Kharun claims second consecutive title over Dressel
Ilya Kharun out-touched Caeleb Dressel to win the men's 100m butterfly in 50.05 seconds at the USA Swimming National Championships in Irvine, California, on Thursday, his second straight victory over the nine-time Olympic gold medalist. Kharun's lifetime best is the fastest time in the world in 2026, surpassing Paris Olympic champion Kristof Milak of Hungary on the seasonal list. Dressel, who led at the turn, finished in 50.45 seconds, 0.40 back and posted his fastest 100m fly time since 2024. Kharun, a Canadian-born swimmer changing his nationality allegiance to the United States for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, said after the race he knew he could catch Dressel if he stayed with him through the final lap.
Stadden becomes second-fastest American in 50m backstroke history
Isabelle Stadden won the women's 50m backstroke in 27.09 seconds, a lifetime best that moved her to No. 2 on the U.S. all-time list behind American record holder Katharine Berkoff (26.97) and ahead of eight-time Olympic medalist Regan Smith. The swim also ranks Stadden No. 3 in the world for 2026. The 24-year-old, a former Cal standout now training as a professional at the University of Virginia, was unchallenged in the final after entering as the morning's fastest qualifier. It was Stadden's second title of the meet after winning the 200m backstroke earlier in the week.
Repeat titles for Erisman and Grimes
Ryan Erisman, 19, won the men's 400m individual medley in a personal-best 4:09.57 seconds, breaking the race open on the breaststroke leg and finishing nearly four seconds ahead of Noah Cakir (4:13.28) and Michael Hochwalt (4:13.37). The Cal swimmer, who also won the 200m freestyle on Wednesday, improved his previous personal best by more than three seconds and moved to No. 7 in the world this season. Olympic silver medalist Katie Grimes took the women's 400m IM in 4:33.26, a University of Virginia program record that was her fastest time since April 2024 and faster than her Paris silver-medal swim (4:33.40). She beat runner-up Bella Sims by more than four seconds.
Other finals on day three
Quintin McCarty defended his men's 50m backstroke title in 24.73 seconds, edging Jack Wilkening by 0.02 seconds, with Ulises Saravia third another 0.01 back. Junior world record holder Mizuki Hirai won the women's 100m butterfly in 57.52 seconds. Watson Nguyen won the men's 50m breaststroke in 26.65 ahead of Michael Andrew (26.91), while McKenzie Siroky was the only woman under 30 seconds in the 50m breaststroke, winning in 29.99. Anna Moesch, who set an American 100m freestyle record earlier in the meet, took sixth in the women's 100m fly.
Next milestones
The Toyota USA Swimming National Championships continue through Saturday at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, with the 400m freestyle, 100m breaststroke and 100m backstroke on Friday's schedule and the women's 1500 free, men's 800 free, 200m IM and 50m freestyle on Saturday. The Pan Pacific Championships follow in two weeks, also in Irvine, where several top U.S. backstrokers including Berkoff and Smith are preparing rather than racing at nationals.
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