2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

By Anya Pelshaw on SwimSwam

2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials

• October 28-31, 2026
• Westmont, IL — FMC Natatorium
• SCM (25 Meters)
• Meet Central
• Selection Criteria
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
• Day 4 Finals Heat Sheet
• Day 3 Roster Update

It is the final night of the 2026 U.S. SC World Championship Trials, and there is a lot on the line tonight.

The men’s roster for Beijing currently sits at 19 swimmers after three days of competition, meaning only one new athlete can be added today before athletes will start being cut.

The meet will open with the men’s 200 breaststroke, where Noah Cakir and AJ Pouch earned the top two qualifying spots. Josh Bey qualified 3rd and is the only swimmer in the final who is already on the Worlds roster.

In the women’s 50 breaststroke, Skyler Smith set the top time of 29.83 to finish just a tenth ahead of Piper Enge‘s 29.94 in 2nd place. They were the only two swimmers under 30 seconds in the prelims. Enge is already on the roster in the 100 breaststroke and is the only finalist who has qualified for the team.

Destin Lasco and Maximus Williamson set the top two qualifying times in the men’s 200 IM with Lasco earning the top seed in 1:55.17. This was more than a second ahead of Williamson’s 1:56.33. Lasco is currently the top Priority 3 swimmer and Williamson is not on the team yet. Grant House, who is the 3rd ranked Priority 3 swimmer, qualified 3rd in 1:56.83, just half-a-second behind Williamson.

Alex Walsh set the top qualifying time in the women’s 400 IM as the only swimmer under the AQUA ‘A’ cut. She is already on the team, but will be trying to win the event and jump into the Priority 2 position.

The women’s 800 freestyle only has three athletes. Claire Weinstein is the top seed and Katie McCarthy, who won the women’s 1500 freestyle, is the 2nd seed. Northwestern’s Zoe Nordmann is the 3rd seed with a yards time.

Ilya Kharun won the men’s 50 butterfly prelims in 21.61 to set a new American and U.S. Open record in the event. He has a stacked field coming in behind him of Tyler Ray, who also swam under the former American record time, Van Mathias, and Caeleb Dressel, meaning this has potential to be one of the most exciting events of the session.

Gretchen Walsh dominated the women’s 100 fly prelims, swimming 54.57 to finish almost two seconds ahead of Alex Shackell‘s 56.22 in 2nd place. Both women are already on the team.

Luca Urlando set the top time in the 100 backstroke, swimming 50.16 to finish about a tenth ahead of Owen McDonald‘s 50.27 in 2nd. This will be McDonald’s last chance to make the team.

There will only be four people in the women’s 200 backstroke final and any one of them could earn the event win. Isabelle Stadden has not made the team yet and set the top time in prelims, though everyone in the heat cruised the prelims and will be much faster tonight.

The final men’s event of the meet will be the 200 freestyle. World record holder Luke Hobson set a new U.S. Open record of 1:40.51 in prelims to earn the top seed by about a second. Ryan Erisman scratched the final, but Gabriel Jett, Jack Alexy, Mitchell Schott, Chris Guiliano, and Kieran Smith will make it an exciting race between the top 8.

The women’s 100 freestyle will wrap up the meet with Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Rylee Erisman, Liberty Clark, Camille Spink, and Simone Manuel all fighting for the top two spots. Spink is not on the team yet, and Manuel is currently Priority 5 after her 3rd place finish in the 200 freestyle yesterday.

MEN’S 200 BREAST – Final

• World Record: 1:59.62, Caspar Corbeau (NED) – 2025
• American Record: 2:01.60, Nic Fink – 2022
• U.S. Open Record: 2:01.63, Caspar Corbeau (NED) – 2025
• Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 2:06.23

Top 8:

1. Josh Bey (IU) – 2:02.23
2. Noah Cakir (IU) – 2:02.24
3. AJ Pouch (PRVT) – 2:03.91
4. Chris O’Grady (SPAR) – 2:08.13
5. Kalvin Hahn (ARMY) – 2:10.29
6. Joe Polyak (UOFM) – 2:10.35
7. Brandon Fischer (TRIV) – 2:10.58
8. Joseph Hong (PRVT) – 2:11.46

Josh Bey had the lead at the 50 mark but was passed by AJ Pouch on the 2nd 50 before also being passed by Noah Cakir with a 50 to go. Bey charged home with the fastest final 50 of the field in a 31.69 to earn the win in a 2:02.23. Cakir was the only other sub-33 second split on the final 50 as he touched in a 31.95.

