Welcome to the fifth and final finals session of the 2026 U.S. National Championships.
Tonight’s session has each the longest and shortest occasions in swimming, with the ladies’s 1500 freestyle opening the session and the lads’s 50 freestyle closing it out.
Katie Grimes is the highest seed within the girls’s 1500 freestyle, and he or she might have a really robust race after she swam considered one of her quickest 400 IM occasions in historical past earlier within the meet.
The girls’s 200 IM will see Alex Walsh race as the highest seed after she swam 2:10.39 in prelims to qualify half a second forward of Campbell Chase from Longhorn Aquatics. The remainder of the ultimate can be shut with fellow UVA swimmers Leah Hayes and Teagan O’Dell qualifying third and 4th, each underneath 2:12.
The males’s 200 IM closing is also thrilling with most of the prime eight swimmers having robust swims all through the meet. Owen McDonald is the highest seed along with his 1:57.71, however any athlete within the prime eight, together with eighth seed Maximus Williamson, might stroll residence with the nationwide title.
The males’s 800 freestyle will race after the 200 IM, and we are going to get to see a rematch of final evening’s 400 free closing between Luka Mijatovic and Ryan Erisman. Erisman is the highest seed in 7:45.42, just below two seconds forward of Mijatovic’s 7:47.08.
The meet will wrap up with the 50 freestyle. World report holder Gretchen Walsh is the highest seed on the ladies’s facet with the 23.96 she swam in prelims sitting 4 tenths forward of Anna Moesch‘s 24.39 in 2nd. Liberty Clark and Camille Spink are additionally podium contenders at 24.53 and 24.55 respectively.
The males’s 50 freestyle would be the closing occasion of the meet, and Caeleb Dressel is seeking to decide up his 2nd nationwide title after he swam 21.45 in prelims to qualify three tenths forward of Quintin McCarty‘s 21.73 in 2nd.
Women’s 1500 Freestyle — Timed Final (Fastest Heat)
World Record: 15:20.48 — Katie Ledecky, United States (2018)
American Record: 15:20.48 — Katie Ledecky (2018)
U.S. Open Record: 15:20.48 — Katie Ledecky (2018)
Top 8 Finishers
Katie Grimes (CA) — 15:55.69
Kate Hurst (TXLA) — 16:04.46
Gena Jorgenson (HUSK) — 16:12.73
Mila Nikanorov (OSU) — 16:13.80
Zayda Miehl (CAT) — 16:15.93
Sydney Schoeck (CSP) — 16:19.26
Leticia Fassina Romao (UOFL) — 16:21.84
Paige Downey (UN) — 16:24.11
After setting her quickest 400 IM time in additional than two years a number of nights in the past, Katie Grimes repeated the feat to win the ladies’s 1500 freestyle closing, stopping the clock in 15:55.69, her quickest swim in additional than 4 years.
Before this season, Grimes had not swum the race for the reason that 2024 Olympic Games, when she swam 16:12.11 to complete tenth total. She swam it for the primary time since on the Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis on the finish of June, stopping the clock in 16:04.20.
Tonight, she took the lead early, splitting 1:00.39 on the opening 100 to guide Sydney Schoeck‘s 1:01.74 in 2nd greater than a second. She solely prolonged her lead all through the race, splitting between 31-high and 32-lows to swim her quickest time for the reason that 2022 World Championships, when she received the silver medal in 15:44.89.
Kate Hurst took 2nd total, touching in 16:04.46 to drop 5 seconds from her 2023 lifetime better of 16:09.37. She held largely 32-low 50s with a number of 31 second splits combined in.
Nebraska’s Gena Jorgenson took third in 16:12.73. This was additionally a private greatest time by a couple of second from the 16:13.87 she swam in June of 2026.
Zayda Miehl, a 16-year-old from Corvallis Aquatic Team in Oregon, swam the highest 18 & Under time to safe her roster spot for the 2026 Junior Pan Pacific Championships. She swam within the early heats and set a private greatest time of 16:15.93, taking 17 seconds off the 16:32.77 mark she set on the finish of May. She got here into the season at 16:37.99 from final August’s Junior Nationals.
Women’s 200 Individual Medley — Finals
Top 8 Finishers
Alex Walsh (NYAC) — 2:08.59
Campbell Chase (TXLA) — 2:10.09
Teagan O’Dell (PLS) — 2:10.20
Leah Hayes (CA) — 2:10.82
Emily Brown (TNAQ) — 2:11.03
Katie Christopherson (SA) — 2:13.13
Emily Thompson (CSCY) — 2:14.06
Grace Rabb (GSC) — 2:15.40
The girls’s 200 IM closing went to Alex Walsh in 2:08.59, a second-and-a-half forward of Texas Longhorn Campbell Chase‘s 2:10.09 in 2nd place.
Walsh was in 2nd after the 50, splitting 27.58 to sit down 5 hundredths behind Emily Brown‘s leading 27.53. Teagan O’Dell was third in 27.60.She stayed in that place after the backstroke, splitting 33.18, although O’Dell moved into the lead after she cut up 33.15.
