### Thrilling Start to U.S. National Championships: Olympic Hopefuls Shine on Day 1

The 2025 U.S. National Championships kicked off with electrifying performances in the 200 fly, 100 free, and distance events, setting the stage for an exciting road to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

**Women's 200 Butterfly: Smith Leads the Way**

Regan Smith, the 2024 Olympic silver medalist, dominated the heats in the women's 200 fly, securing lane 4 with a strong performance. However, her fellow Olympian Alex Shackell, who has a season-best of 2:06.13, only managed to place fifth in the morning heats. Stanford's Caroline Bricker, who had an impressive NCAA championship season, clocked 2:07.37, shaving 1.75 seconds off her best time from last year. With other formidable swimmers like Audrey Derivaux and Tess Howley in the mix, the final promises to be a fierce battle for the top spots.

**Men's 200 Butterfly: Urlando Aims for Redemption**

In the men's 200 fly, Luca Urlando emerged as the top seed, eyeing his second national title after his 2022 victory. He recorded a remarkable time of 1:52.37 earlier this year, placing him fourth all-time. Despite finishing second last year, Urlando is set to make a statement tonight. Thomas Heilman, who defeated Urlando in 2024, faces an uphill battle from lane seven. Carson Foster and Gabe Jett, who both clocked impressive times this morning, are also strong contenders for the top positions.

**Women's 100 Freestyle: Walsh Seeks Breakthrough**

Gretchen Walsh leads the women's 100 free, breaking 53 seconds in the prelims with a time of 52.99. She aims for her first top-two finish after two years of third-place finishes. Torri Huske, the second-fastest American woman in history with a 52.29 from Paris, looked solid with 53.32 in the prelims. Erin Gemmel tied with Simone Manuel for fourth at 53.61, showcasing her potential for a strong finish.

**Men's 100 Freestyle: ASU Dominates**

The men's 100 free is set to be a thrilling showdown with three Arizona State University swimmers breaking the 48-second barrier. Jonny Kulow (47.84) and Patrick Sammon (47.87) achieved personal bests, while Grant House dropped three-tenths off his best for a time of 48.16. Cal swimmers Jack Alexy and Destin Lasco, who broke records in the prelims, will provide stiff competition in tonight's final.

**Distance Events: Ledecky and Finke Headline**

In the distance events, Katie Ledecky is set to dominate the women's 800, having recently broken her 2016 World Record. Seeded 18 seconds ahead of her closest competitor Jillian Cox, Ledecky is expected to secure her spot for Paris. Bobby Finke, the men's 1500-meter World Record holder and double Olympic Gold medalist, is also a strong favorite, having clocked 14:54 earlier this year. The battle for second will likely be intense between David Johnston, Luke Ellis, and Charlie Clark.

The stage is set for a night of record-breaking performances and intense competition as swimmers vie for a chance to represent the U.S. at the Paris 2024 Olympics.