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≡ USA SWIMMING NATIONALS ≡
Day three of the USA Swimming national championships in Indianapolis saw a near-miss by Gretchen Walsh at one of her own world records, but an American Record in the women’s 50 m Backstroke by Katharine Berkoff, plus an emotional win for Breaststroke star Lilly King.
The races:
● Women/400 m Medley:
Olympic silver and bronze winners Katie Grimes and Emma Weyant were back, but Leah Hayes, the 2022 Worlds bronze in the 200 m Medley, led the qualifying.
In the final, Grimes led after the butterfly leg, but Audrey Derivaux touched first after the backstroke. But Weyant came on in the breaststroke and Hayes moved up to second going into the final stroke.
Weyant had a 1.56-second lead entering the freestyle leg and was up to 2.0 seconds up on Hayes at the turn. But Grimes made up most of a two-second deficit to Hayes and passed her with 25 m to go and got the second spot.
Weyant finished in 4:34.81, not her fastest of the season, but still better than everyone in the world except Canadian star Summer McIntosh. Grimes timed 4:37.22 for second, now no. 11 on the world list this season. Hayes finished third in 4:38.46 and Derivaux was fifth in 4:41.39.
● Men/400 m Medley:
Carson Foster, the Olympic bronze medalist in this event in Paris was the fastest qualifier, but closest was 800-1,500 m Olympic Freestyle star Bobby Finke!
Foster took the lead on the fly lead-off, but Finke actually got the lead by 0.18 after the backstroke. Foster was a much better breaststroker and re-took the lead after 300 m, up by 1.12 over Finke. But no one was going to beat Finke in the free if he was close and he passed Foster with about 15 m to go and touched first with a surprise national title (and lifetime best) in 4:07.46, now no. 2 in the world in 2025!
Foster’s 4:07.92 got second and now no. 3 on the 2025 list. Rex Maurer was in the hunt and was third in 4:09.65, now no. 6 in the world. The Worlds schedule is a problem for Finke, with the 1,500 m Free and 400 m Medley on the same day, so he may drop this event, which would be great for Maurer.
● Women/100 m Butterfly:
Another showdown between leading qualifier – and Paris Olympic silver winner – Gretchen Walsh (the world-record setter in 2025), and Olympic champion Torri Huske, the Paris Olympic champion (no. 3). Walsh came in with the top six times in this event all-time.
The race was no contest, as Walsh got out hot and had a half-body-length lead by halfway down the pool. She turned in 25.19 vs. her world-record split of 25.32, but slowed slightly on the way home and won in 54.76, the no. 2 time ever; she now owns the top seven marks in history.
She looked back at the scoreboard right away and shook her head just a little at the time. Wow.
Huske was steady and finished a clear second in 56.61, 0.02 off her seasonal best, with Alex Shackell a distant third in 57.71.
● Men/100 m Butterfly:
Paris Olympian Thomas Heilman, 18, was by far the leading qualifier at 50.78, moving to no. 5 in the world in the morning.
In the final, Paris Olympic 200 m Medley man Shaine Casas got out first and turned with a 0.36-second lead on Heilman. But Heilman, as he usually does, came on in the final 50 and got even with 10 m to go, but Casas touched first with two great final strokes at 50.51, now no. 3 in the world for 2025.
Heilman was close at 50.70, then Dare Rose, who won the 50 m Fly earlier in the meet, in third at 51.06. Luca Urlando, the 200 m Fly winner, was fourth at 51.44.
● Women/50 m Breaststroke:
Indiana favorite Lilly King, the 2017 and 2019 World Champion in this event who said this is her last U.S. meet and will retire at the end of the season, led the qualifying at 30.15, moving to no. 4 on the world list for 2025.
And King was on fire in the final, getting to the lead by 25 m and edging steadily ahead to touch all alone in 29.88, now no. 3 in the world in 2025. Tennessee’s McKenzie Siroky and Paris relay gold medalist Emma Weber tied for second at 30.43, both no. 9 in the world this year.
● Men/50 m Breaststroke:
Veteran sprint star Michael Andrew and 18-year-old Campbell McKean had the top qualifiers at 27.14.
In the final, both were out well and Andrew had a tiny lead at halfway, but McKean got to the touch first in a lifetime best of 26.90, to 26.92. McKean’s mark is equal-11th on the world list for 2025.
Brian Benzing was well back in third at 27.40.
● Women/50 m Backstroke:
Paris Olympic 100 m Back bronze winner Katharine Berkoff led the heats at 27.15, moving to equal-fourth in the world for 2025.
In the final, Berkoff was off best in the middle of the pool, but American Record holder Regan Smith was pressing in lane seven. It was close – really close – but Berkoff got her hand to the touch with an American Record of 26.97! She took 13/100ths off of Smith’s 2023 mark of 27.10.
Smith was second in 27.20, now no. 6 in the world for 2025, then 2024 World Champion Claire Curzan at 27.26. It’s Smith’s third silver in the meet, to add to the 200 m Fly and 200 m Back.
Berkoff’s 26.97 is the no. 2 performance in history, 0.11 off the world mark of Kaylee McKeown (AUS) from 2023. Berkoff replaced McKeown as the world leader in 2025.
● Men/50 m Backstroke:
Casas, already the 100 m Fly winner tonight, had the best time in the heats (24.65), but the top six were within 0.28! He came back for his second final of the night after about 40 minutes.
Casas had the fastest reaction time and looked to be slightly in front of 21-year-old Quintin McCarty from North Carolina State, but McCarty barely got ahead and touched first in 24.34, now no. 4 on the 2025 world list.
Casas (already no. 3 in 2025) was a very close second in 24.44, with Will Modglin third in 24.76.
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Coming Friday: the men’s and women’s 400 m Freestyles, 100 m Breaststrokes and 100 m Backstrokes.
The meet is being shown on the USA Swimming Web site (both sessions) and NBC’s Peacock streaming service for the evening session at 7 p.m. Eastern.
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