WOMEN’S 50 BREAST – Final

• World Record: 28.37, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 2022
• American Record: 28.77, Lilly King – 2020
• U.S. Open Record: 28.70, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 2022
• Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 30.21

Top 8:

1. Skyler Smith (NCAC) — 29.65
2. Piper Enge (TEX) — 29.74
3. Caroline Larsen (UOFL) — 29.77
4. Maddy Huggins (CS) — 30.08
5. Lucy Thomas (ALTO) — 30.21
6. Molly Hannis (TNAQ) — 30.44
7. Mia Cheatwood (GTAC) — 30.46
8. Breeja Larson (FASTCA) — 30.63

Top seeded Skyler Smith trailed at the 25 mark but charged the final 10 meters into the wall to earn the win in a 29.65, punching her ticket to Beijing. Leading at the 25 mark was Caroline Larsen who was out-touched by Smith and Piper Enge at the finish as Larsen was 3rd in a 29.77, behind Enge’s 29.74 for 2nd.

MEN’S 200 IM – Final

• World Record: 1:48.88, Leon Marchand (FRA) – 2024
• American Record: 1:49.43, Shaine Casas – 2025
• U.S. Open Record: 1:49.43, Shaine Casas (USA) – 2025
• Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 1:55.25

1. Maximus Williamson (UVA) — 1:49.70
2. Destin Lasco (PDR) — 1:50.59
3. Grant House (SUN) — 1:53.58
4. Jt Ewing (UN-AZ) — 1:58.31
5. Diego Nosack (NU) — 1:58.73
6. Max Garbacz (MAC-WI) — 2:01.83
7. Isaiah Ayers (AQST) — 2:02.01
8. Ryan Wanner (WEST) — 2:04.11

Maximus Williamson became the 4th man to ever break the 1:50 mark in the SCM 200 IM as he touched in a 1:49.70 for the win. He joins Leon Marchand, Shaine Casas, and Ryan Lochte as sub-1:50 swimmers. His swim tonight also is the #5 performance all-time. He will move to the top time in the world this year.

With Williamson taking the win, the men are officially over capacity on the roster at 21 total men.

He controlled the race from the start, splitting 23.72 to sit about two tenths ahead of Destin Lasco‘s 23.97 on the butterfly leg.

Williamson and Lasco had the exact same backstroke split of 26.96. Williamson had the fastest breaststroke split in the field as well of 32.42, and he came home in 26.60, the only swimmer under 27 seconds.

Lasco swam 32.65 on the breaststroke and 27.01 on the freestyle to touch in 1:50.59 to become the 3rd fastest performer in the world this year.

Grant House split 24.17/28.59/32.90/27.92 to take 3rd in 1:53.58.

WOMEN’S 400 IM– Final

• World Record: 4:15.48, Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 2024
• American Record: 4:20.14, Katie Grimes – 2024
• U.S. Open Record: 4:24.15, Melanie Margalis (USA) – 2019
• Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 4:37.46

Top 8 Finishers

1. Alex Walsh (NYAC) — 4:29.18
2. Isabelle Odgers (SD) — 4:35.85
3. Adalyn Lee (BREA) – 4:45.87
4. Grace Gannon (FAST) — 4:47.31
5. Liliana Hineman (GM) — 4:54.88

Alex Walsh and Isabelle Odgers both came in under the AQUA ‘A’ cut in the women’s 400 IM, though Walsh dominated the field, swimming 4:29.18 to finish about six seconds ahead of Odgers and set the 7th fastest time in the world this year.

Walsh took the lead on the first 50, splitting 28.60 to turn a little more than a second ahead of Odgers’ 29.91 in 2nd place. Her 2nd 50 of fly was 23.68 to turn in 1:01.28.

She maintained her lead through the rest of the race, splitting 1:07.97/1:16.27/1:03.66 to finish about two seconds off her lifetime best of 4:27.12.

Odgers finished 2nd in 4:35.85 after splitting 1:02.45/1:13.26/1:15.30/1:04.84. She stopped the clock about 10 seconds ahead of Adalyn Lee, from Brea Aquatics, who split 1:06.94/1:11.48/1:22.15/1:05.30 to touch in 4:45.87.

Women’s 800 FREE — Final

• World Record: 7:54.00, Lani Pallister (AUS) — 2025
• American Record: 7:57.42, Katie Ledecky (USA) — 2022
• U.S. Open Record: 7:57.42, Katie Ledecky (USA) — 2022
• Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 8:27.23

Top 3 Finishers

1. Claire Weinstein (CAL) — 8:25.15
2. Katie McCarthy (UOFM) — 8:30.55
3. Zoe Nordmann (NU) — 8:31.09

Claire Weinstein is still coming back from her illness this summer, but she still won the women’s 800 freestyle by about 5 seconds, coming in under the AQUA ‘A’ cut with her 8:25.15 final time.

