2026 U.S. National Championships: Day 1 Prelims Live Recap

2026 U.S. National Championships

• July 28-August 1, 2026
• Irvine, CA — William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Day 1 Prelim Heat Sheet

The opening day of the 2026 U.S. National Championships is set to get underway this morning from the William Woolett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine, the same pool that will host the Pan Pacific Championships in just a few weeks time.

The first session of the meet will be relatively light with preliminary heats in the women’s and men’s 200 butterfly and 100 freestyle on tap this morning, with timed final heats of the women’s 800 free and men’s 1500 free scheduled for later today.

The women’s 200 fly field features four swimmers seeded sub-2:10, led by former ASU Sun Devil and current Texas pro Lindsay Looney, who’s entered with the 2:07.30 she produced en route to placing 5th at the 2025 U.S. National Championships. The 25-year-old has been sub-2:08 this season (2:07.93) and will likely be going head-to-head with one of her future training partners.

Audrey Derivaux, still just 16, announced last week she’s heading to the University of Texas one year early in the fall, and she’ll be a threat for the win in the 200 fly after winning the World Junior title last year in a time of 2:07.57. She owns a faster best time than Looney (2:07.03), having been 2:06.46 back in May 2025.

Also seeded sub-2:10 are Tennessee’s Emily Brown and Carmel’s Ellie Clarke, while SwimMAC’s Caroline Mallard, Michigan’s Hannah Bellard and reigning NCAA champion Campbell Stoll will also be names to watch. Bella Sims also opens her busy meet in the 200 fly, slotted in Lane 2 of the first circle-seeded heat.

The men’s 200 fly promises to be the matchup we didn’t get to see at the NCAA Championships in March, with reigning long course world champion Luca Urlando set to go to battle with reigning short course world champion Ilya Kharun.

The two were headed for a showdown at NCAAs, but Urlando was a late scratch due to a minor injury. Kharun went on to win the title, and though he’s not yet eligible, he will soon be representing the U.S. on the international stage after announcing his move away from the Canadian team in January.

Kharun has been as fast as 1:54.96 so far this season, while Urlando, though he set a new best time of 1:51.87 en route to winning the 2025 world title, has only raced one long course meet this year, and he didn’t swim the 200 fly.

Gabriel Jett is also in the field, entered with the 1:54.87 he produced in the prelims at the 2025 Nationals before placing 5th in the final.

• Day 1 Prelim Heat Sheet

In the women’s 100 free, we’ve got an absolutely stacked field that’s headlined by American Record holder Anna Moesch, but also includes reigning World Junior champion Rylee Erisman and a talented group of college swimmers including Liberty Clark and Camille Spink, who earned respective 4th and 5th place finishes in the 2026 NCAA final (where Moesch was the runner-up).

Claire Weinstein announced on social media overnight that she’s recently been dealing with viral meningitis, but she still appears on the heat sheet as the #4 seed with an entry time of 53.72.

The men’s race is intriguing with national record holder Jack Alexy leading the charge alongside Patrick Sammon, with both men tuning up before competing at the Pan Pacific Championships in a couple of weeks.

Brooks Curry, Jonny Kulow and Henry McFadden all broke 48 seconds at last year’s U.S. Nationals as well, putting them in the hunt for a podium finish, while veteran Caeleb Dressel and rising star Maximus Williamson will be two more men to keep an eye on, scheduled to swim out of Lane 6 in the final two heats.

Members of the U.S. Pan Pac team scheduled to swim this morning will be Urlando, Jett, Erisman, Weinstein, Alexy, Sammon and Quintin McCarty.

Note: Junior swimmers in the top eight will advance to the junior final, rather than the open final, if they are vying for Junior Pan Pac selection. If they don’t want to vie for Junior Pan Pacs, swimmers are able to drop out of the junior final, and would subsequently slot into their spot in the open or ‘B’ final.

Foreign swimmers are eligible to qualify for the ‘A’ final, but not the 18 & under junior final.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 2:01.65, Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 2026
• American Record: 2:03.84, Regan Smith – 2024
• U.S. Open Record: 2:02.62, Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 2026
• LC Nationals Record: 2:04.91, Regan Smith (USA) – 2024

Top Qualifiers (all ‘A’ finalists plus top juniors)

1. Bella Sims (SAND), 2:08.39
2. Lindsay Looney (TXLA), 2:08.53
3. Audrey Derivaux (JW), 2:08.68*
4. Emily Brown (TNAQ), 2:08.91
5. Hannah Bellard (MICH), 2:08.95
6. Zara Kocak (XCEL), 2:09.36*
7. Rachel Klinker (CSTE), 2:10.24
8. Ellie Clarke (CSC), 2:11.81*
9. Carli Cronk (IA), 2:11.85
10. Bailey Hartman (CA-Y), 2:11.90
11. Emma Cigna (NCAP), 2:12.45*
12. Emerson Callis (QSTS), 2:12.78
13. Finola Whelehan (TAC), 2:12.83*
14. Campbell Stoll (TXLA), 2:12.96

*Junior swimmer will contest the junior final for a Junior Pan Pac berth

Bella Sims threw down a very impressive prelim swim to lead the women’s 200 butterfly field into tonight’s final, clocking 2:08.39 to shatter her personal best time by a second and a half.

