Katharine Berkoff and Kate Douglass, respectively in dash events backstroke and freestyle, kept piling on the pressure on distant Dolphins and the rest of the best of women's swimming en route to a home Olympics at LA2028 with two more World records to add to a wave of pioneering moments from American women this year.

The latest standards were set on day 2 at U.S. short-course nationals in Westmont, Illinois, Berkoff's achievement marking her first career World record, while both the women's efforts are another significant ripple in a wave of pioneering speed that has put the USA women's team on a trajectory to one of the most solid of golden tips for the 2028 Games: the women's 4x100m medley, an event in which the USA has also returned to dominance in the long-course pool.

A third global s/c mark on the day fell to late-bloomer Van Matthias in the 100m breaststroke as he took another stroke towards being the man to beat and target for all others on sprint breaststroke heading towards the big one in the big pool in LA.

In the little pool, nationals this week will select the U.S. team for the World short-course championships in Beijing December 1-6. Among those already qualified is a man who won two races after finishing fourth in the first of his three finals today: Caeleb Dressel, on his way back to title-tilt class on the biggest of occasions.

The World Records On Day 2 In Westmont:

• Berkoff: 25.21, 50m backstroke
• Douglass: 22.75, 50m freestyle
• Van Mathias: 55.14, 100m breaststroke

Potted reports and results follow...