Regan Smith, Hubert Kos Fire Off Swift Times in 200 Back to Conclude Longhorn Elite Invite
A strong weekend of racing for swimmers based at the University of Texas concluded Sunday evening with particularly strong results in the 200 backstroke. Regan Smith and Hubert Kos both swam season-best marks in their respective wins while Summer McIntosh and Shaine Casas both came through with fast efforts in the 200 IM.
Smith dominated the women’s 200 back in 2:04.85, five hundredths better than her previous season-best. Smith ranks No. 2 in the world for 2026 behind Isabelle Stadden, a fellow Minnesota native experiencing a breakout season. Earlier in the evening, Smith had finished second in the 200 IM in 2:09.65 as McIntosh pulled away down the stretch. McIntosh swam a time of 2:08.24, just off her top 2026 time of 2:08.21.
Kos was dominant in the men’s 200 back in 1:55.62, a full 4.5 seconds clear of new training partner Jack Aikins (2:00.16). Like Smith, Kos had picked up a second-place finish earlier in the 200 IM with a time of 1:58.72. Casas won that 200 IM in 1:56.42, his first top mark of the season as he attempts to follow up last year’s World Championships silver.
Simone Manuel secured her third win of the weekend in the 100 freestyle with a time of 53.50, with McIntosh coming in second at 54.98 and Nikolett Padar taking third (55.02). In the men’s race, Chris Guiliano has already been sub-48 on several occasions this year. After a 48.00 in prelims, Guiliano followed that up with a time of 48.13 to comfortably out-pace Rafael Fente-Damers (49.21) and Luke Hobson (49.66).
Anna Elendt took her third breaststroke victory of the week with a time of 30.80 in the 50, three tenths clear of Piper Enge (31.11). Campbell McKean followed in the men’s event with a time of 27.60, supplementing his previous triumphs over 100 and 200 meters. Training partner Nate Germonprez came in second here at 28.07 after previously going 1:59.90 for third in the 200 IM. The only swimmer to contest the 1500 free was Kate Hurst, who clocked 16:11.98.
