2026 Men’s NCAA Division I Championship: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships

• Dates: Wednesday, March 25–Saturday, March 28
• Location: McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, GA
• Defending Champions: Texas (1x)
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• Psych Sheets
• Live Stream
• Live Results
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2
  • Finals: Day 1

Day 2 Finals Heat Sheets

Welcome to the day two finals session of the 2026 Men’s NCAA Division I Championships. This morning’s session was already electric, an it opened with a new NCAA record swim from Florida senior Josh Liendo in the 100 butterfly.

Liendo swam 42.54 in prelims, and he will be trying to lower his own record tonight as he tries to win his 3rd straight title in the event. He might see tight competition from Texas senior Hubert Kos, who was also sub-43 this morning, swimming 42.97 to qualify 2nd.

In the 400 IM, Cal freshman Ryan Erisman swam the top time in prelims of 3:36.56, but there is a Texas storm behind him with last year’s champion Rex Maurer and Baylor Nelson, who has the top time in the NCAA this season.

The 200 free will see Tennessee’s Koby Bujak-Upton as the top seed after he had a very strong relay leadoff leg of 1:29.69 last night. He swam 1:30.67 in prelims to touch just a tenth ahead of Ohio State’s Tomas Navikonis.

In the 100 breaststroke, there will be three Texas Longhorns in the ‘A’ final with Nate Germonprez and Campbell McKean taking the top two seeds. Germonprez will be shooting for the NCAA record tonight, swimming just over three tenths off Julian Smith‘s 49.51 mark to touch in 49.80 in prelims.

The meet will wrap up with the 200 freestyle relay, where the Arizona State Sun Devils are the top seeds in 1:12.98. The Texas Longhorns are the current leaders after the prelims session, where they swam 1:14.40.

Men’s 100 Butterfly – Final

• NCAA Record: 42.54 – Josh Liendo, Florida (2026)
• Championship Record: 42.54 – Josh Liendo, Florida (2026)
• American Record: 42.80 – Caeleb Dressel, Florida (2018)
• U.S. Open Record: 42.54 – Josh Liendo, Florida (2026)
• 2025 Champion: Josh Liendo, Florida – 43.06
• 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 44.52/44.94

Top 8 Finishers

1. Josh Liendo (FLOR) — 42.49 **New NCAA Record
2. Hubert Kos (TEX) — 42.54
3. Ilya Kharun (ASU) — 42.92
4. Thomas Heilman (UVA) — 43.58
5. Tyler Ray (MICH) — 43.62
6. Scotty Buff (FLOR) — 43.67
7. Aiden Hayes (NCST) — 43.85
8. Julian Koch (PITT) — 44.28

He does it again! Florida senior Josh Liendo broke his own NCAA record from prelims to win a very close men’s 100 fly final, touching in 42.49 to beat Texas senior Hubert Kos by five hundredths with a massive final 25.

Liendo did not lead at any of the 25 turns, with Kos outsplitting him on the first three 25s. Kos opened in 8.86, two tenths ahead of Liendo’s 9.02 in 2nd.

At the 50, Kos turned in 19.56 after splitting 10.70 to sit nearly three tenths ahead of Liendo’s 19.84 and 10.82 splits.

At the 75, Kos extended his lead again to turn in 30.73 (11.17). Liendo was 0.32 seconds back in 31.05 (11.21).

The final 25 saw Liendo surge past Kos, splitting 11.44 to move into the lead, touching in 42.49 to take five hundredths off his prelims record of 42.54. Liendo came into the day with a lifetime best of 43.06 from last year’s NCAA Championships, and he picked up his 3rd straight title in the event.

Kos moved up to #2 all-time, tying Liendo’s former record in 42.54. He  came into the day at 44.05 from January of 2025.

ASU junior Ilya Kharun finished 3rd in 42.92, a four tenth drop from the 43.38 he set in November. Kharun had the fastest closing 50 split in the field of 11.43 to become the 4th person in history to break 43 seconds in the event.

Virginia freshman Thomas Heilman also set a lifetime best, touching in 43.58 to take three tenths off his 43.86 mark from December of 2024.

Men’s 400 Individual Medley – Final

• NCAA Record: 3:28.82 – Leon Marchand, ASU (2023)
• Championship Record: 3:28.82 – Leon Marchand, ASU (2023)
• American Record: 3:33.42 – Chase Kalisz, Georgia (2017)
• U.S. Open Record: 3:28.82 – Leon Marchand, ASU (2023)
• 2025 Champion: Rex Maurer, Texas – 3:34.00
• 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 3:38.56/3:40.38

Top 8 Finishers

1. Rex Maurer (TEX) — 3:32.96 **New American Record
2. Baylor Nelson (TEX) — 3:35.28
3. Tristan Jankovics (OSU) — 3:35.40
4. Lorne Wigginton (MICH) — 3:35.63
5. Ryan Erisman (CAL) — 3:36.32
6. Cooper Lucas (TEX) — 3:36.87
7. Josh Bey (IU) — 3:37.23
8. Joshua Staples (NU) — 3:43.95

Texas junior Rex Maurer threw down a hammer in the men’s 400 IM final, swimming 3:32.96 to take half-a-second off Chase Kalisz‘s 2017 American Record time of 3:33.42 and pick up his 2nd straight title in the event.

Maurer got out to a very early lead in the race, splitting 22.52 on the opening 50 to lead Michigan’s Lorne Wigginton, who turned 2nd in 22.86. Maurer extended his lead, splitting 25.70 on his 2nd 5o to turn in 48.22, six tenths ahead of Wigginton’s 48.81.

On the backstroke, Maurer was 26.91/26.35 to split 53.26, which was almost two seconds faster than Indiana freshman Josh Bey who sat in 2nd at 1:43.20 after splitting 54.29. Baylor Nelson had a strong backstroke leg of 54.79 to move into 3rd overall.

Maurer gave up a bit of ground on the breaststroke, splitting 1:01.76 (25.24/24.48), but still turned in 2:43.24, a little more than a second ahead of Nelson, who split 1:00.48 (29.72/30.46) to turn in 2:44.48.

On the freestyle, Maurer pulled away again, splitting 49.72 (25.24/24.48) to touch in 3:32.96, more than two seconds ahead of Nelson’s 3:35.28. He dropped a little more than a second from the 3:34.00 mark he swam at last year’s NCAA Championships.

Nelson was 25.67/25.13 to split 50.80 on his final 100 to finish in 3:35.28, holding off a fast charging Tristan Jankovics from Ohio State, who split 50.16 (25.76/24.40) to finish 4th in 3:35.40. Both swimmers added a bit from their lifetime bests with Nelson coming in at 3:34.83 from November, and Jankovics at 3:34.98 from last year’s Championships.

Men’s 1-Meter Diving Final — Rds 1-3

Top 8 After Three Rounds

1. Moritz Wesemann (USC) — 218.40
2. Luke Sitz (SMU) — 218.10
3. Matteo Santoro (MIA) — 198.90
4. Bennett Greene (TENN) — 192.40
5. Conor Gesing (FLOR) — 189.00
6. Jesus Agundez (FLOR) — 176.10
7. Max Fowler (GT) — 174.00
8. Elias Petersen (UTAH) — 169.60

Men’s 200 Free – Final

• NCAA Record: 1:28.33 – Luke Hobson, Texas (2025)
• Championship Record: 1:28.33 – Luke Hobson, Texas (2025)
• American Record: 1:28.33 – Luke Hobson, Texas (2025)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:28.33 – Luke Hobson, Texas (2025)
• 2025 Champion: Luke Hobson, Texas – 1:28.33
• 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 1:31.06/1:31.88

Top 8 Finishers

1. Maximus Williamson (UVA) — 1:30.03
2. Koby Bujak-Upton (TENN) — 1:30.11
3. Henry McFadden (STAN) — 1:30.13
4. Tomas Navikonis (OSU) — 1:30.78
5. Remi Fabiani (ASU) — 1:30.81
6. Kaii Winkler (NCST) — 1:30.93
7. Keaton Jones (CAL) — 1:31.08
8. Mitchell Schott (PRIN) — 1:32.01

In an alternate universe, Maximus Williamson did not swim in the 200 freestyle ‘A’ final, but in this one, the Virginia freshman became an NCAA champion from lane eight, touching in 1:30.03.

