The 2026 U.S. National Championships are reaching their conclusion with a thrilling finale that includes three major events. Mijatovic, who previously competed in the 18 & Under final, has now stepped up to the Open final, creating an extra layer of excitement. Erisman, who has already shown incredible form this week, remains a wildcard in this race.
On the women's side, Madi Mintenko qualified as the top seed in the 400 freestyle with a time of 4:04.54, slightly ahead of Brinkleigh Hansen's 4:07.92. Only three swimmers managed to break the 4:10 mark in the prelims. Mintenko will need to stay focused against close competitors like Kate Hurst, who posted 4:06.45. This race promises to be a close contest for the podium, with little separating the top contenders.
Breaststroke and Backstroke: Douglass and Stadden in Control
The women's 100 breaststroke will be a key event as reigning national champion Kate Douglass aims to claim her second title of the meet. She secured her position with a qualifying time of 1:05.66, nearly a second faster than her teammate Emma Weber, who clocked 1:06.92. With such a comfortable margin, Douglass enters the final as the favorite to defend her title from last year, and she has the potential to deliver a dominant performance.
The men's 100 breaststroke features a deep and competitive field, with Alexei Avakov leading the qualifiers at 58.87. Gabe Nunziata and Luke Barr are not far behind, clocking times of 1:00.05 and 1:00.06 respectively. Watson Nguyen, the men's 50 breaststroke champion, was scratched into the 100 breaststroke final and is positioned in lane four. His presence could introduce an unexpected element into the race, as his speed and versatility make him a potential threat to the top finishers.
Isabelle Stadden is the clear favorite in the women's 100 backstroke after setting the fastest time of 58.06 in the prelims, more than a second faster than Claire Curzan's 58.83. Stadden has already secured two national titles this week and now has the opportunity to complete a hat trick. On the men's side, Owen McDonald will face Ulises Saravia and Jack Wilkening in the 100 backstroke. McDonald holds the top time at 53.43, giving him a slight lead over his rivals as the final approaches.
Though no world records are on the line, several U.S. Open and American records remain within reach. Madi Mintenko has her sights set on matching Katie Ledecky's American record of 3:56.46 in the women's 400 freestyle. In the men's 100 backstroke, Owen McDonald aims to break Ryan Murphy's American record of 51.85. With only three events left to compete, the final night of the meet will determine how many of these marks will be challenged and potentially broken.