By Madeline Folsom on SwimSwam
2026 U.S. National Championships
July 28-August 1, 2026 Irvine, CA — William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center LCM (50 meters) Meet Central Psych Sheet Live Results Live Stream Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheet Recaps Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 Finals: Day 1Team USA is experiencing a changing of the guard as younger swimmers are coming in and taking the reins from the older and more experienced athletes heading into the 2028 home Olympic Games.
One of the clearest places this can be seen is in the presence of young freestyle stars at this week’s U.S. Nationals. Many of the veterans are swimming reduced schedules, or not racing at all, due to the Pan Pacific Championships in a few weeks, and athletes who aren’t on the Pan Pacs team, and some who are, have been taking full advantage of their absence.
In the men’s 200 freestyle prelims this morning, 20-year-old Ryan Erisman, who is on the Pan Pacs team, set a monster personal best time of 1:45.40 to earn the top seed and take a second off the 1:46.43 he swam last month at the TYR Pro in Indianapolis.
Erimsan has already dropped more than two seconds in the event this season, coming in with the 1:47.52 he swam at the 2025 U.S. Nationals last June, and he still has another opportunity to drop in the event tonight.
This time moves Erisman up to 13th in the world this year and as the 3rd fastest American, only behind SCM world record holder Luke Hobson and Olympian Chris Guiliano. It was also faster than three of the four members swam on the men’s 4×200 freestyle relay in Singapore last summer. Only Hobson was faster, splitting 1:43.45.
Just behind Erisman in the prelims was 17-year-old Luka Mijatovic. He is not new to headlines and record-breaking swims, but he swam the 2nd fastest time in prelims of 1:46.23. This is his 2nd fastest swim ever in the event, only behind the 1:45.92 he swam in the 200 freestyle prelims at the 2025 U.S. Nationals.
We can also see evidence of this shift in the men’s 100 freestyle. Maximus Williamson finished 4th in the 100 free yesterday, stopping the clock in 47.99 after he set a lifetime best 47.93 in prelims. This makes him the 7th fastest American in the event this season and took four tenths off the 48.38 mark he set back in September of 2023.
This phenomenon is not exclusive to the men. The women are seeing the same thing happen as younger athletes are moving up the national rankings and making names for themselves.
Anna Moesch is one of the clearest examples of this. She became the American record holder in the 100 free back in May and last night she lowered that record further to 51.88. Just last year, she finished 6th at the U.S. Nationals to make her first senior international team in 53.54.
Moesch is also in the 200 free final tonight, after qualifying 3rd in 1:57.49, two seconds off the 1:55.81 she set in May, which is the 2nd fastest time in the country this year.
Rylee Erisman, who is on the Pan Pacs team, has also been a major breakthrough star for Team USA after she exploded at the 2025 World Junior Championships with her 52.79 in the 100 free, making her the 7th fastest American ever. Last night, she finished 2nd to Moesch in the event in 52.92.
She qualified 4th for the 200 free final, just behind Moesch, and the 1:56.15 she swam in Indianapolis is the 3rd fastest American 200 free this season.
Liberty Clark is another teenager who burst onto the scene this year. After an explosive NCAA season, she has carried that momentum into long course and is well on her way to becoming one of the best sprint freestylers in the country.
In last night’s 100 free final, she swam 52.97 to become the 9th fastest American in history, and in the 200 free, she sits at 1:56.73, which she swam in Indianapolis, which ranks 8th in the country this season, and she qualified 5th for the final.
The women’s 200 freestyle prelims saw a few strong swims as well. Madi Mintenko, who just wrapped up her freshman year at the University of Virginia, swam 1:56.81 to earn the top qualifying spot, dropping a tenth from the 1:56.95 she swam last August.
Just behind her was Tennessee’s Camille Spink, who will be a senior in the fall. Spink set a new lifetime best 1:57.39 to qualify 2nd and take a second off the 1:58.61 she swam in 2023.
In tonight’s 200 freestyle final on both the men’s and women’s side, we could be watching the future of the Team USA relays come into their own as they gain confidence and experience in National ‘A’ finals.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Ryan Erisman’s 1:45.40 at U.S. Nationals Leads Way For Next Generation Team USA Relay Enforcements
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