Williamson tied for eighth in the prelims with teammate David King in 1:31.17. King gave up his spot in the ‘A’ final rather than race a swim off, and that decision worked out very well for the Virginia men.

Williamson was out in the lead, turning in 20.57 after the first 50 to sit about two tenths ahead of Tennessee freshman Koby Bujak-Upton, who swam 20.74 on the opening 50 from lane four. Bujak-Upton took over the lead at the 100 mark, splitting 22.51 to turn in 43.25, a little more than a tenth ahead of Williamson’s 22.80 and 43.37.

On the 3rd 50, Williamson had a massive 23.02 to take the lead back by nearly three tenths after Bujak-Upton was 23.42.

The final 50 saw Bujak-Upton start making up ground on the final 50, but his 23.44 was not enough to catch Williamson, who split 23.64 to pick up his first individual NCAA title. Williamson touched in 1:30.03, a new personal best by four tenths from the 1:30.46 he swam in February of 2025.

Bujak-Upton added a smidge from the 1:29.79 he swam to lead off Tennessee’s 800 freestyle relay and become the fastest freshman in history, a title he still holds after tonight.

Stanford’s Henry McFadden split 21.25/22.75/23.14/22.99 to finish 3rd overall, nearly chasing down the other two swimmers on his final 50. He touched in 1:30.13 to finish 3rd overall, dropping seven tenths from the 1:30.83 mark he swam at last year’s NCAA Championships.

Men’s 100 Breaststroke – Final

• NCAA Record: 49.51 – Julian Smith, Florida (2025)
• Championship Record: 49.53 – Liam Bell, Cal (2024)
• American Record: 49:51 – Julian Smith, Florida (2025)
• U.S. Open Record: 49.51 – Julian Smith, Florida (2025)
• 2025 Champion: Julian Smith, Florida – 49.55
• 2025 8th/16th Prelims Times: 50.64/ 51.45

Top 8 Finishers

1. Yamato Okadome (CAL) — 49.90
2. Campbell McKean (TEX) — 50.25
3. Nate Germonprez (TEX) — 50.38
4. Koen de Groot (FLOR) — 50.44
5. Luka Mladenovic (MICH) — 50.47
6. Alexei Avakov (IU) — 50.58
7. Matvei Namakonov (DEL) — 50.83
8. Will Modglin (TEX) — 51.01

Cal sophomore Yamato Okadome dropped four tenths in the 100 breaststroke to drop under 50 seconds for the first time and upset Texas junior Nate Germonprez for the win.

Okadome came into the meet with a lifetime best 50.32 that he swam in February oat the ACC Championships. He was out in 10.55, sitting tied for 3rd with Matvei Namakonov from Delaware behind Texas freshman Campbell McKean (10.48), and Florida senior Koen de Groot (10.49).

At the 50, Okadome was 13.00 to turn in 23.55, which had him in 4th overall. He was 13.23 on his 3rd 25, turning in 36.78 at the 75, which was three tenths behind McKean’s leading time of 36.56.

On the final 25, he was 13.12, the fastest split in the field by four tenths. He was 26.35 on his closing 50 to move into the lead, taking the win by three tenths over McKean’s 50.25 in 2nd.

McKean was 23.40/26.85 to touch in 50.25, a tenth drop from the 50.37 he swam in November.

Germonprez finished 3rd in 50.38 (23.46/26.83), a six tenth add from his best of 49.71 that he swam in November.