She split 4:11.57/4:13.58 to be the fastest in the field on both 400s. She said in her post-race interview that she would be declining her spot at the world championships.

Katie McCarthy finished 2nd in 8:30.55 after splitting 4:14.12/4:16.43. Zoe Nordmann took 3rd in 8:31.09 after splitting 4:14.83/4:16.26.

MEN’S 50 FLY– Final

• World Record: 21.28, Egor Kornev (RUS) – 2026
• American Record: 21.61, Ilya Kharun — 2026
• U.S. Open Record: 21.61, Ilya Kharun (USA) — 2026
• Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 22.43

Top 8 Finishers

1. Ilya Kharun (SUN) — 21.46 **New American Record
2. Caeleb Dressel (SJAC) — 21.62
3. Tyler Ray (TXLA) — 21.95
4. Van Mathias (ISC) — 22.23
5. Dare Rose (SCAR) — 22.33
6. Finn Brooks (ISC) — 22.43
7. Matt King (ISC) — 22.62
8. Brendan Whitfield (VT) — 22.71

Ilya Kharun has been on fire in his first meet as an American swimmer, and he wrapped it up with a new American record in the men’s 50 butterfly, stopping the clock 21.46 to take a little more than a tenth off his prelims record time of 21.61.

He finished almost two tenths ahead of Caeleb Dressel, who took 2nd in a massive lifetime best 21.62. This took almost half-a-second off his previous best of 22.04, which he set in November of 2020.

Kharun will stay the 2nd fastest performer in the world this year and Dressel will move up to 3rd.

Tyler Ray swam 21.95 for 3rd, a little off his prelims time of 21.75.

WOMEN’S 100 FLY– Final

• World Record: 52.71, Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 2024
• American Record: 52.71, Gretchen Walsh – 2024
• U.S. Open Record: 53.04, Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 2024
• Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 57.40

Top 8 Finishers

1. Gretchen Walsh (NYAC) — 53.50
2. Alex Shackell (IU) — 55.93
3. Lillie Nordmann (NU) — 57.26
4. Rachel Klinker (SD) — 58.14
5. Miriam Sheehan (SUN) — 58.75
6. Claire Reinke (UOFM) — 58.75
7. Abby Chan (HSA) — 58.77
8. Averie Hager (UN) — 59.40

Gretchen Walsh won the women’s 100 butterfly in 53.50, finishing about a second-and-a-half ahead of Alex Shackell‘s 55.93 in 2nd place.

Walsh added about eight tenths from her world record of 52.71, but still came in more than five tenths faster than anyone else in history has been. She also officially takes over nine of the top-10 performances in history, bumping former world record holder Maggie MacNeil to 10th.

Top 10 Performances Updated

1. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 52.71
2. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 52.87
3. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 53.04
4. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 53.10
5. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 53.24
6. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 53.50
7. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 53.69
8. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 53.72
9. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 53.83
10. Maggie MacNeil (CAN) — 54.05

Alex Shackell took 2nd after splitting 26.59/29.34 to be the only swimmer other than Walsh under 30 seconds on the final 50. She stopped the clock in 55.93, just two tenths off her best of 55.78.

Lillie Nordmann finished 3rd after splitting 26.75/30.51 to stop the clock in 57.26.

MEN’S 100 BACK– Final

• World Record: 48.16, Hubert Kos (HUN) – 2025
• American Record: 48.33, Coleman Stewart – 2021
• U.S. Open Record: 48.78, Hubert Kos (HUN) – 2025
• Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 50.81

Top 8 Finishers

1. Adam Chaney (SUN) — 49.50
2. Owen McDonald (IU) — 49.96
3. Luca Urlando (DART) — 50.04
4. Johnny Crush (ARMY) — 50.18
5. Nick Simons (SUN) — 50.58
6. Tommy Hagar (BAMA) — 51.12
7. Kasper Lee (RISE) — 51.96
8. Grant Bochenski (CSC) — 52.00

After winning the 50 backstroke from lane eight yesterday, Adam Chaney won the men’s 100 backstroke from lane two, stopping the clock in 49.50 to be one of two swimmers under 50 seconds in the event final.

Chaney was out tied with Owen McDonald for 2nd in 24.15. Luca Urlando held a slight lead, splitting 23.81 on the first 50 to sit about three tenths ahead of Chaney and McDonald.

Chaney had the fastest closing split in the field of 25.35 to win the event by about four tenths over McDonald’s 25.81.

