetime best for Mijatovic by 3.06 seconds, lowering his 15-16 National Age Group record. It’s also under the 17-18 NAG of 3:46.08 that Larsen Jensen swam at the 2004 Olympics. Mijatovic is now the 15th fastest performer in American history. Smith hit the wall in 3:48.96 for second in the heat ahead of Joey Tepper (3:49.29) and Jake Mitchell (3:50.14).

Carson Foster was a DNS in heat five.

Mijatovic’s time held up as the fastest of the morning. There was a battle in the final heat between Rex Maurer, Ryan Erisman, Luke Hobson, and Alec Enyeart, but Maurer’s winning time of 3:47.22 didn’t come close to Mijatovic’s prelims speed. Nevertheless, the 500-yard freestyle American record holder won his heat and qualified for the final in a comfortable second place. Even with Foster not racing this morning, the championship final will be packed with Longhorns as Hobson (3:48.29) and Johnston (3:48.45) also made the ‘A’ final.

Former Longhorn Alec Enyeart will be in the mix as well after a lifetime best 3:48.46 in the final heat as will youngster Ryan Erisman (3:48.19). Smith made the final as the seventh seed while his fellow Tokyo Olympian in this event, Mitchell, missed out with a 9th place finish.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke — Prelims

• World Record: 1:04.13 — Lilly King, United States (2017)
• American Record: 1:04.13 — Lilly King (2017)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:04.45 — Jessica Hardy, United States (2009)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Lilly King — 1:05.43
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 1:06.87

Championship Final Qualifiers: 

1. Kate Douglass (NYAC) — 1:06.27
2. Lilly King (ISC) — 1:06.57
3. Emma Weber (CA-Y) — 1:07.25
4. Piper Enge (TXLA) — 1:07.37
5. Alex Walsh (NYAC) — 1:07.40
6. McKenzie Siroky (TNAQ) — 1:08.12
7. Gabby Rose (ALPH) — 1:08.54
8. Elle Scott (MAC) — 1:09.31

After winning heat three, Arizona’s Eleni Gewalt held the fastest time of the morning before the circle-seeded heats. Gewalt’s 1:09.89 lifetime best made her the only swimmer to break 1:10 from the early heats.

Skyler Smith was out with Kate Douglass on the first length of heat six in the women’s 100 breaststroke. Smith, a sprint 50 breaststroke specialist, faded to fourth in the heat as Douglass powered ahead to win in a 1:06.27, which is a lifetime best for her by nine-hundredths. Fan favorite Gabby Rose finished second in the heat with a 1:08.54 just two-tenths from her personal best and Lucy Thomas took third (1:09.47). Rose’s time held up for a spot in tonight’s championship final.

Emma Weber and Piper Enge battled in heat seven. Weber, who surprised for an Olympic roster spot in this event last year, took the win 1:07.25. Enge hit the wall .12 seconds behind Weber with a 1:07.37. That’s just a tenth from their lifetime best from the 2024 Federal Way sectionals.

Lilly King was out fast in the final heat of the women’s 100 breaststroke, turning in 31.06. 200 breaststroke silver medalist Alex Walsh did her best to reel King in over the closing meters but she ran out of room to chase down the hometown favorite. King hit the wall in 1:06.57, qualifying second overall for the final. Walsh made it back as well, slotting in fifth with her 1:07.40.

Men’s 100 Breaststroke — Prelims

• World Record: 56.88 — Adam Peaty, Great Britain (2019)
• American Record: 58.14 — Michael Andrew (2021)
• U.S. Open Record: 58.14 — Michael Andrew, United States (2021)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Nick Fink — 59.08
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 59.75

Championship Final Qualifiers: 

1. Josh Matheny (ISC) — 59.80
2. Campbell McKean (BEND) — 1:00.18
3. Michael Andrew (SUN) — 1:00.27
4. Nate Germonprez (TXLA) — 1:00.33
5. Jassen Yep (ISC) — 1:00.43
6. Luke Barr (ISC) — 1:00.63
7. AJ Pouch (PRVT) — 1:00.74
8. Gabe Nunziata (ODAC) — 1:00.98

Daniel Li became the first swimmer under 1:02 in heat four, clocking a 1:01.92 to take over the top time of the morning. In the final non-circle-seeded heat, Jack Armour edged ahead of that mark with a 1:01.85. It’s the first time under 1:02 for the Texas Ford Aquatics’ swimmer who is set to head to Notre Dame this fall.

50 breaststroke champion Campbell McKean took over heat six down the closing stretch. He popped a 1:00.18 to take over the fastest time of the morning, undercutting the lifetime best 1:00.40 he swam in Fort Lauderdale. Luke Barr broke 1:01 for the first time in his career with a 1:00.62 for second in the heat.

American record holder Michael Andrew won the next heat in 1:00.27, slotting into second overall behind McKean, which was the order in last night’s 50 breaststroke final. He finished ahead of Gabe Nunziata (1:00.98) and Charlie Egeland (1:01.01).

