2025 U.S. Nationals: Day 4 Finals 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 (Updated 6/02)
• Live Results
• How To Watch (USA Swimming Network)
• Prelims Live Recap: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
• Finals Live Recap: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Day 4 Finals Heat Sheet 

Hello, everyone–it’s a summer Friday evening and there’s plenty of fast swimming in store this evening at the 2025 U.S. National Championship. How lucky are we? On tap this evening are the finals of the 400 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, and 100 backstroke.

There’s an interesting phenomenon in the storylines to follow for this evening’s events. On the women’s side, there’s one established veteran in each event aiming for the win (Katie Ledecky, Lilly King, Regan Smith). Meanwhile, it feels like each of the men’s events are looking for the next generation of swimmers to step up. Luka Mijatovic asserted himself in the 400 freestyle this morning with a 3:45.89, destroying his 15-16 National Age Group record. Rex Maurer is pushing for the second spot behind him as the Longhorn crew looks to cleanup in this race and dethrone Tokyo bronze medalist Kieran Smith. Josh Matheny and Campbell McKean aim to cement themselves as “what’s next” in American men’s breaststroke. Jack Aikins hopes for the same in the men’s 100 backstroke final that looks very different without usual suspects like Ryan Murphy, Hunter Armstrong, Justin Ress, and Shaine Casas in the field.

This isn’t to say that the veterans have things all sewn up in the women’s events. Yes, Ledecky will likely swim away with the 400 freestyle but world record-holders King and Smith will face pressure in their events. The Virginia breaststroke corps takes aim at matching their 1-2 finish in the 200 breaststroke. 200 breaststroke qualifiers Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh are in the hunt (Douglass is top seed), as is 100 breaststroke Paris Olympian Emma Weber. Smith has a sizable advantage on the 100 backstroke field after prelims, but Katharine Berkoff and Claire Curzan are riding hot hands and the entire field broke 1:00 in prelims.

We touched on this in the finals preview, but one thing to keep an eye out for is potential qualification drama in the men’s 100 breaststroke. No one was under the World Aquatics ‘A’ cut of 59.75 this morning. But Matheny and American record holder Michael Andrew have both cleared the mark during the qualification window. That gives them an advantage because if they don’t finish top two and the second swimmer misses the ‘A’ cut, whichever of them is the next-best finisher could be selected to the team in this event anyway.

Women’s 400 Freestyle — Final

• 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

Final: 

1. Katie Ledecky (GSC) — 3:58.56
2. Claire Weinstein (SAND) — 4:00.05
3. Bella Sims (SAND) — 4:07.11
4. Cavan Gormsen (LIAC) — 4:08.21
5. Michaela Mattes (FLOR) — 4:09.66
6. Mila Nikanorov (OSU) — 4:11.36
7. Gena Jorgenson (HUSK) — 4:11.96
8. Madi Mintenko (PPA) — 4:12.01

The women’s 400 freestyle was an electric way to kick off this finals session. Katie Ledecky got the crowd energized, opening her race in a 56.81, then turning in a 59.99 to make the 200-meter turn in 1:56.80. She was .14 seconds under the world record pace and about three-tenths under her American record pace.

Ledecky said in her post-race interview that the last 100 meters “hurt” and she fell off both her world record and American record paces on the back half of the race. She still charged into the finish, hitting the wall in 3:58.56 to win another national title this week.

Claire Weinstein, this week’s 200 freestyle champion, refused to be totally shaken off by Ledecky. Weinstein kept hold of her place about at Ledecky’s feet and earned second with a lifetime best 4:00.05. That improves on the lifetime best 4:01.26 from the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim and though she was frustratingly close to becoming the seventh woman to break 4:00. She does become the second-fastest American woman in event history and seventh-fastest all-time overall. Her time surpasses the 4:00.65 Leah Smith swam at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. She’s also now the fourth-fastest in the world this season.

The Sandpipers earned a 2-3 finish as Weinstein’s teammate Bella Sims touched third in 4:07.11 to round out the podium. She was over a second ahead of fourth-place finisher Cavan Gormsen. 

