2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials
MEN’S 200 FREE– Final
- World Record: 1:38.61, Luke Hobson (USA) – 2024
- American Record: 1:38.61, Luke Hobson – 2024
U.S. Open Record: 1:40.51, Luke Hobson (USA) – 2026- Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 1:43.48
Top 8 Finishers
- Luke Hobson (NYAC) — 1:39.93 *New U.S. Open Record
- Chris Guiliano (TXLA) — 1:40.26
- Gabriel Jett (CAL) — 1:40.58
- Jack Alexy (CAL) — 1:41.05
- Brooks Curry (CAL) — 1:41.72
- Kieran Smith (RAC) — 1:42.30
- Mitchell Schott (NYAC) — 1:43.00
- Jack Dahlgren (AQJT) — 1:43.76
Luke Hobson lowered his own U.S. Open Record in the men’s 200 freestyle, swimming a 1:39.93 in the final. That broke his record of a 1:40.51 from prelims. Hobson held the U.S. Open Record coming into the day as he swam a 1:40.62 last fall at the World Cup stop in Westmont.
Split Comparison
| Hobson Finals | Hobson Prelims |
Hobson US Open Record Coming Into Today |
|
| 50 | 23.52 | 23.35 | 23.27 |
| 100 | 25.26 | 25.41 | 25.42 |
| 150 | 25.43 | 25.54 | 25.75 |
| 200 | 25.72 | 26.21 | 26.18 |
| 1:39.93 | 1:40.51 | 1:40.62 |
Hobson saw the biggest difference come on his final 50 as he was 0.49 seconds faster tonight compared to his swim in prelims.
The 23 year old holds the American and World Records in the event as he has been as fast as a 1:38.61 that he swam back in December 2024 at the 2024 SCM World Championships. He also holds the 2nd fastest performance in history with a 1:38.91 that he also swam at 2024 SCM Worlds.
Coming into tonight, Hobson was the only swimmer to have ever been sub-1:40 three times. Tonight’s swim now adds a 4th sub-1:40 performance to his resume. Tonight’s swim was the 9th sub-1:40 performance all-time. Hobson will represent the U.S. in Beijing at the start of December, giving him more potential chances to go sub-1:40 and break his own World and American Records.
