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

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2026 U.S. National Championships

Day 5 Prelims Heat Sheet

Welcome to the final prelims session of the 2026 U.S. National Champonships. While Nationals must sadly come to an end, we will soon be looking towards Pan Pacs and more exciting racing to come there. However, there are still a few more events left on the docket for Nationals that should feature fantastic racing to close-out the meet. This morning’s lineup will only feature two events, the 200 IM and 50 Freestyle, with heats of the women’s 1500 Freestyle and men’s 800 Freestyle set to start at 5:30 PM EST.

Heading up the first event of the morning, the women’s 200 IM, will be Alex Walsh. The 2020 Olympic medalist and multi-time World Championships medalist in this event currently holds the fastest entry time in the field by over a second (2:08.45). Walsh has not competed in any individual events at this meet yet as she looks forward to Pan Pacs, but did swim the 400 IM in a time trial earlier in the week. Her Virginia teammate Leah Hayes sits as the 2nd seed in the race as the only other entrant under 2:10 with a 2:09.48. Audrey Derivaux comes in as the top 18 and under swimmer in the event as she will look to add the race to her schedule for Jr. Pan Pacs. Derivaux, who has already claimed several 18 and under titles this week, currently holds a best of 2:10.32.

The men’s 200 IM should be another exciting event featuring a slew of big names. Headlining the race is Olympian Kieran Smith, who holds the top seed in an entry time of 1:57.26. Owen McDonald and Grant House currently possess the 2nd and 3rd seeds in the event, with times of 1:57.98 and 1:58.07, respectively. There are certainly also darkhorses to watch in this event as well, most notably being Rowan Cox. While Cox hasn’t dropped in all of his events this weekend, he posted a standout performance in the 100 butterfly to finish 3rd in 50.64. Cox has reportedly been training at Texas since graduating high school this spring, which is known for having the best 200 IM’er in history, Leon Marchand. Cox will be swimming early in the heats as he’s entered with a SCY time of 1:45.21.

Virginia is coming to play in the women’s 50 freestyle as all 4 of the top entrants are current or former UVA swimmers, led by recently minted World Record holder Gretchen Walsh. While Walsh will likely be saving her best for Pan Pacs, she has already broken the World Record in this event this season, meaning she could certainly be on record watch again. Behind Walsh sits Kate Douglass, who also broke the 50 freestyle World Record this season, only 9 days prior to Walsh taking the record for herself. The two teammates sit well ahead of the field with their historically best times of 23.55 and 23.59, respectively. 100 freestyle American Record holder Anna Moesch sits 3rd in 24.20, with Maxine Parker holding the 4th seed in 24.41.

While the battle between Walsh and Douglass is sure to highlight the women’s 50 freestyle, the men’s 50 freestyle should prove to be a battle across the entire top 10 just to make it into the A-final as the field is loaded with top-end talent. Nikita Sheremet heads into the race with the top seed of 21.62, but there are 8 swimmers entered under the 22-second mark. That includes Caeleb Dressel, Brooks Curry, Hunter Armstrong, Michael Andrew, Quintin McCarty, Brendan Whitfield, and Jonny Kulow. Given the depth of this field, expect to see one, or more, of these big names miss out on the A-final as it should take a strong performance to get a shot at the National Title tonight.

Following the conclusion of the heats, there will be a separate distance session for the women’s 1500 freestyle and men’s 800 freestyle, with the top heats of swimmers competing for the National Title during the finals session.

Women’s 200 Individual Medley — Prelims

Alex Walsh (NYAC) — 2:10.39
Campbell Chase (TXLA) — 2:10.86
Leah Hayes (CA-Y) — 2:11.10
Teagan O’Dell (PLS) — 2:11.31
Emily Brown (TNAQ) — 2:12.28
Audrey Derivaux (JW, 18&U) — 2:13.72**
Sadie Buckley (NCAP, 18&U) — 2:13.81**
Emily Thompson (GSCY) — 2:14.24
Katie Christopherson (SA) — 2:14.29
Grace Rabb (GSC-FL) — 2:14.55

**denotes 18 and under final qualifier

As expected, it was Alex Walsh taking the top seed for the final, posting a time of 2:10.39 to lead the field by about a half second. However, the race wasn’t an easy one for Walsh as Campbell Chase remained on her hip the entire race, ultimately finishing in a best time of 2:10.86. With that performace, the Texas swimmer sliced just under a tenth off of her best time and earned the 2nd seed for the final.

The first of the circle-seeded heats feautred a great preview of tonight’s 18 and under final, with Audrey Derivaux and Sadie Buckley going stroke-for-stroke over the final 50 meters of the race. Derivaux managed to hold-off her charging competitor with a time of 2:13.72, with Buckley coming in just behind at 2:13.81.

Teagan O’Dell and Bella Sims were locked-into a battle going into the breaststroke leg of the race, but O’Dell started to pull away heading into the breaststroke leg. Just when it seemed as though she was primed for victory, Leah Hayes entered the picture and nabbed the win away from her Virginia training partner. Hayes touched in a 2:11.10 to head the heat, with O’Dell just behind in 2:11.31. After the first two legs, Sims fell off the pace and ultimately finished in 2:15.03.