The ‘B’ final of the women’s 400 freestyle came down to the touch between last night’s top two in the 400 IM, Emma Weyant and Katie Grimes. Weyant held on for the win ahead of Grimes for the second time in as many nights, swimming a 4:09.69 to Grimes’ 4:09.84.

Men’s 400 Freestyle — Final

• 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

Final: 

1. Rex Maurer (TXLA) — 3:43.33 *U.S. Open Record* 
2. Luka Mijatovic (PLS) — 3:45.71
3. Ryan Erisman (LAKR) — 3:46.01
4. David Johnston (TXLA) — 3:47.10
5. Kieran Smith (RAC) — 3:47.17
6. Luke Hobson (TXLA) — 3:47.47
7. Alec Enyeart (TST) — 3:48.96
8. Joey Tepper (UOFM) — 3:49.72

It was Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Kieran Smith who took the men’s 400 freestyle out first. He was in control at the 100 turn with Rex Maurer about two-tenths behind him in second. Smith still held the lead at the halfway mark, flipping in 1:50.09 to Maurer’s 1:50.48 with Luka Mijatovic in third.

Maurer made his move on Smith over the third 100 meters with a 56.81 split, pulling into the lead. He held a .95 second advantage over Smith with 100 meters remaining, with Luke Hobson now third. Maurer pressed his advantage, splitting 56.04 over the final 100 meters.

Maurer stopped the clock in 3:43.33, breaking the U.S. Open record Larsen Jensen held at 3:43.53 since 2008. It’s a huge lifetime best for Maurer, chopping 3.19 seconds off his lifetime best from last month as he becomes the third fastest American in history behind Jensen and Peter Vanderkaay. This swim moves Maurer into second in the world this season behind Lukas Märtens‘ world record performance.

After slipping off the podium with 100 meters to go, Mijatovic dug in with a 56.33 on the final 100 meters (28.74/27.59) to gain ground on the field and pull into second. He swam 3:45.71, lowering the 15-16 NAG he swam this morning by .18 seconds. He held off a late push from Ryan Erisman, who took third in 3:46.01. That breaks the boys’ 17-18 NAG that Jensen has held for over twenty years by seven-hundredths.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke — Final

• 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

Final: 

1. Kate Douglass (NYAC) — 1:05.79
2. Lilly King (ISC) — 1:06.02
3. Alex Walsh (NYAC) — 1:06.50
4. Emma Weber (CA-Y) — 1:06.55
5. Piper Enge (TXLA) — 1:07.61
6. McKenzie Siroky (TNAQ) — 1:07.66
7. Gabby Rose (ALPH) — 1:08.54
8. Elle Scott (MAC) — 1:08.99

Lilly King was out fast in her final race on American soil, turning at the 50-meter mark in 30.66. She did her best to hold off Kate Douglass, the 200 breaststroke Olympic champion, down the closing meters of the race. But there was no stopping Douglass, who split 34.72 on the way home.

That gave her enough room to go by King and stop the clock in 1:05.79. It’s her second lifetime best of the day, as she swam a 1:06.27 this morning. Her winning time tonight moves her to 12th in American history, four-hundredths from breaking into the top 10. She’s now fourth in the world this season.

The women should have hit enough doubles by now that King’s second place finish in 1:06.02 will be enough to add the 100 breaststroke schedule to her Singapore schedule.

The Cavaliers went 1-3-4 in this race as Alex Walsh (1:06.50) and Emma Weber (1:06.55) touched third and fourth, respectively. Walsh’s time is a lifetime best, breaking the 1:06.87 she swam at Olympic Trials last summer.

Men’s 100 Breaststroke — Final

• 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

Final: 

1. Campbell McKean (BEND) — 58.96
2. Josh Matheny (ISC) — 59.18
3. Nate Germonprez (TXLA) — 59.89
4. Michael Andrew (SUN) — 59.99
5. AJ Pouch (PRVT) — 1:00.17
6. Jassen Yep (ISC) — 1:00.32
7. Gabe Nunziata (ODAC) — 1:00.86
8. Luke Barr (ISC) — 1:01.14

Campbell McKean made a statement with his first swim under a minute. After coming into the meet with a 1:00.40 lifetime best, McKean dropped to 1:00.18 in prelims. He just destroyed that mark to win his second national title in two days, ripping a 58.96 that breaks Michael Andrew‘s 17-18 National age group record (59.82) by nearly a second, makes him the second-fastest swimmer in the event this season, and tied for sixth-fastest American male in history.

