2026 U.S. National Championship: Day 1 Finals Live Recap - SwimSwam

What the report says

SwimSwam reported that the 2026 U.S. National Championships opened July 28 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine, California, with Day 1 finals featuring the 200 butterfly and 100 freestyle, plus the fastest heats of the distance events. The meet runs through August 1 and is a key domestic long-course competition for U.S. swimmers.

In the women’s 200 butterfly, Michigan’s Hannah Bellard won the national title in 2:06.86 after improving twice on the day from a previous best of 2:09.92. SwimSwam noted the swim ranked sixth globally this season. Bella Sims, who had led prelims, closed strongly for second in 2:07.19, while Lindsay Looney took third in 2:07.26. In the 18-and-under final, Audrey Derivaux won in 2:07.86, a result SwimSwam said secured a Junior Pan Pacific Championships berth.

The men’s 200 butterfly final went to Luca Urlando in 1:54.45, narrowly ahead of Ilya Kharun at 1:54.59 after Kharun surged on the final 50 meters. Enzo Solitario was third in 1:54.99, his first sub-1:55 performance according to the report. Ewan Dalrymple won the boys’ 18-and-under race in 1:56.56.

Anna Moesch highlighted the women’s 100 freestyle final by lowering her American, U.S. Open and championship record to 51.88, ahead of Rylee Erisman and Liberty Clark. Earlier, Brooks Curry led men’s 100 freestyle prelims in 47.56, with Patrick Sammon, Maximus Williamson and Caeleb Dressel also under 48 seconds, setting up a deep final.