2026 U.S. Junior National Championships: Day 5 Prelims Live Recap

2026 U.S. Junior National Championships

The fifth and last day of the 2026 U.S. Junior National Championships in Irvine kicks off this morning with a comparatively gentle prelim session, with solely heats within the 200 IM and 50 free on faucet.

There will even be timed last heats of the ladies’ 1500 free and boys’ 800 free within the afternoon earlier than the quickest seeded heats swim at finals.

In the ladies’ 200 IM, Gabi Brito shall be within the subject after scratching the remainder of her particular person occasions this week — together with this morning’s 50 free — although she has led Beach Cities Alpha to 2 relay titles and one runner-up end in the course of the meet.

Brito is the #2 seed within the 200 IM, trailing Canyons Aquatic Club’s Emma Hussein, who owns a greatest time of two:16.06 from May and went 2:17.67 final week at Nationals. Brito owns a quicker PB, having been 2:15.61 final yr, and she or he’s been 2:16.95 thus far this season.

In the boys’ 200 IM, Syunta Lee is the massive favourite after successful the 400 IM earlier within the week. The 16-year-old set a brand new lifetime greatest of two:02.11 within the 200 IM final week.

The ladies’ 50 free subject is highlighted by Adalynn Biegler, who received the 100 free on Tuesday, and Stella Canoles, who is available in as the highest seed at 25.47, which is the private greatest she set en path to a 4th-place end final yr.

Defending champion Brody Chandler would be the swimmer to beat within the boys’ 50 free, because the 18-year-old Tennessee commit received the occasion final yr in 22.52 and reset his PB final week in a time of twenty-two.38. He additionally received the 100 free earlier within the meet in a private greatest time of 49.77.

Girls’ 200 IM – Prelims

• World Junior Record: 2:06.56, Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 2024
• 17-18 NAG Record: 2:09.01, Alex Walsh – 2019
• 15-16 NAG Record: 2:08.91, Leah Hayes – 2022
• 13-14 NAG Record: 2:12.26, Lauren Lonsdale – 2026
• Meet Record: 2:12.32, Ella Eastin – 2015

‘A’ Final:

1. Gabi Brito (BCA), 2:17.61
2. Adalyn Lee (BREA), 2:18.09
3. Ava Buhrman (CVAC), 2:18.22
4. Nikko Tjahaya (BAD), 2:18.29
5. Kiera Powers (UASC), 2:19.12
6. Rowyn Wilber (CLOV), 2:19.26
7. Lucy Velte (EKC), 2:19.32
8. Elliana Wiesen (TOPS), 2:19.63

It was a hotly contested battle for a spot within the ‘A’ last within the ladies’ 200 IM, with lower than a second separating fifth by sixteenth on this morning’s prelims.

Leading the way in which was Beach Cities Alpha standout Gabi Brito, who had the quickest butterfly cut up within the subject by practically a second (28.18) en path to posting the highest time of the morning in 2:17.61, simply over six-tenths shy of her season-best of two:16.95.

This is Brito’s first particular person and solely particular person occasion of the meet after a really spectacular exhibiting ultimately week’s National Championships, the place she certified for the Junior Pan Pacs, however she has been in motion this week on relays, main her membership to a pair of titles.

After Brito received Heat 17, it was clear what was wanted to do for the swimmers within the 18th and last warmth. Several ladies have been hovering within the 2:19-mid-to-high vary, and if as a way to make it again within the ‘A’ last, they might must be quicker than that.

Adalyn Lee (2:18.09), Ava Buhrman (2:18.22) and Nikko Tjahaya (2:18.29) all delivered, posting a trio of two:18-lows to comfortably slot into the ultimate in 2nd, third and 4th.

Lee (2:17.21) and Buhrman (2:16.61) have been simply off their greatest occasions set earlier this yr, whereas Tjahaya chopped three one-hundredths off her earlier PB of two:18.32.

Kiera Powers, a 16-year-old out of Upper Arlington, fired off a time of two:19.12 racing from the non-circle-seeded Heat 11, dropping a second off her earlier greatest and qualify 4th into the ultimate.

Rowyn Wilber topped the primary circle-seeded warmth in 2:19.26 to make the ultimate in sixth. The USC commit set a PB of two:17.64 in May and clocked 2:19.93 final week at Nationals.

Maddie Thornton, one of many high seeds coming in, was a DNS in Heat 17.

Boys’ 200 IM – Prelims

• World Junior Record: 1:56.99, Hubert Kos (HUN) – 2021
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:55.94, Michael Phelps – 2003
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:58.65, Maximus Williamson – 2023
• 13-14 NAG Record: 2:03.73, Shareef Elaydi – 2024
• Meet Record: 2:00.07, Kyle Whitaker – 2009

‘A’ Final:

1. Cullen Kahl (MAC), 2:02.13
2. Syunta Lee (WSTPN) / Parker van Olst (WAVE), 2:03.96
3. –
4. Nash King (CM), 2:04.29
5. Max Garbacz (MAC), 2:04.37
6. Jack Maddan (FCST), 2:04.60
7. Joey Sudermann (FST), 2:04.64
8. Ethan Hammontree (COM), 2:04.73

Magnolia Aquatic Club’s Cullen Kahl claimed the highest seed for tonight’s last of the boys’ 200 IM after placing up a really spectacular morning swim of two:02.13, placing him practically two seconds away from the remainder of the sphere.

Although he was entered with a time of two:03.98, his earlier greatest time till final week, Kahl unleashed a large PB at Nationals in a time of two:00.28, which shot him all the way in which as much as #6 all-time within the boys’ 15-16 age group.

