Ilya Kharun Swims 1:37.70 to Break 200 Fly Meet Record At Big 12s With Explosive 24.60 Final 50

by Madeline Folsom 11

February 27th, 2026 Big 12, College, News

2026 Big 12 Championships

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – Finals

  • NCAA Record: 1:36.41, Luca Urlando (Georgia) – 2025
  • Big 12 Record: 1:37.35, Jack Conger (Texas) – 2017
  • Big 12 Championship Record: 1:39.17, Jack Conger (Texas) – 2017
  • 2026 NCCA Qualifying Time: 1:43.79
  • 2025 NCAA Invite Time: 1:41.45

Top 8 Finishers

  1. Ilya Kharun (ASU) — 1:37.70 **New Meet Record
  2. Haakon Naughton (ARIZ) — 1:39.22
  3. Joel Nace (ARIZ) — 1:43.41
  4. Evan VanBrocklin (UTAH) — 1:43.94
  5. Jakub Walter (UTAH) — 1:44.34
  6. Filip SEnc-Samardzic (ASU) — 1:44.43
  7. Jacob Ballard (BYU) — 1:45.46
  8. Viktor Hristov (TCU) — 1:45.56

ASU junior Ilya Kharun went three-for-three in individual events at the 2026 Big 12 Championships, setting new meet records in all three events en route to the gold medal.

He picked up his final Big 12 win of the week in the men’s 200 butterfly, swimming 1:37.70 to set a new meet record time, taking more than a second off Jack Conger‘s 2017 record of 1:39.17.

Despite winning the event by more than a second, Kharun trailed at the 150 mark, sitting more than seven tenths back of 2nd place finisher Haakon Naughton from Arizona

He got out to a quick lead in the first 50, splitting 21.98 to lead Naughton’s 22.04 by six hundredths.

Naughton maintained a quick pace through the next 100, through, splitting 24.84/25.49 to pick up a lead over Kharun’s 25.67/25.45, turning in 1:12.37 at the 150 mark to Kharun’s 1:13.10.

The final 50 saw Kharun turn on the jets in a major way as he split 24.60 to take over the lead and win the even in 1:37.70, adding about a tenth from his lifetime best 1:37.56.

Despite making up a ton of ground on Naughton, the Arizona swimmer did not have a poor final 50. In fact, his final 50 time of 26.85 was the 2nd fastest final 50 in the field, only behind Kharun’s.

Kharun’s final 50 was almost a second faster than the 25.54 he came home in when he set his lifetime best, and it was two seconds faster than the 26.38 Luca Urlando swam on his final 50 when he set the NCAA record back in November.

Split Comparison

Ilya Kharun, Best Time — 1:37.56 (CSCAA Dual Meet Tournament 2025) Ilya Kharun, Meet Record — 1:37.70 (2026 Big 12 Championships) Luca Urlando, NCAA Record — 1:36.41 (2025 UGA Invite)
Jack Conger, Former Big 12 Meet Record — 1:39.17 (2017 Big 12 Championships)
50 21.94 21.98 21.55 21.86
100 25.13 25.67 23.83 25.47
150 24.95 25.45 24.65 25.58
200 25.54 24.60 26.38 26.26

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11 Comments
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SQUID!
3 months ago

Bananas. Was that a strategy, or did the spinach just kick in at 150?

Frank A Wilson
3 months ago

From the splits it appears that Ilya has a different race strategy!

nealnan8
Reply to  Frank A Wilson
3 months ago

A :24.6 on the last 50 is bonkers.

Miranda
3 months ago

I’m really hoping to see Kharun go faster at NCAAs. I want to know how close to 1:36 he can get. I wonder if it will help him to race next to Urlando.

Miranda
Reply to  Miranda
3 months ago

Also, when his nationality changes over to USA, it will be so amazing to have both Urlando and Kharun on the USA team. Hope Kharun continues to work on this 200 Fly

Nottingham dreamer
Reply to  Miranda
3 months ago

i wish he had stayed on the sane country’s team

Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Nottingham dreamer
3 months ago

Isn’t milk sold in bags in Canada? I’d rather stick to the US, thanks

Andrew
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
3 months ago

Yeah, and the greatest city in the world (austin texas) is in America.

Austin is so mid im ngl lol

JJjjjjjjj
Reply to  Nottingham dreamer
3 months ago

Word

applesandoranges
Reply to  Miranda
3 months ago

He stood a better chance of making the Canadian team in the 200 fly.

Prop
Reply to  Miranda
3 months ago

Nice, jynxed them both