Sims had consistent splits en route to lowering her previous PB of 2:09.89, which she set back at the 2023 Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim.

Sims overtook Tennessee’s Emily Brown on the final 50 to win the sixth heat, with Brown holding on to break 2:09 for the first time in 2:08.91 for the fourth-fastest time of the morning.

World Junior champion Audrey Derivaux followed up by dominating Heat 7 in a time of 2:08.91, going out with the fastest opening 100 in the field (1:00.28), and she was still the fastest swimmer through 150 before coming home in 34.73.

Although Derivaux’s time is the third-fastest overall, she’ll automatically slot into the 18-and-under junior final tonight to vie for a berth on the Junior Pan Pac team.

Along with Derivaux, Excel Aquatics’ Zara Kocak, 18, and Ellie Clarke, 17, posted times in the top eight overall but will compete in the junior final tonight. Kocak set a new best time of 2:09.36 for sixth overall, while Clarke’s 2:11.81 was good for eighth but she’ll have more in the tank after setting a PB of 2:09.84 in June.

Due to the presence of the junior swimmers, Campbell Stoll, who was 14th-fastest overall, earns a lane in the open (‘A’) final.

MEN’S 200 FLY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:50.34, Kristof Milak (HUN) – 2022
• American Record: 1:51.51, Michael Phelps – 2009
• U.S. Open Record: 1:52.20, Michael Phelps (USA) – 2008
• LC Nationals Record: 1:52.20, Michael Phelps (USA) – 2008

‘A’ Final:

1. Jack Dahlgren (AQJT), 1:55.16
2. Ilya Kharun (SUN), 1:55.37
3. Enzo Solitario (WISC), 1:55.45
4. Tyler Ray (TXLA), 1:55.57
5. Luca Urlando (DART), 1:55.75
6. Mitchell Schott (NYAC), 1:55.81
7. Andrew Shackell (ISC), 1:55.83
8. Logan Robinson (GPAC), 1:55.95

In what was a very competitive set of heats in the men’s 200 fly, Jack Dahlgren ran down Luca Urlando in the eighth and final heat to claim the top seed heading into tonight’s final.

Dahlgren used a 30.81 closing split to overtake Urlando and clock 1:55.16, knocking two one-hundredths off the 1:55.18 lifetime best he set in the prelims at last year’s U.S. Nationals.

Urlando, the reigning world champion, went out like a rocket, turning in 53.70 at the 100-meter mark, but tightened up coming home (32.17) to finish in 1:55.75 and advance fourth into the final.

In the penultimate heat, Ilya Kharun charged through a tight field to touch first in a time of 1:55.37, using a 29.91 closing 50 to overtake Tyler Ray (1:55.57), Mitchell Schott (1:55.81) and Andrew Shackell (1:55.83), who all set new personal best times and qualified for the ‘A’ final.

Ray and Shackell both dropped more than two seconds off their previous bests, while Schott chipped one one-hundredth off his previous PB set recently at the Speedo Sectionals in Austin.

Also competing in that heat, FSU standout Logan Robinson dropped more than a second off his best time to clock 1:55.95 and earn the eighth spot in tonight’s big final.

In the first circle-seeded heat, rising Wisconsin sophomore Enzo Solitario unleashed a very impressive swim, going out fast but still managing to close well on the last length (29.99) to clock 1:55.45, shattering his previous PB of 1:57.15 to advance third into the final.

Solitario was followed by Columbia Swimming’s Ewan Dalrymple, who was ninth overall but the top qualifier for the junior final in 1:56.45, ranking him ninth all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group. The 18-year-old Ohio State commit set his previous best time of 1:58.09 earlier this month.

Gabriel Jett, who is on the Pan Pac roster, led that heat early but faded to touch third in 1:56.53, relegating him to the ‘B’ final.

Rowan Cox unleashed a massive four-second drop from his PB to clock 1:56.50, ranking him 10th overall and first into the ‘B’ final. Ray, Schott and Cox all train out of Texas and impressively set new PBs.

WOMEN’S 100 FREE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 51.68, Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 2026
• American Record: 51.94, Anna Moesch – 2026
• U.S. Open Record: 52.11, Anna Moesch (USA) – 2026
• LC Nationals Record: 52.43, Torri Huske (USA) – 2025

‘A’ Final:

1. Anna Moesch (GSCY), 53.10
2. Camille Spink (TNAQ), 53.26
3. Liberty Clark (ISC), 53.46
4. Rylee Erisman (LAKR), 53.62
5. Cadence Vincent (BAMA), 54.12
6. Kristina Paegle (ISC), 54.22
7. Erika Pelaez (WOLF), 54.24
8. Caroline Larsen (UOFL), 54.42

American Record holder Anna Moesch cruised to the top time of the morning in the women’s 100 freestyle, clocking 53.10 in winning the 12th and final heat in impressive fashion.