Walsh took over the lead on the breaststroke led, swimming 36.74 to go O’Dell’s 38.39 cut up by greater than a second. She got here residence in 30.85, the 2nd quickest closing 50 cut up within the subject to set a brand new season greatest time within the occasion.
Chase cut up 27.94/33.81/37.88 over the primary 150 earlier than she had the quickest closing cut up within the subject of 30.46 to earn the silver medal. She dropped a couple of second from her earlier greatest of two:10.95, which she set final July.
O’Dell got here residence in 31.06 to cease the clock in 2:10.20, a full second drop fromt he 2:11.24 she swam final July.
Audrey Derivaux swam 2:11.89 to win the junior closing, splitting 27.69/32.97/40.54/30.69. She added a couple of second from her greatest of two:10.32, which she set in May.
Men’s 200 Individual Medley — Finals
World Record: 1:52.69 — Léon Marchand, France (2024)
American Record: 1:54.00 — Ryan Lochte (2011)
U.S. Open Record: 1:54.43 – Ryan Lochte (2010)
Top 8 Finishers
Maximus Williamson (LAC) — 1:56.40
Owen McDonald (ISC) — 1:57.68
Kieran Smith (RAC) — 1:58.36
Baylor Nelson (TXLA) — 1:58.40
Logan Brown (AGS) — 1:58.44
Luke Barr (TFA) — 1:58.55
Josh Bey (ISC) — 1:58.86
Mitchell Schott (NYAC) — 1:59.85
In a rematch of types from the 2026 NCAA Championships, Maximus Williamson set a large private greatest time within the males’s 200 IM, stopping the clock in 1:56.40 to win the nationwide title and develop into the eighth quickest performer in American historical past.
Williamson began the race in third, splitting 24.85 on the opening 50 to sit down a couple of tenth behind Owen McDonald‘s 24.74. He shortly moved into the lead after that, swimming 28.71 on the backstroke leg to sit down greater than a tenth forward of Owen McDonald, who swam 28.98 on the backstroke.
Williamson solely continued to increase his lead, swimming 34.32 on the breaststroke efore coming residence in 28.52 to lock up the highest time and drop a couple of second from his earlier lifetime better of 1:57.29 from September of 2023.
Updated Top-10 All-Time Americans
Ryan Lochte — 1:54.00 (2011)
Michael Phelps — 1:54.16 (2011)
Shaine Casas — 1:54.30 (2025)
Michael Andrew — 1:55.26 (2021)
Eric Shanteau — 1:55.36 (2009)
Chase Kalisz — 1:55.40 (2018)
Carson Foster — 1:55.65 (2024)
Maximus Williamson — 1:56.40 (2026)
Abrahm DeVine — 1:56.79 (2017)
Sam Stewart — 1:56.91 (2022)
McDonald cut up 34.76/29.20 over his closing 100 meters to swim 1:57.68 for 2nd place, a tenth add from the 1:57.51 he swam on the 2024 Olympic Trials.
Kieran Smith received the bronze medal in 1:58.36, splitting 25.19/29.67/34.70/28.80. This was a bit of greater than a second add from his lifetime better of 1:56.97, which he set on the Olympic Trials in June of 2024.
Men’s 800 Free — Timed Final (Fastest Heat)
World Record: 7:32.12 — Zhang Lin, China (2009)
American Record: 7:38.67 — Bobby Finke (2023)
U.S. Open Record: 7:40.34 — Bobby Finke (2023)
Top 8 Finishers
Ryan Erisman (CAL) — 7:43.53
William Mulgrew (SAC) — 7:45.21
Luka Mijatovic (PLS) — 7:46.57
Sean Green (LIAC) — 7:54.57
Carson Hick (KYA) — 7:57.58
Ahmed Hafnaoui (UN) — 7:57.65
Aiden Hammer (TXLA) — 7:58.04
Max Carlsen (WOLF) — 7:58.96
Ryan Erisman had a large comeback within the males’s 800 freestyle, stopping the clock in 7:43.65 to develop into the 2nd quickest American in historical past within the occasion and decide up his third nationwide title of the meet.
At the beginning of the race, Erisman, William Mulgrew, and Luka Mijatovic had been locked in a good battle. Mijatovic held a slight lead on the 100 mark, splitting 54.85 to sit down a couple of tenth forward of Mulgrew’s 54.94 and Erisman’s 55.15.
By the 200, Mulgrew and Erisman had taken a slight lead, each handing over 1:53.61 to sit down simply 4 hundredths forward of Mijatovic’s 1:53.68.
Mulgrew shortly moved into the lead, and on the 400 mark, he turned in 3:52.26 to sit down a couple of second forward of Erisman’s 3:53.14. Mijatovic had overtaken Erisman for 2nd, and turned in 3:52.93.
Mulgrew prolonged his lead, and on the 500, he was practically two seconds forward, flipping in 4:50.88 with Erisman handing over 4:52.79 and Mijatovic splitting 4:52.72.
