U.S. Nationals, Day Four Men’s Prelims: Luka Mijatovic Tops 400 Free But Heading to 18-and-Under Final
Prelims of three men’s events took place Friday morning at U.S. Nationals in Irvine, Calif., with action in the 400 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke. An unusual scenario played out in the 400 free as rising stars Luka Mijatovic and Ryan Erisman posted the two best times but will not race each other in the final since Mijatovic is eligible for qualification to the Junior Pan Pacific Championships. The 100 breast, meanwhile, saw Alexei Avakov take first place into a final that will be without some big names.
Men’s 400 Freestyle
Ordinarily, the results from the 400 free prelims would be setting up a finals showdown between Luka Mijatovic and Ryan Erisman, both coming off massive leaps in the mid-distance event over the past two years. Mijatovic finished second at last year’s U.S. Nationals with Erisman third, and they are the top-two Americans thus far in 2026. Alas, the unique format of this meet has the two men heading to separate heats at night, Mijatovic racing in the 18-and-under final to add another event for the Junior Pan Pacific Championships while Erisman heads the championship heat.
Mijatovic swam a time of 3:47.55 for the top mark in prelims, a little more than two seconds behind his 17-18 National Age Group record of 3:45.20 from April. One heat later, Erisman went 3:47.94, almost four seconds back of the incredible 3:44.03 he swam in May to become the seventh-quickest American ever in the event. Erisman, with two impressive wins in the 200 free and 400 IM already at this meet, could have a chance at breaking the American record in the final. That mark has been held by Larsen Jensen since 2008 at 3:42.78.
Will Mulgrew, the winner in the 1500 free on night one, got third in qualifying at 3:48.03, followed by Aiden Hammer (3:48.99). Three swimmers went 3:50 in prelims while Andrew Shackell and Kieran Smith tied for eighth in 3:51.74, a scenario that would normally set up a swim-off if not for Mijatovic competing with his fellow junior-level swimmers at night.
Men’s 100 Breaststroke
Three swimmers surpassed the 1:00 barrier in prelims, all recording personal-best times. Alexei Avakov led the way in 59.29, bumping him up to ninth in the world this year and second-best among Americans behind Van Mathias. Gabe Nunziata, fresh off a big drop for second place in the 200 breast, went 59 for the first time in his career with a second-place mark of 59.67 while Luke Barr clocked 59.88, also his first time under.
It took 1:00.33 to advance to the championship final, with numerous big names missing out. Watson Nguyen, a Penn swimmer who won the 50 breast in upset fashion Thursday, ended up ninth in 1:00.47, one spot ahead of 200-meter winner Josh Bey (1:00.59). Michael Andrew, the former American-record holder and No. 5 performer in history, ended up 16th in 1:00.93.
Men’s 100 Backstroke