It was 200 breaststroke champion Josh Matheny that led the race around at the turn, splitting 27.61 with McKean just six-hundredths behind him. McKean charged over the second 50 meters, splitting 31.29 to pass Matheny and power to the wall.

Top U.S. Performers, Men’s 100 Breaststroke (LCM) 

1. Michael Andrew — 58.14 (2021)
2. Nic Fink — 58.36 (2023)
3. Kevin Cordes — 58.64 (2017)
4. Andrew Wilson — 58.74 (2021)
5. Cody Miller — 58.87 (2016)
6. Eric Shanteau/Campbell McKean — 58.96 (2009/2025)
7. (tie)
8. Mark Gangloff — 59.01

Matheny held on for silver with a 59.18, knocking two-hundredths off his lifetime best. This means that Matheny will have two events on his schedule at Worlds as well.

McKean’s future teammate Nate Germonprez was third in 59.89, also breaking 1:00 for the first time in his career. His lifetime best coming into the meet was a 1:00.48. American record holder Michael Andrew touched fourth in 59.99.

Women’s 100 Backstroke — Final

• 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

Final: 

1. Regan Smith (TXLA) — 57.69
2. Katharine Berkoff (WOLF) — 58.13
3. Leah Shackley (WOLF)/Claire Curzan (TAC) — 58.60
4. (tie)
5. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) — 58.80
6. Charlotte Crush (LAK) — 59.30
7. Kennedy Noble (WOLF) — 59.34
8. Rylee Erisman (LAKR) — 59.39

Katharine Berkoff, the new American record holder in the 50 backstroke, was out fast in the women’s 100 backstroke championship final. Berkoff turned in 27.90, four-hundredths under Regan Smith‘s world record pace. Berkoff had an odd turn, while Smith hit hers and used a powerful underwater to grab the lead.

Smith split 29.68 on the back half of her race and stopped the clock at 57.69. She already owns the fastest time in the world this season in 57.46. Berkoff recovered from the awkward turn and earned the silver medal in this race, swimming a season-best 58.13 that moves her into third in this season’s global rankings.

There was a tie for third as Leah Shackley and Claire Curzan hit the wall together in 58.60. That’s just off the lifetime best 58.53 Shackley swam less than a month ago that moved her into the top 10 all-time among American women.

Men’s 100 Backstroke — Final

• 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

Final: 

1. Tommy Janton (ND) — 53.00
2. Jack Aikins (SA) — 53.19
3. Daniel Diehl (WOLF) — 53.35
4. Keaton Jones (CAL) — 53.79
5. Will Modglin (TXLA) — 53.83
6. Jack Wilkening (MICH) – -53.87
7. Hudson Williams (WOLF) — 54.25
8. Destin Lasco (CAL) — 54.27

In a final devoid of so many of the usual contenders, it felt like the win in the men’s 100 backstroke final could come from anywhere in the pool. That’s exactly what happened as outside smoke saw Tommy Janton grab the win from lane one.

Janton was tied with 200 backstroke champion Jack Aikins for second at the 50-meter turn (25.69) behind Jack Wilkening (25.61). Janton put in a field-best 27.31 closing split, pulling into the lead and stopping the clock in 53.00. It’s a lifetime best for Janton, dropping .61 seconds from the lifetime best he swam in the U.S. Olympic Trials semifinal. Janton went on to finish eighth in Lucas Oil Stadium with a 53.87. Now, he’s the national champion headed to his first World Championship meet and the 11th fastest in the world this season.

Aikins was third last year at Olympic Trials. He’s already on the World Championship roster after winning the 200 backstroke and now he’s added another event by finishing second in this race. He was .19 seconds behind Janton, stopping the clock at 53.19. Daniel Diehl was the top qualifier for tonight’s final and finished third in 53.35, just two-hundredths off his prelims swim.

Keaton Jones dropped another .08 seconds from the lifetime best he swam in prelims, finishing fourth in 53.79.