Out of heat 5, Grace Rabb posted a dominant performance to touch in a time of 2:14,55, edging close to her personal best of 2:14.28 from over 2 years ago. That time held up as the fastest through the start of the circle-seeded heats and ultimately placed her 10th overall out of prelims. Depending on if Derivaux and Buckley opt-out of the 18 and under final, Rabb could find herself in tonight’s A-final with her performance.

In heat 7, 14-year-old Kate Allen sliced a half second off of her entry time to finish in 2:16.08. That swim moves her up to #13 all-time in the 13-14 age-group, which she will have a chance to improve upon tonight.

It appears that there will be a swim-off later today between Ellie Clark and Kathryn Hazle for an alternate spot, pending scratches for the finals.

Men’s 200 Individual Medley — Prelims

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 Qualifiers:

Owen McDonald (ISC) — 1:57.71
Baylor Nelson (TXLA) — 1:58.51
Mitchell Schott (NYAC) — 1:58.59
Logan Brown (AGS)/Luke Barr (TFA) — 1:59.19 (tie)
—
Kieran Smith (RAC) — 1:59.27
Josh Bey (ISC) — 1:59.38
Maximus Williamson (LAC) — 1:59.42

Results held pretty stagnant through the first three heats of racing. However, in heat 4, there were 3 swimmers who dipped into the 2:01 range, led by Jackson Hartzler. He led the heat in a time of 2:01.50, just ahead of Cullen Kahl’s 2:01.60 and David Sammons’ 2:01.96. All three swimmers saw significant drops off of their best times as well.

In the first of the circle-seeded heats Maximus Williamson looked scary as he posted a time of 1:59.42. After establishing over a body length lead through the first 175 meters of the race, Williamson completely shut it down going towards the final wall. However, he actually shut it down a little too much, nearly missing the A-final after finishing 8th overall this morining. Regardless, given the form hes been in for the rest of the meet, expect a big swim tonight. Behind Williamson, Gregg Enoch was the only other finisher under 2:01, posting a 2:00.52 for 2nd in the heat.

Indiana’s Owen McDonald threw down a personal best of 1:57.71 to lead his heat en route to posting the fastest time of the morning, McDonald, who already claimed the National Title in the 100 backstroke this week, controlled his heat from start to finish. Baylor Nelson also had a solid swim for 2nd, posting a 1:58.51 to come right within range of his entry time.

The final heat of the event proved to be the fastest overall. Logan Brown and Luke Barr tied for the top spot in that heat with a 1:59.19 to come in 3rd overall this morning, followed by Kieran Smith (1:59.27). All three swimmers progressed through to the final, as did Josh Bey (1:59.38).

Ulimately, it took a sub 2:00 swim to make the A-final, with Williamson (1:59.42) being the last one in.

Women’s 50 Freestyle — Prelims

Top Qualifiers:

Gretchen Walsh (NYAC) — 23.96
Anna Moesch (GSCY) — 24.39
Liberty Clark (ISC, 18&U) — 24.53
Camille Spink (TNAQ) — 24.55
Maxine Parker (FASTCA) — 24.69
Caroline Larsen (UOFL) — 24.78
Cadence Vincent (BAMA) — 24.84
Annam Olasewere (ALTO) — 24.89

Into the circle-seeded heats, it was SMU’s Maddie Parker who established the fastest time of the morning thus far. Parker dropped 2 tenths of a second off of her best time to finish in 25.23. Entered with an SCY time, Melissa Nwakalor produced a great swim earlier in the heats to go 25.29.

Coming fresh off of her American Record in the 100 freestyle, Anna Moesch kicked-off the circle seeded heats with the first sub-25 swim of the morning, touching just a tenth off her personal best in 24.39. Moesch’s time ultimately held up for 2nd overall this morning.

With Kate Douglass notably no-showing her heat, Liberty Clark stepped up in her heat, posting a personal best of 24.53 to take 3rd overall when all was said-and-done. Camille Spink also had a strong swim out of that heat, coming in just behind at 24.53.

In the final heat, Gretchen Walsh proved that she’s in a league of her own though, as she dropped a huge 23.96 to take the top seed for the final by nearly a half second over the sprint distance. Walsh looked relaxed in her stroke as she bested her entire heat by nearly a body length. Given that she’s already set the World Record this season, everyone should certainly be on watch for the final.

It took until the last non-circle seeded heat for the 22-second barrier to fall, but Auburn’s Warner Russ finally cracked the mark in 21.96 to lead all swimmers through heat 10. That time ultimately earned him a spot in the A-final as he finished 7th overall.

In the first circle-seeded heat Caeleb Dressel threw down the gauntlet with a huge 21.45, his fastest time since the 2024 US Olympic Trials when he went 21.41. Dressel, the American Record holder in this event, previously held a season best of 21.84. He already won the 100 freestyle this week and appears to be on track for another huge swim in his best meet since his return to the sport. Jonny Kulow posted the 2nd fastest swim in his heat to qualify 5th overall in 21.93.

50 backstroke champion Quintin McCarty held down the last heat, swimming a time of 21.73 to narrowly come out on top of that field. Just behind him, Brandan Whitfield had a big swim, slicing .2 seconds off of his best time to touch in 21.75, good for 3rd overall in prelims.

As predicted, several notable names missed out on the final, including Ilya Kharun, Brooks Curry, and Hunter Armstrong. Michael Andrew was the final swimmer to make it into the A-final with a 22.04, only coming .01 seconds ahead of Curry.

Start Time 5:30 PM EST