U.S. Open, Day Two Finals (Men): Leon Marchand Blasts Career-Best in 400 Freestyle; Luka Mijatovic Lowers NAG Mark
The first full night of finals at the U.S. Open in Austin should produce plenty of speedy results in the men’s competition. Action is slated for five events – the 50-meter backstroke, 400 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 50 breaststroke and 50 freestyle. The 400 freestyle might be the most-anticipated event of the session, with Luke Hobson sitting as the top seed after a prelims performance of 3:47.56. Hobson is expected to battle with Carson Foster, Leon Marchand and 16-year-old Luka Mijatovic in the final.
In the men’s 50 breaststroke, an enticing matchup awaits between South Africa’s Michael Houlie and American Van Mathias. During prelims, Houlie (26.79) and Mathias (26.84) both cracked the 27-second barrier to earn the middle lanes for the final.
Here’s a look at how the men’s events unfolded on the second night of the U.S. Open:
Men’s 50 Backstroke
Coming off altitude training for the first time, Shaine Casas came through for first place in the 50 backstroke. The Olympian raced to a time of 24.53, which was quick enough to defeat Australian 17-year-old Henry Allan and Hungarian Hubert Kos. Allan touched the wall in 24.65, followed by Kos in 24.74.
Men’s 400 Freestyle
The final of the 400 freestyle featured serious starpower across the pool, and it was French Olympic hero Leon Marchand who emerged victorious. Pulling away from the field over the back half of the race, and fueled by monster underwaters, the 23-year-old clocked a personal best of 3:44.70, a mark that was less than a second off the French record of Yannick Agnel (3:43.85). Marchand was followed in second place by American 16-year-old Luka Mijatovic, who broke his own 15-16 NAG mark with a time of 3:45.30.
A four-time Olympic champion from the 2024 Games in Paris, Marchand has never had the opportunity to focus on the 400 freestyle during international competition. But an emphasis was placed on the event for the U.S. Open, and Marchand put his vast skill on display. Over the final 200 meters, Marchand had too much for the opposition and benefited significantly from his underwater power.
In his second-place finish, Mijatovic cut. 42 off his previous NAG standard and continued his development as a future star for the United States. Committed to the University of Texas, Mijatovic was charging down the finish and placed ahead of Carson Foster (3:45.73) and Luke Hobson (3:45.85).
Men’s 200 Individual Medley
Third in the 50 backstroke earlier in the session, Hubert Kos put together a wire-to-wire triumph in the 200 medley, winning in an impressive effort of 1:55.50. That time, a championship record, was just off his personal best of 1:55.34, which he delivered on the way to the bronze medal at the World Championships in Singapore.
Baylor Nelson touched the wall in second place, clocking in at 1:58.36, while Canada’s Finlay Knox was third with a swim of 1:58.74.
Men’s 50 Breaststroke
Known for his speed, South Africa’s Michael Houlie was too quick for the field in the 50 breaststroke. Houlie and American Van Mathias both went sub-27, as was the case in the morning, to finish first and second. Houlie took the victory in a career-best time of 26.72, with Mathias following in 26.94. Finishing third was the United States’ Campbell McKean, who went 27.10.
Men’s 50 Freestyle
In what must be positive sign for his upcoming 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle, Chris Guiliano notched a personal-best performance of 21.57 to take top honors in the 50 freestyle. Setting a championship record, Guiliano narrowly defeated Serbia’s Andrej Barna, who clocked a 21.62. The third-place finisher was Matt King, who went 21.74.
In the B Final, veteran Caeleb Dressel got to the wall first in a time of 21.94.
