2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials
Today was the first full day of competition at the 2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials and it did not take long for the records to start falling. Van Mathias opted for the 100 breaststroke instead of the 50 freestyle on a packed Day 2 schedule and the move paid off to the tune of new American and U.S. Open records (55.48). Tyler Ray equaled Noe Ponti‘s 100 butterfly U.S. Open record with a 48.47, moving up to #1 in the world this year. And with big names like Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass in action multiple times tonight, it seems safe to assume we’ve only scratched the surface of the speed in Westmont, Illinois.
After a quick opening distance day that featured just two events, there are 12 finals hitting the water tonight: men’s 100 butterfly, women’s 50 backstroke, men’s 200 backstroke, women’s 200 breaststroke, men’s 100 breaststroke, women’s 400 freestyle, women’s 50 freestyle, men’s 50 freestyle, women’s 200 butterfly, men’s 400 freestyle, women’s 100 IM, and men’s 100 IM.
Live Stream
MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – Final
Final:
- Ilya Kharun (SUN) — 48.45 *U.S. Open Record*
- Tyler Ray (TXLA) — 48.56
- Caeleb Dressel (SJAC)/Luca Urlando (DART) — 48.57
- (tie)
- Dare Rose (SCAR) — 49.61
- Logan Robinson (GPAC) — 50.08
- Kamal Muhammad (SPAC) — 51.28
- Narutaka Hotta (BA) — 52.21
That’s another mark off the record books as the third overall session of these Short Course World Championship Trials gets underway. Ray set the bar in prelims this morning with his 48.47, which tied Ponti’s U.S. Open record and vaulted the Longhorn to the top of the season rankings.
The middle four lanes separated themselves quickly in tonight’s final. Ilya Kharun led the way at the halfway mark, blasting out with a 22.68. He hadn’t locked the win up though–Luca Urlando was just .02 seconds behind, Ray was .03 seconds back, and American record holder Caeleb Dressel was lurking .09 seconds back in fourth.
Kharun managed to maintain his control of the lead down the second stretch of the race, getting his hands on the wall for the win in 48.45, taking over the U.S. Open record outright. With the win, he has qualified to represent the United States for the first time at a major international meet.
WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – Final
- World Record: 25.23, Regan Smith (USA) – 2024
- American Record: 25.23, Regan Smith – 2024
- U.S. Open Record: 25.37, Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 2024
- Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 26.54
Final:
MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – Final
- World Record: 1:45.12, Hubert Kos (HUN) – 2025
- American Record: 1:46.68, Ryan Lochte – 2010
- U.S. Open Record: 1:46.84, Hubert Kos (HUN) – 2025
- Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 1:52.11
Final:
WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – Final
- World Record: 2:12.50, Kate Douglass (USA) – 2024
- American Record: 2:12.50, Kate Douglass – 2024
- U.S. Open Record: 2:13.97, Kate Douglass (USA) – 2025
- Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 2:21.91
Final:
MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – Final
- World Record: 55.28, Ilya Shymanovich (BLR) – 2021
- American Record: 55.48, Van Mathias (USA) — 2026
- U.S. Open Record: 55.48, Van Mathias (USA) — 2026
- Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 57.38
Final:
WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – Final
Final:
WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – Final
Final:
MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – Final
Final:
WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – Final:
- World Record: 1:59.32, Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 2024
- American Record: 2:00.20, Regan Smith – 2025
- U.S. Open Record: 2:00.20, Regan Smith (USA) – 2025
- Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 2:08.85
Final:
MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – Final
- World Record: 3:32.25, Yannick Agnel (FRA) – 2012
- American Record: 3:34.38, Kieran Smith – 2022
- U.S. Open Record: 3:35.99 Kieran Smith (USA) – 2022
- Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 3:42.18
Final:
WOMEN’S 100 IM – Final
Final:
MEN’S 100 IM – Final
Final:
