Ilya Kharun tops Caeleb Dressel as youth dominates U.S. Championships

For the second straight night, Ilya Kharun lined up alongside Caeleb Dressel with a chance to prove himself in a championship final.

Once again, the 21-year-old Kharun not only prevailed, but he swam faster than the nine-time Olympic gold medalist.

The Canadian-born Kharun, who is in the midst of becoming eligible to swim for the United States at the 2028 Summer Games, beat Dressel by 0.40 seconds Thursday night to win the 100-meter butterfly championship in the U.S. Swimming Championships at Irvine, Calif.

Kharun, who on Wednesday beat Dressel by 0.27 seconds to win the 50 butterfly, posted a time of 50.05 seconds on Thursday. Dressel currently holds the world record in the event at 49.45 seconds. Dressel won the 100-meter freestyle on Tuesday.

Rowan Cox came in third at 50.64 seconds.

Isabelle Stadden posted the second-fastest time in American history in the women's 50 backstroke, finishing in 27.09 to easily top Maggie Wanezek (27.88) and Rhyan White (27.93). The mark just edged Regan Smith's 27.10 set at the 2023 Worlds.

Katharine Berkoff holds the American mark of 26.97, set at the U.S. Championships last year.

Another young swimmer turned in an eyepopping performance as 19-year-old Ryan Erisman topped his personal best by more than three seconds to win the 400-meter individual medley in 4 minutes, 9.57 seconds. Noah Cakir finished nearly four seconds back in second at 4:13.28, with Michael Hochwalt in third at 4:13.37.

Like Kharun, Erisman is a two-time champion at this event, winning the 200 freestyle on Wednesday. Currently swimming for the Cal Golden Bears, Erisman narrowly missed out on the world championships last year in the 400 freestyle -- an event that will be contested in Irvine on Friday.

The closest race came in the night's final event, as Quintin McCarty edged Jack Wilkening by 0.02 seconds to win the men's 50 backstroke. Third place was even closer, with Ulises Saravia out-touching Finn Harland by 0.01 seconds -- 0.17 behind McCarty's 24.73 time.

In other events:

--The blowout of the night came in the women's 400 IM as Katie Grimes (4:33.26) swam away from the field, beating runner-up Bella Sims (4:37.33) by more than four seconds. Sydney Schoeck (4:38.68) was third.

--Junior world record holder Mizuki Hirai (57.52) beat out Hannah Bellard (58.27) and Erika Pelaez (58.43) to win the women's 100 butterfly.

--In the women's 50 breaststroke, McKenzie Siroky was the only swimmer below 30 seconds, her 29.99 nearly three-tenths better than Piper Enge's 30.28. Anita Bottazzo (30.51) was third.

--Watson Nguyen's 26.65 sprint beat out Michael Andrew's 26.91 time to win the men's 50 breaststroke. Mitch Mason finished third at 27.08.

--Field Level Media