Josh Matheny threw down the gauntlet in the final heat of the men’s 100 breaststroke. The 200 breaststroke champion became the only man to crack the 1:00 mark this morning, firing off a 59.80. Texas’ Nate Germonprez took .15 seconds off his lifetime best with a 1:00.33 for second as the Hoosiers went 1-3 in the heat. NCAA 200-yard breaststroke champion Jassen Yep swam a lifetime best 1:00.43 for third, improving on the 1:01.08 best he swam two years ago.

There will be plenty of Hoosiers in the final as Matheny, Yep, and Barr all made it through with their training partner for the summer, Egeland, taking ninth. The 200 breaststroke silver and bronze medalists from earlier in this meet, AJ Pouch and Gabe Nunziata, will swim in the outside lanes for the championship final.

Women’s 100 Backstroke — Prelims

• World Record: 57.13 — Regan Smith, United States (2024)
• American Record: 57.13 — Regan Smith (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 57.13 — Regan Smith, United States (2024)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Regan Smith — 57.13
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 1:00.46

Championship Final Qualifiers: 

1. Regan Smith (TXLA) — 58.06
2. Katharine Berkoff (WOLF) — 58.75
3. Kennedy Noble (WOLF) — 59.08
4. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) — 59.18
5. Claire Curzan (TAC) — 59.23
6. Leah Shackley (WOLF) — 59.33
7. Charlotte Crush (LAK) — 59.49
8. Rylee Erisman (LAKR) — 59.64

Virginia’s Tess Howley swam a lifetime best 1:00.67 in heat two of the women’s 100 backstroke, which held up as the fastest swim of the morning until the circle-seeded heats.

There were three sub-1:00 swims in heat five. Claire Curzan battled with Leah Shackley for the win. Both are in the top 10 among U.S. women all-time in this event, with Shackley breaking onto the list with a 58.53 less than a month ago. Curzan beat Shackley by a tenth for the heat win, 59.23 to 59.33.

Teenager Rylee Erisman touched third in a lifetime best 59.64, dropping three-hundreths. Erisman has been on the wrong side of a couple touches this week, earning two 10th place and one ninth place finish after prelims swims that kept her out of the championship final. She ended up on the right side of this one, sneaking into the championship final in eighth.

Newly minted 50 backstroke American record holder Katharine Berkoff took over the fastest time with a 58.75 to win heat six. She’s the first sub-59 second swim of the morning, as two-time Olympian Phoebe Bacon checked in with a 59.18 for second in the heat. It’s a season-best time for Berkoff, improving her standing as the fourth-fastest swimmer in the world this season by four-hundredths. Charlotte Crush moved into 10th all-time in the 17-18 age group rankings with a 59.49 personal best.

World record holder Regan Smith bettered the fastest swim of the morning with a 58.06, putting her in full control of this race as she searches for her first event win of the week. There were nine women who broke 1:00 this morning and Erika Pelaez was the odd one out, swimming a 59.91 for ninth place and lane four in the ‘B’ final.

Men’s 100 Backstroke — Prelims

• World Record: 51.60 — Thomas Ceccon, Italy (2022)
• American Record: 51.85 — Ryan Murphy (2016)
• U.S. Open Record: 51.94 — Aaron Piersol, United States (2009)
• 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Ryan Murphy — 52.22
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 53.94

Championship Final Qualifiers: 

1. Daniel Diehl (WOLF) — 53.33
2. Jack Aikins (SA) — 53.35
3. Hudson Williams (WOLF) — 53.62
4. Keaton Jones (CAL) — 53.87
5. Will Modglin (TXLA) — 53.88
6. Jack Wilkening (MICH) — 53.90
7. Tommy Janton (ND) — 53.92
8. Deston Lasco (CAL) — 54.03

In the final non-circle-seeded heat, 200 backstroke Olympic finalist Keaton Jones posted a 53.75, lowering the fastest time of the morning by almost two seconds. The swim is a lifetime best for the Cal bear, dropping from the 54.31 he swam in 2024.

NC State backstroke continues to shine this week. Hudson Williams took over the lead in the clubhouse from heat six, lane eight. He swam 53.62 for his outside smoke, which is a huge best for him–smashing the 55.35 best he swam less than a month ago.

The top two finishers in the men’s 50 backstroke, Shaine Casas and Quintin McCarty, were both no shows in heat seven. That really opens the door in this race, and Daniel Diehl threw his name in the ring with a 53.33. That’s the second heat win in a row for the Wolfpack as Diehl now takes over the fastest time of the morning with one heat remaining.

Diehl will be in lane four for tonight’s final as Jack Aikins won the final heat in 53.35 for the second-fastest qualifying time. Aikins will be aiming to win the 100/200 backstroke double this evening, a year after taking third in both events at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that this was the final for an NCAA Championship as the field looks quite different without veteran pros like Ryan Murphy, Hunter Armstrong, Justin Ress, and Casas. All eight of the championship finalists are currently on an NCAA roster. NC State was two representatives, as does Cal, as Destin Lasco scraped into the ‘A’ final with a 54.03, a hundredth ahead of Virginia freshman David King. The Cavaliers have one ‘A’ finalist in Aikins, with Texas (Will Modglin, 53.88), Michigan (Jack Wilkening, 53.90), and Notre Dame (Tommy Janton, 53.92) each getting one into the top eight as well.