2026 U.S. National Championships: Day 1 Prelims 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 preliminaries in the 200 butterfly and 100 freestyle, plus distance timed finals scheduled later. The meet is being held in the same venue slated to host the Pan Pacific Championships weeks later, adding importance for U.S. team members and junior swimmers seeking Junior Pan Pac selection.

In the women’s 200 butterfly prelims, Bella Sims took the top qualifying position for the open final in 2:08.39, a personal best by about 1.5 seconds, according to the report. Lindsay Looney followed in 2:08.53, while 16-year-old World Junior champion Audrey Derivaux posted 2:08.68, third-fastest overall. Because Derivaux is a junior swimmer pursuing Junior Pan Pac selection, she was listed for the 18-and-under junior final rather than the open final. Zara Kocak and Ellie Clarke also placed in the overall top eight but were directed to the junior final under the meet procedure.

The men’s 200 butterfly prelims produced a tight field, with Jack Dahlgren taking the top seed in 1:55.16 after overtaking reigning long-course world champion Luca Urlando in the last heat. Ilya Kharun, the reigning short-course world champion who has announced a move away from Canada’s team but is not yet eligible for the U.S. internationally, qualified second in 1:55.37. Enzo Solitario, Tyler Ray, Urlando, Mitchell Schott, Andrew Shackell and Logan Robinson rounded out the reported A final qualifiers.

SwimSwam previewed loaded 100 freestyle fields as well, including Anna Moesch, Rylee Erisman, Claire Weinstein, Jack Alexy, Patrick Sammon, Caeleb Dressel and Maximus Williamson. Several Pan Pac team members were scheduled to race on the opening morning.