US National Championships Day 1 Women’s Prelims: Bella Sims Shows Butterfly Strength
The USA Swimming 2026 Toyota National Championships have kicked off from Irvine, California.
The women’s events for the Day 1 prelims include the 200 butterfly, 100 freestyle, followed by the slower heats of the timed final in the 800 free.
Here is a look at what happened during the women’s prelims:
National Championships: Women’s 200 Butterfly
Bella Sims hinted that she would be doing more butterfly work this summer with Sandpipers before heading back to the University of Michigan.
She put that on display in the first event of nationals, swimming to a 2:08.39 in the 200 fly to earn the top seed in the finals.
Texas’ Lindsay Looney took the second seed in 2:08.53, ahead of Audrey Derivaux (2:08.68), Tennessee’s Emily Brown (2:08.91) and Sims’ Michigan teammate Hannah Bellard (2:08.95).
Rounding out the top eight are Zara Kocak (2:09.36), former Cal swimmer Rachel Klinker (2:10.24) and Carmel’s Ellie Clarke (2:11.81).
National Championships: Women’s 100 Freestyle
Virginia’s Anna Moesch continues to prove her sprinting prowess translates to the long course elite.
Moesch took the top seed in the 100 free with a 53.10.
Tennessee Aquatics’ Camille Spink took the second seed in 53.26.
Indiana Swim Club’s Liberty Clark was third-fastest, getting to the wall in 53.46, just ahead of Rylee Erisman (53.62) and Cadence Vincent (54.12).
Rounding out the A final will be Indiana’s Kristina Paegle (54.22), NC State’s Erika Pelaez (54.24) and Louisville’s Caroline Larsen (54.42).
