2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials
Women’s 800 FREE — Final
- World Record: 7:54.00, Lani Pallister (AUS) — 2025
- American Record: 7:57.42, Katie Ledecky (USA) — 2022
- U.S. Open Record: 7:57.42, Katie Ledecky (USA) — 2022
- Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 8:27.23
Top 3 Finishers
- Claire Weinstein (CAL) — 8:25.15
- Katie McCarthy (UOFM) — 8:30.55
- Zoe Nordmann (NU) — 8:31.09
After winning the women’s 800 freestyle, Claire Weinstein said in her post race interview that she will be declining her spot to represent the U.S. at the 2026 SCM World Championships at the start of December in Beijing. Weinstein battled viral meningitis this summer and was hospitalized.
Weinstein said post-race, “As of today, I will not be attending Beijing. It’s really unfortunate, we have such an amazing team going. I think where I am at since I basically had my whole summer wiped out, I really just have to focus on training and getting back to everything.”
In August, Weinstein withdrew from representing the U.S. at the 2026 Pan Pac Championships in Irvine, California. She was scheduled to represent the U.S. in the 200 free, 400 free, 800 free, and 1500 frees.
Weinstein represented the U.S. back at the 2024 SCM World Championships where she was highlighted by a bronze medal in the 200 free as she touched in a 1:51.62, a time that stood as the American Record until earlier this week in Westmont as Liberty Clark won the event in a 1:51.31. Weinstein also helped the U.S. women to gold in the 4×200 free relay at 2024 SCM Worlds as she split a 1:50.31 on the anchor leg.
The 19 year old is in her sophomore season with the Cal Golden Bears and has not yet represented the team so far this season, missing both regular season meets of the College Swimming League (CSL). She swam to an NCAA title in March to finish her freshman season, touching in a 4:30.09 in the 500 freestyle. Cal is in the CSL Wild Card match this upcoming Thursday that will take place in Indianapolis.