Men’s 1-Meter Diving Final — Rds 4-6

Top 8 Finishers

1. Luke Sitz (SMU) — 428.10
2. Matteo Santoro (MIA) — 412.50
3. Bennett Greene (TENN) — 400.90
4. Jesus Agundez (FLOR) — 395.30
5. Moritz Wesemann (USC) — 381.20
6. Conor Gesing (FLOR) — 381.20
7. Elias Petersen (UTAH) — 354.80
8. Max Fowler (GT) — 350.20

SMU sophomore Luke Sitz was in 2nd after the diving break by just three tenths to USC’s Moritz Wesemann. He had a very strong final three dives to score 428.10, picking up his first NCAA title.

Miami freshman Matteo Santoro finished 2nd in 412.50, and Tennessee sophomore Bennett Greene was 3rd in 400.90.

The top four finishers were all freshmen or sophomores.

Men’s 200 Free Relay – Final Heat

• NCAA Record: 1:12.80 – Tennessee (Crooks, Caribe, Taylor, Blackman), 2025
• Championship Record: 1:12.84 – Tennessee (Crooks, Caribe, Blackman, Taylor), 2025
• American Record: 1:14.13 – NC State (Henderson, Miller, Fox, McCarty), 2024
• U.S. Open Record: 1:12.80 – Tennessee (Crooks, Caribe, Taylor, Blackman), 2025
• 2025 Champion: Tennessee (Crooks, Caribe, Blackman, Taylor), 1:12.84
• 2025 8th/16th Final Times: 1:15.25/ 1:15.83
• Current Leader: Texas (Gould, Fente-Damers, Kos, Peck) – 1:14.40

Final Heat

1. ASU (Fabiani, Chaney, Kharun, Kulow) — 1:12.46 **New NCAA Record
2. Florida (Liendo, Painter, Buff, Dilger) — 1:13.30
3. NC State (McCarty, Salls, Fox, Winkler) — 1:13.73
4. Tennessee — 1:14.40
5. Cal — 1:14.63
6. Louisville — 1:14.94
7. Virginia Tech — 1:14.99
8. LSU — 1:15.61

Top 8 Teams

1. ASU (Fabiani, Chaney, Kharun, Kulow) — 1:12.46 **New NCAA Record
2. Florida (Liendo, Painter, Buff, Dilger) — 1:13.30
3. NC State (McCarty, Salls, Fox, Winkler) — 1:13.73
4. Tennessee/Texas — 1:14.40
5. —
6. Cal — 1:14.63
7. Michigan — 1:14.64
8. Louisville — 1:14.94

The ASU men set a new NCAA record en route to their National Title in the men’s 200 freestyle relay.

Remi Fabiani led the team off in 18.59, which was the 3rd fastest opening 50 in the field behind NC State’s Quintin McCarty (18.54) and Florida’s Josh Liendo (18.27).

Adam Chaney swam the 2nd leg in 18.12. Ilya Kharun was 17.76 in 3rd, and Jonny Kulow anchored the team in 17.99. They touched in 1:12.46, taking three tenths off the former NCAA record time of 1:12.80 that was set by Tennessee at last year’s meet.

Florida finished 2nd with Liendo, Alexander Painter (18.12), Scotty Buff (18.54), and Devin Dilger (18.37), and NC State was 3rd with McCarty, Drew Salls (18.32), Jerry Fox (18.39), and Kaii Winkler (18.48).

Texas and Tennessee tied for 4th after Texas swam in the prelims. Tennessee had Nikoli Blackman (19.16), Gui Caribe (17.86), Pedro Sansone (18.58), and Koby Bujak-Upton (19.03) swim 1:14.40.

Top 10 Teams After Night 2

1. Texas — 215.5
2. Florida — 205
3. ASU — 133.5
4. Indiana — 132.5
5. Cal — 124
6. NC State — 122
7. Michigan — 115
8. Tennessee — 107
9. Virginia — 88
10. Stanford — 83