NCAA Day 4 Finals Recap: Liendo's 4th Title & Williamson's New Era

The 2026 Men's NCAA Division I Swimming Championships reach a thrilling climax with record-breaking performances and intense competition.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 9:19pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a swimming competition, with overlapping planes of color and movement, capturing the energy and dynamism of the event.The final session of the NCAA Swimming Championships promises a showcase of raw athletic talent and intense competition, with records potentially falling and new stars emerging.St. Louis Today

The final session of the 2026 Men's NCAA Division I Swimming Championships promises to be a showcase of swimming prowess, with several events featuring talented swimmers vying for top spots. The 200 IM final, 100 freestyle final, and platform diving final are among the highly anticipated events, with swimmers like Owen McDonald, Maximus Williamson, and Josh Liendo looking to defend their titles or make a mark. The 200 butterfly final, 200 backstroke final, and 400 freestyle relay final also have the potential to see new NCAA records set, adding to the excitement of the meet.

Why it matters

The NCAA Swimming Championships are a premier event in the sport, showcasing the best collegiate swimmers in the country. The final session will determine the overall team champions and feature individual events that could have lasting impacts on the sport, with records potentially falling and new stars emerging.

The details

The 200 IM final features a talented field, including Indiana's Owen McDonald, who broke 1:40 in the prelims, and will face stiff competition from swimmers like Maximus Williamson, Will Modglin, Baylor Nelson, Noah Cakir, Josh Bey, Daniel Diehl, and Arsenio Bustos. The 100 freestyle final sees Josh Liendo seeking a fourth-straight title, with swimmers like Jere Hribar, Gui Caribe, Julian Koch, Jonny Kulow, Quintin McCarty, Tomas Lukminas, and Brendan Whitfield looking to challenge him. The platform diving final and 200 butterfly final, featuring the 2024 national champion Ilya Kharun, will also be highlights of the session. The 200 backstroke final is set to be a battle between the top seeds, with Hubert Kos seeking to lower his own NCAA record, while the 400 freestyle relay final could see a new NCAA record set.

  • The final session of the 2026 Men's NCAA Division I Swimming Championships is scheduled for April 11, 2026.

The players

Owen McDonald

A swimmer for Indiana University who broke 1:40 in the 200 IM prelims.

Maximus Williamson

A talented swimmer competing in the 200 IM final.

Josh Liendo

A swimmer seeking his fourth consecutive title in the 100 freestyle final.

Ilya Kharun

The 2024 national champion in the 200 butterfly, who will be defending his title.

Hubert Kos

A swimmer who will be competing in the 200 backstroke final, where he will be looking to lower his own NCAA record.

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What they’re saying

“The final session of the NCAA Championships is always a thrilling showcase of the best collegiate swimmers in the country. With so many talented athletes competing, we're sure to see some incredible performances and potentially even some new records set.”

— Owen McDonald, Indiana University Swimmer

“I'm really looking forward to the 100 freestyle final. Josh Liendo has been dominant in that event, but there are a lot of other swimmers who are capable of challenging him. It's going to be an exciting race to watch.”

— Jere Hribar, Swimmer

The takeaway

The final session of the 2026 NCAA Division I Swimming Championships promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the meet, with several events featuring intense competition and the potential for new records to be set. The depth of talent on display is a testament to the strength of collegiate swimming in the United States, and the outcomes of these races could have a significant impact on the future of the sport.