The 21-year-old split 25.62/27.48 and looked incredibly comfortable doing so, indicating something in the 52s, or maybe even 51s, could be in store tonight.

Moesch broke the national record in May in a time of 51.94, and followed that up by clocking 52.11 at last month’s Pro Swim Series stop in Indianapolis.

In the first circle-seeded heat, NCAA standouts Camille Spink and Liberty Clark duelled it out, with Spink’s 25.47 opening 50 proving to be the difference-maker as she touched first in 53.26, marking her first time under the 54-second barrier. Spink set her previous best of 54.06 back in June, and prior to that had been 54.55 in May.

Clark also set a new best time, touching in 53.46 to undercut her previous mark of 53.51 set last month in Indianapolis.

Joining the sub-54 group was World Junior Record holder Rylee Erisman, who put up a time of 53.62 to win Heat 11. Her 27.47 back half was the fastest in the field.

The 17-year-old, who has been as fast as 53.24 this season, will swim in the ‘A’ final rather than the junior final since she has qualified for the Pan Pac roster and thus is not vying for a berth on the Junior Pan Pac team.

Alabama’s Cadence Vincent, who set a 100 free best time of 53.92 last month, wasn’t far off that mark in 54.12 to advance in fifth.

The top junior qualifier was T2 Aquatics’ Abi Burke, 16, who put up a time of 55.02 to drop over half a second off her best time.

Claire Weinstein, who revealed she’s recently been dealing with viral meningitis prior to the meet, clocked 55.45 for 21st overall.

MEN’S 100 FREE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 46.40, Pan Zhanle (CHN) – 2024
• American Record: 46.81, Jack Alexy – 2025
• U.S. Open Record: 46.99, Jack Alexy (USA) – 2025
• LC Nationals Record: 46.99, Jack Alexy (USA) – 2025

‘A’ Final:

1. Brooks Curry (CAL), 47.56
2. Patrick Sammon (NYAC), 47.83
3. Maximus Williamson (LAC), 47.93
4. Caeleb Dressel (SJACFL), 47.98
5. Grant House (SUN), 48.09
6. Jerry Fox (WOLF), 48.25
7. Henry McFadden (JW), 48.38
8. Jack Alexy (CAL), 48.61

It was a blazing-fast preliminary of the men’s 100 freestyle with four swimmers breaking 48 seconds, led by Brooks Curry and including Caeleb Dressel.

Curry, who set a new best time earlier this season at 47.51, soared to a time of 47.56 in the first circle-seeded heat, earning him the top seed heading into tonight’s final. He had the fastest opening 50 in the field of 22.43 and then came home in 25.13.

The 47.51 PB he set at the Malmsten Swim Open in April currently ranks him seventh in the world this season and seventh all-time among Americans.

Curry’s performance was followed by a pair of sub-48 performances in the 10th heat, as Patrick Sammon overtook Dressel late to touch first in a time of 47.83, using a blistering 24.85 back half to advance 2nd into the final.

The swim improves on Sammon’s season-best of 47.88, while his PB sits at 47.47 from last year’s Nationals.

Dressel was out quick in 22.68, and managed to hold on with a 25.30 back half to clock 47.98, breaking 48 seconds for the first time since the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Dressel had gone 47.53 in the Olympic Trials semis and final back in June 2024, and since then, his fastest swim came in at 48.65 from last month’s Indianapolis Pro Swim Series prior to this morning.

Maximus Williamson, fresh off winning a pair of NCAA titles in his freshman year, closed out the session by dropping a blazing-fast 47.93 in the 11th and final heat, lowering his near three-year-old best time of 48.38 to qualify fourth for the final.

Williamson split 23.06/24.87 en route to his first sub-48 swim, giving him the third-fastest back half in the field behind Sammon and Henry McFadden (24.59).

Grant House also came home under 25 seconds (24.92) to narrowly miss his best time in 48.09, advancing to the final in fifth, while Wolfpack Elite’s Jerry Fox set a new best time of 48.25 in sixth.

McFadden (48.38) was seventh, and then American Record holder Jack Alexy snuck through into the ‘A’ final in eighth, posting a time of 48.61.

Alexy has been 47-point three times this season, including a 47.40 showing from the U.S. Open back in December, and went 48.65 earlier this month at the Trojan Invitational after appearing to be a bit off from on the Mare Nostrum Tour in May.

The top qualifier for the junior final was distance phenom Luka Mijatovic, who set a new best time of 49.19 to rank 11th all-time in the boys’ 17-18 age group. The 17-year-old set his previous PB of 49.80 at the Super League LC Championships earlier this month.