Carson Foster Posts Personal Best During 800 Freestyle Win at Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite
The first day of the Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite featured a mixed 800-meter freestyle, and Carson Foster delivered an impressive victory. The Team USA veteran registered a personal-best time of 7:52.oo on Thursday night, that effort topping the 7:52.71 of Rex Maurer. Foster hasn’t contested the 800 freestyle too frequently over the years, but he entered this meet with a best of 7:55.51, from the 2025 Toyota American Championships.
Foster and Maurer raced alongside one another throughout their 16 laps, with Foster moving to No. 17 in the world in the 2026 rankings. Foster went through the 200-meter mark in 1:55.28, made the 400 turn at 3:54.98 and split 5:55.02 at 600 meters. Maurer split 1:55.27 for his opening four lengths, turned at the midway point in 3:55.26 and went through 600 meters in 5:55.49.
Both Foster and Maurer will represent the United States at the Pan Pacific Championships, scheduled for August in Irvine, California. Foster will be a favorite to medal in the 200 individual medley and 400 IM, while Maurer qualified in the 200 freestyle, 400 free and 800 free. However, athletes will have the opportunity to contest events in which they did not specifically qualify.
Jillian Cox posted the fastest time among women on Thursday, going 8:26.04. She was followed by Kate Hurst in 8:29.58.