U.S. Nationals, Day Four Women’s Prelims: Kate Douglass Debuts With Top Time in 100 Breaststroke
The fourth prelims session of U.S. Nationals featured the first race in Irvine, Calif., for Kate Douglass, the multi-talented standout from the University of Virginia who is expected to star for the United States in two weeks’ time at the Pan Pacific Championships. Douglass led the way in qualifying in the women’s 100 breaststroke as she warms up for the upcoming international competition.
Additionally, Isabelle Stadden returned to the pool for the 100 backstroke after a strong run in her signature stroke over the previous two days, with 200-meter and 50-meter wins. Before those events, Madi Mintenko led the way in the 400 freestyle.
Women’s 400 Freestyle
On the second day of U.S. Nationals, Madi Mintenko achieved the best long course result of her career as she finished third in the 200 free, breaking 1:56 for the first time and entering the top-10 in the world rankings. Now, Mintenko will have lane four in a championship final following a strong morning effort in the 400 free. Mintenko clocked a best time of 4:08.10 in prelims to win her heat, and the time held up through the final heat. Mintenko is the daughter of U.S. Olympian and former USA Swimming national team managing director Lindsay (Benko) Mintenko and Canadian Olympian Mike Mintenko.
The next two qualifiers also came from Mintenko’s heat. A charging Brinkleigh Hansen placed second in 4:08.36 with Kate Hurst third (4:08.84). Cavan Gormsen placed first in the final heat (4:10.61) to secure the fourth seed, and it took a time of 4:11.48 to make the A-final. The biggest name in the field is Bella Sims, a Tokyo Olympian and 2023 World Championship finalist in the event. Sims grabbed the seventh seed with her 4:11.39.
Women’s 100 Breaststroke
As the meet goes on, more swimmers scheduled to represent the U.S. at the upcoming Pan Pacific Championships have arrived in Irvine. Two of them, both training at the University of Virginia, swam the top-two times in the 100 breast. Kate Douglass, who won silver in the event at last year’s World Championships, swam by far the top time at 1:06.25. That moved her into a tie for 10th in the world this year.
Emma Weber, a U.S. Olympian in this event, got second in 1:07.05, while McKenzie Siroky placed third in 1:07.24. Siroky, the winner of the 50 breast Thursday, has the top time by an American swimmer thus far in 2026 at 1:06.20, set during the Mare Nostrum tour in June. Italian Anita Bottazzo got fourth in 1:08.22, with a time of 1:08.80 required to move on to the championship heat.
Women’s 100 Backstroke