Erisman began constructing into the race after that time, dropping into the 29-low vary for the following 100 meters, and by the five hundred, he had surpassed Mijatovic and minimize Mulgrew’s result in a bit of greater than a second. He flipped in 5:51.18 to Mulgrew’s 5:49.99.
Over the final 200 meters, Erisman turned on the gasoline in a large method. He cut up 28.83/28.73/27.83/26.96 over the ultimate 200 meters for a complete cut up of 1:52.35. He overtook Mulgrew for the lead on the 750 meter mark, and completed greater than a second forward. Erisman massively adverse cut up his 400s, swimming 3:53.14/3:50.39.
Mulgrew swam 1:55.22 on his closing 200, and he practically even cut up his 400s at 3:52.26/3:52.94. He stopped the clock in 7:45.21, taking six seconds off his greatest of seven:51.99, which he swam ultimately summer time’s World Junior Championships. he’ll develop into the eighth quickest performer in historical past within the occasion.
Updated Top-10 All-Time Americans
Bobby Finke — 7:38.67 (2023)
Ryan Erisman — 7:43.53 (2026)
Michael McBroom — 7:43.60 (2013)
Zane Grothe — 7:43.74 (2018)
Connor Jaeger — 7:44.26 (2013)
Jordan Wilimovsky/Luke Whitlock — 7:45.19 (2018/2024)
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William Mulgrew — 7:45.21 (2026)
Larsen Jensen — 7:45.63 (2005)
Chad La Tourette — 7:46.52 (2011)
Mijatovic completed third in 7:46.57, a brand new private greatest by 5 tenths from the 7:47.08 he swam in May.
Women’s 50 Freestyle — Finals
Top 8 Finishers
Gretchen Walsh (NYAC) — 23.60 *CR
Anna Moesch (GSCY) — 24.05
Liberty Clark (ISC) — 24.28
Camille Spink (TNAQ) — 24.39
Maxine Parker (FAST) — 24.61
Annam Olasewere (ALTO) — 24.71
Cadence Vincent (BAMA)/Caroline Larsen (UOFL) — 24.72
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Gretchen Walsh set the third quickest efficiency in historical past within the girls’s 50 freestyle, stopping the clock in 23.60 to select up a brand new meet report and win the occasion by 4 tenths.
Her swim was 5 hundredths off her personal world report time of 23.55 from the top of June, and it got here in only one hundredth behind Kate Douglass’ former world report of 23.59.
Updated Top-5 Performances
Gretchen Walsh, USA — 23.55 (2026)
Kate Douglass, USA — 23.59 (2026)
Gretchen Walsh, USA — 23.60 (2026)
Sarah Sjostrom, SWE — 23.61 (2023)
Sarah Sjostrom, SWE — 23.62 (2023)
Anna Moesch took 2nd in a lifetime greatest 24.05, taking a 0.15 seconds off the 24.20 she swam on the Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis.
Liberty Clark took third in 24.28, 4 tenths sooner than the 24.67 she swam on the U.S. Open in December, and Camille Spink completed 4th in a lifetime greatest 24.39, half-a-second sooner than the 24.84 she swam in May.
Gabi Brito received the 18 & Under closing in 24.99, taking 4 tenths off the 25.42 she swam in June of 2024 and marking her first time underneath 25 seconds.
Men’s 50 Freestyle — Finals
Top 8 Finishers
Caeleb Dressel (SJAC) — 21.35
Quintin McCarty (WOLF) — 21.75
Nikita Sheremet (UOFL) — 21.76
Brendan Whitfield (VT) — 21.78
Michael Andrew (MASA) — 21.92
Warner Russ (AU) — 21.95
Jonny Kulow (SUN) — 21.99
Matthew Klinge (OSU) — 22.03
Caeleb Dressel continued to show that he’s again and that he will probably be a serious contender within the subsequent few years. He received his 2nd nationwide title of the week, swimming 21.35 to win the lads’s 50 freestyle by 4 tenths over Quintin McCarty.
Dressel’s swim makes him the third quickest performer on the planet this 12 months, solely behind world report holder Cameron McEvoy and Russia’s Egor Kornev. It can be his quickest swim within the occasion since April of 2022 when he swam 21.29 on the International Team Trials.
McCarty sawm 21.75 to take 2nd, three tenths off his better of 21.43, which he swam on the Mare Nostrum cease in Monaco.
Nikita Sheremet completed third in 21.76, a tenth off his better of 21.62 from the TYR Pro Series in Westmont.
The junior closing had some pleasure with first alternate Ty Thomas taking Austin Carpenter‘s place within the warmth, racing in a speedo since he didn’t have time to alter right into a tech swimsuit. He completed eighth in 23.18, solely 9 hundredths off his prelims swim of 23.09.
Brody Chandler received the ultimate and earned a spot on the Pan Pacs staff, stopping the clock in 22.38 to take a bit of greater than a tenth off the 22.52 he set final August. He is swimming at Tennessee within the fall.