This morning, Kahl received Heat 16 over Madison Aquatic Club’s Max Garbacz, who clocked 2:04.37 to enhance on his earlier greatest of two:04.74 to qualify fifth into the ultimate.

Anthony Dornoff, who was the highest seed in that warmth, was a no-show.

In the seventeenth and last warmth, Syunta Lee and Parker van Olst went to battle, mirroring one another over the primary half earlier than van Olst pulled away on the breast leg, however Lee ran him down coming residence as they touched in an identical occasions of two:03.96 to maneuver by to the ultimate in a tie for 2nd.

Lee set a greatest time of two:02.11 final week at Nationals, whereas van Olst was simply shy of his 2:03.81 PB set in June.

No within the first circle-seeded warmth ended up making the ‘A’ last, as Joey Sudermann (2:04.64) and Ethan Hammontree (2:04.73) each set monstrous greatest occasions to make the highest eight out of non-circle-seeded heats.

Girls’ 50 Free – Prelims

• World Junior Record: 24.17, Claire Curzan (USA) – 2021
• 17-18 NAG Record: 24.28, Liberty Clark – 2026
• 15-16 NAG Record: 24.17, Claire Curzan – 2021
• 13-14 NAG Record: 24.98, Rylee Erisman – 2024
• Meet Record: 25.00, Julie Mishler – 2025

‘A’ Final:

1. Emilianna Gonzalez (SCAR), 25.52
2. Charlie Terrell (NBA), 25.65
3. Sutton Forbis (BC), 25.67
4. Molly Terry (WOODSN), 25.92
5. Adalynn Biegler (EDI), 26.00
6. Millie Knudson (BT), 26.03
7. Kia Alert (CW), 26.04
8. Delaney O’Toole (PEAQ), 26.07

Scarlet Aquatics’ Emilianna Gonzalez put up a brand new greatest time of 25.52 to say the highest seed heading into tonight’s last of the ladies’ 50 free, main a bunch of 4 swimmers underneath 26 seconds.

Gonzalez, 18, is coming off her freshman yr at Rutgers and set a lifetime better of 25.81 within the 50 free simply final week at Nationals.

North Bay Aquatics’ Charlie Terrell received the primary circle-seeded warmth in 25.65 to narrowly miss her newly-minted greatest time of 25.59 set in late July on the Novato Sectionals. The 15-year-old set a brand new better of 57.60 earlier within the meet within the 100 free.

Bellevue’s Sutton Forbis was shut behind Terrell in Heat 18, clocking 25.67 after setting a private better of 25.41 final week at Nationals.

Woodland Swim Team’s Molly Terry broke 26 seconds for the primary time racing out of the non-circle-seeded Heat 15, touching in 25.92 to shatter her earlier better of 26.22 and qualify 4th for the ultimate.

Snagging eighth place was Pittsburgh Elite Aquatics’ Delaney O’Toole, who lowered her year-old greatest time of 26.21 in 26.07 to sneak into the ‘A’ last.

Stella Canoles, who was the highest seed coming in after successful the 2025 junior nationwide title in 25.47, clocked 26.18 to position 14th and advance into the ‘B’ last.

Boys’ 50 Free – Prelims

• World Junior Record: 21.75, Michael Andrew (USA) – 2017
• 17-18 NAG Record: 21.53, Caeleb Dressel – 2015
• 15-16 NAG Record: 22.33, Michael Andrew – 2016
• 13-14 NAG Record: 22.95, Thomas Heilman – 2021
• Meet Record: 22.13, Vladimir Morozov – 22.13

‘A’ Final:

1. Thor Johannessen (BBA), 22.23
2. Andreas Da Silva (WOW), 22.46
3. Julian Granison (JDST), 22.59
4. Brody Chandler (SMST), 22.67
5. James Zhu (ROSE), 22.88
6. Jack Cunningham (CPAC), 22.97
7. Edward Chen (NOVA) / Adam Li (CSTE) / Sam Wolf (MAC), 23.06*
8. –

*Swim-off required

Arizona State commit Thor Johannessen unleashed a large swim within the last warmth of the boys’ 50 free, clocking a blistering 22.23 to shatter his lifetime greatest and qualify 1st into the ‘A’ last by over two-tenths.

Johannessen, an 18-year-old member of the Blazing Barracudas, clocked 22.23 to knock three-quarters of a second off his earlier greatest of twenty-two.98 set final month on the Speedo Sectionals in Columbia.

The swim launches him as much as #9 all-time within the boys’ 17-18 age group.

Wahoo’s of Wellington’s Andreas Da Silva additionally set an enormous PB within the prelims, touching in 22.46 out of Heat 18 to smash his earlier greatest of twenty-two.95 to maneuver right into a tie for nineteenth all-time within the 17-18 age group. Da Silva is dedicated to LSU for this fall.

Julian Granison of the Jupiter Dragons received the penultimate warmth in 22.59, bettering on his earlier greatest of twenty-two.78 set final yr to advance third into the ultimate. The 17-year-old, who’s dedicated to Florida for the autumn of 2027, was third within the 100 free earlier within the meet, breaking 50 for the primary time in 49.94.

Brody Chandler, who received the 100 free title earlier this week, superior 4th general in 22.67. He is coming off hitting an enormous PB of twenty-two.38 final week at Nationals.

Sixteen-year-old Edward Chen hit a sizeable greatest time of 23.06 in a three-way tie for seventh, which means there shall be a swim-off the place the highest two finishers make the ‘A’ last. Chen will swim off with Adam Li and Sam Wolf.

Chen’s swim strikes him right into a tie for thirty first all-time within the boys’ 15-16 age group.