Urlando dropped to 3rd after splitting 26.23 to touch in 50.04.

Chaney will move to 4th in the world this year and McDonald will be 9th.

WOMEN’S 200 BACK – Final

• World Record: 1:57.33, Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 2025
• American Record: 1:57.86, Regan Smith – 2025
• U.S. Open Record: 1:57.87, Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 2025
• Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 2:05.54

Top 4 Finishers

1. Claire Curzan (UVA) — 1:57.65 **New American Record
2. Regan Smith (TXLA) — 1:58.49
3. Phoebe Bacon (NCAP) — 2:01.18
4. Isabelle Stadden (AQJT) — 2:01.94

Claire Curzan won the women’s 200 backstroke in American record fashion, stopping the clock in 1:57.65 to finish about eight tenths ahead of former American record holder Regan Smith and become the 2nd fastest performer in history.

Curzan was quick on the opening, splitting 27.68 to turn three tenths ahead of Smith’s 27.98 in 2nd place. She was 29.47 on the 2nd 50 to turn in 57.15, four tenths ahead of Kaylee McKeown’s world record pace of 57.56. Smith swam 30.07 on her 2nd 50 to turn in 58.05 for 2nd.

Curzan fell off the pace a little on the closing 100, splitting 30.27/30.23 to stop the clock in 1:57.65 and take two tenths off Smith’s old American record of 1:57.86 and off McKeown’s U.S. Open record of 1:57.87.

Smith split 30.11/30.33 on the final two 50s to touch in 1:58.49, finishing about three seconds ahead of Phoebe Bacon‘s 2:01.18 in 3rd place.

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

1. Luke Hobson (NYAC) — 1:39.93 *New U.S. Open Record
2. Chris Guiliano (TXLA) — 1:40.26
3. Gabriel Jett (CAL) — 1:40.58
4. Jack Alexy (CAL) — 1:41.05
5. Brooks Curry (CAL) — 1:41.72
6. Kieran Smith (RAC) — 1:42.30
7. Mitchell Schott (NYAC) — 1:43.00
8. Jack Dahlgren (AQJT) — 1:43.76

The men’s 200 freestyle final was stacked and the top four finishers were already on the roster, which means the American 4×200 freestyle relay is shaping up to be very strong in Beijing.

Luke Hobson swam the top time and a new U.S. Open Record of 1:39.93, becoming the first person to ever break 1:40 on U.S soil. He split 23.52/25.26/25.43/25.72 to finish about three tenths ahead of Chris Guiliano‘s 1:40.26. He started the race in 4th place at the 100.

Guiliano split 23.57/25.64/25.47/25.58 to finish 2nd in 1:40.26, moving up from the 5th place position he was in at the 100 mark.

Gabriel Jett took 3rd, splitting 23.49/25.24/26.15/25.70 to touch in 1:40.58, about half-a-second ahead of Jack Alexy‘s 1:41.05. Alexy started the race in the lead, splitting 22.84/25.59 to turn in 1st after the 100. He came home in 26.42/26.20 to fall back to 4th.

WOMEN’S 100 FREE – Final

• World Record: 49.93, Kate Douglass (USA) – 2025
• American Record: 49.93, Kate Douglass – 2025
• U.S. Open Record: 50.19, Kate Douglass (USA) – 2025
• Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 53.02

Top 8 Finishers

1. Kate Douglass (NYAC) — 49.64 *NEW WORLD RECORD
2. Gretchen Walsh (NYAC) — 50.61
3. Liberty Clark (IU) — 50.94
4. Rylee Erisman (CAL) — 51.22
5. Camille Spink (TENN) — 51.66
6. Simone Manuel (TXLA) — 52.26
7. Cadence Vincent (BAMA) — 52.34
8. Chloe Stepanek (LIAC) — 53.23

After a very quick meet with a host of new records, Kate Douglass closed out the first U.S. SC World Trials with a new world record in the women’s 100 freestyle, stopping the clock in 49.64 to take three tenths off her former record time of 49.93.

Douglass remains the only woman in history to ever break 50 seconds in the event. She swam a blistering 23.52 on her first 50 to set the tone for the rest of her race. She also had the fastest closing 50 in the field of 26.12, which was just a smidge slower than the 26.00 she split last year at the Toronto stop of the World Cup.

Gretchen Walsh took 2nd in 50.61 after splitting 24.17/26.44. She added about three tenths from the 50.31 mark she set at the 2024 World Championships.

Liberty Clark finished 3rd in 50.94, the 4th fastest time in the world this year after splitting 24.34/26.60. Rylee Erisman finished 4th in 51.22 after splitting 24.67/26.55.

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