Erisman Takes 1500 Free, Places 2nd in 400 IM
Cal sophomore Ryan Erisman won the men's 1500 free and finished second in the 400 IM at U.S. Trials in Westmont, Illinois.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Swimming
Ryan Erisman, a Cal sophomore, finished second in the men's 400 IM on night 3 of U.S. Trials in Westmont, Illinois, behind Josh Bey. About 25 minutes later he won the men's 1500 free by over 5 seconds.
Why it matters
The double performance positions Erisman as a multi-event contender for the U.S. team heading toward the championship meet in Beijing. His scheduling decisions across the remaining trials sessions could determine which events he ultimately contests.
Erisman's 1500 free win came in a field of 5 competitors, with a margin of over 5 seconds, and he surged with about 500 meters remaining. The Beijing event selection depends on rankings that had not been finalized in the source material.
The players
Ryan Erisman
A sophomore swimmer at the University of California, Berkeley, who competes in distance and individual medley events.
Josh Bey
A swimmer who won the men's 400 IM final at the 2026 U.S. Trials.
The details
Erisman swam the 400 IM on night 3 of U.S. Trials at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont, Illinois, and roughly 25 minutes later competed in the 1500 free. He turned on the jets with about 500 meters to go in the distance race after a controlled early pace.
Timeline
October 28-31, 2026: U.S. Trials held in Westmont, Illinois.
October 30, 2026: Erisman finished second in the men's 400 IM on night 3 of trials.
Season Trajectory
Erisman's performances place him in the conversation for a multi-event role on the U.S. roster as the championship meet approaches. His ability to contend in both distance freestyle and individual medley reflects the versatility that U.S. selectors have historically rewarded in mixed-stroke swimmers.
If Erisman ranks outside the top 8 in the 800 free, he would swim in the morning session rather than at night, since only the top 8 compete in the evening timed finals. The 400 IM and 800 free finals scheduled back-to-back on night 5 create a scheduling conflict for multi-event swimmers.
The takeaway
Erisman's double-event success at trials illustrates the value of versatility for swimmers aiming at the championship roster. Readers following the meet should watch how he resolves the overlapping finals schedule over the coming sessions.
What happens next
The men's 800 free final follows the 400 IM final on night 5 of U.S. Trials, which may force Erisman to choose between events in Beijing.
Further reading
For broader context on the national competition, explore Swimming coverage across the United States.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SwimSwam.
